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Bill Wyman

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Bill Wyman is an English bassist, born on 24 October 1936 as William George Perks in Lewisham in south London. He grew up in Penge in a poor family and described his wartime childhood as marked by poverty. In 1955 he joined the Royal Air Force and was stationed in Germany. There he heard the first rock 'n' roll in dance halls and on the American forces radio station. He bought a guitar and in 1957 formed a skiffle group. Later he switched to bass guitar and built a fretless bass. In 1964 he officially changed his surname to Wyman.

Music and breakthrough

On 7 December 1962 he auditioned, in a pub in Chelsea, for an R&B band called The Rolling Stones. He was hired as the successor to Dick Taylor, partly thanks to his instrument and his amplifiers. He was the oldest member of the group, played on the first nineteen studio albums and in the early years often sang backing vocals. In Another Land, on the album Their Satanic Majesties Request, is his; it was also released as a single and became his first solo single. Besides the Stones he made solo records, including Monkey Grip in 1974 and Stone Alone in 1976. From 1997 to 2018 he played in Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings. In 1993 he left the Stones.

Influence

Wyman belonged to the first stable line-up of one of the biggest rock bands. In 1989 he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with the Stones. His bass was not a solo instrument, but held the band together.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to an early song by The Rolling Stones and focus on the bass, beneath the guitars and the vocals. Notice how that low register carries the rhythm and makes the songs solid.

Discography

Studio albums

Categories: Artists