Interview: Bill Wyman

Reprinted from http://jazzwax.com

In today's Mansion section of The Wall Street Journal, I interview former Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman on his favorite room in his London house (go here or please buy the paper in the U.S. or Europe). Anyone who is familiar with the written works on the Rolling Stones knows that Bill's book, Stone Alone: The Story of a Rock 'n' Roll Band, is one of the best granular looks at the band's evolution between 1962 and the late 1980s. That's because Bill kept a detailed diary and still does. [Photo above of Bill Wyman at home by Daniella Zalcman for The Wall Street Journal]

My point is that Bill does a lot of writing and reading when he's home. His most recent work is Bill Wyman's Scrapbook, a massive book that costs nearly $400 and is filled with never-before seen photos and other Stones memorabilia. Only 1962 copies have been published.

What you realize when talking to Bill (and the same is true for Keith) is that the Stones have a public side, which exploits their reputation and brand as they live up to what fans expect. But during off-camera conversations, Bill (and Keith) are much more cerebral and curious than you'd expect. Both have an easy-going way about them and are fast to laugh off life's ups and downs. But that doesn't mean they aren't intensely passionate or diligent about what matters most to them. Bill is writing an in-depth history of his home while working on a bunch of other writing and recording projects.

Here's Bill Wyman's bass, isolated, on Gimme Shelter...

Here's the announcement on MTV in 1993 of Bill's departure from the Stones...