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Bill Wyman - Bass player for the
Rolling Stones, Archivist, Author & leader
of Bill & the Rhythm
Kings
Geo: As the former bass player
for one of the worlds greatest Rock & Roll
bands in the world &
now the author of three fine & distinguished books
(and
photographer for a book entitled 'Chagall's World' ), what brought
you
to become a writer?
Bill: I wanted to spread my
boundaries - I don't really write - I use a ghost
writer or collaborate
with a writer - my talent lies not in writing but in
research &
archiving
Geo: In your new book
'Rolling With The Stones' you wrote that you
purchased your Framus bass
in September 1963 as you were playing your 'homemade'
bass in the early
days w/ the Stones. How & when did you build your homemade
bass
(did you have any help w/ it's small body design) & do you still
have
this in your possession?
Bill: yes I still have it -
it hangs in my restaurant 'Sticky Fingers'
Geo: Do you still own the Vox
signature Bill Wyman bass & did you record
w/the Vox during the mid
60's w/ the Stones? (I have two Vox ads w/
Bill's signature bass on my
Stones Archive page:
http://geosound.org/stones-billwymanvoxad.htm
What did you think of the
sound of the Vox Wyman bass?
Bill: No I don't have it - I
never really liked it - they built it without
any help or input from
me, & I didn't ever like the look or the sound of it,
although I
was obliged to play it for a while
Geo: On the L.P. 'The Andrew
Oldham Orchestra & Chorus' is a track
co-written by Andrew Oldham,
Charlie Watts & you (Bill Wyman) called, "Oh, I Do
Like To See Me
On The Flip Side". Did you & Charlie play on this track &
if
so, who played piano & harp? Where was the track cut & was
this a jam that
turned into a song? Did you & Charlie or other
Stones play on any other tracks
on this L.P.? How did you like working
with Andrew as a producer for the
early Stones 45's?
Bill: Actually the song was
called "Oh, I Do Like To See Me On The B-Side" -
Obviously Charlie
& I played on it, but I don't remember the other
musicians - they
were session men that Andrew got together at Regent Sound
Studios,
London I don't know what L.P you are referring to - this was a
single released on
Decca in England
Geo: Talking of jamming, I
read in your new book that your 'riff' from a
jam w/ Charlie &
Brian became "Jumpin' Jack Flash". In Marianne
Faithfull's
autobiography she said that at Courtfield Road Brian would
tape songs
all night long & one that resulted during that time was
"Ruby Tuesday". Do
you know if Brian had a part in composing this song
as you did w/ "Jumpin'
Jack Flash" & were left off of the writing
credits?
Bill: No idea - never heard
this before - Marianne doesn't have a very good
memory
Geo: What for you was the most
enjoyable or artistic Stones L.P. to
record during your time w/ Brian
as a member?
Bill: Beggar's Banquet
Geo: It was during the '69'
tour that I first noticed that you started
to play a Fender bass. How
did you like playing the Fender as to your
Framus or Vox bass for live
shows?
Bill: Didn't like it -
Fenders were always too big for me - this was a small
version called a
Fender Mustang
Geo: Later you sported a Dan
Armstrong bass & Ampeg amp (SVT?) as the
whole band did. Was there
a problem w/ these new Ampeg amps farting out
after a few shows &
burning up? How did you like the sound of the 'clear' Dan
Armstrong
bass?
Bill: I obviously liked it
otherwise I wouldn't have played it
Geo: From your first solo
record in 74 "Monkey Grip" to your involvement
w/the first "Arms'"
concert for Ronnie Lane of the Small Faces to your
present band, Bill
Wyman & The Rhythm Kings it seems as if you have a knack at
getting
musicians from other bands & styles and working them
all
together.Is this some kind of 'open door' policy that you have that
lets the
musicians feel comfortable about getting involved in a new
project
without the headaches of a recording contract? You seem to have
a steady mate
w/Terry Taylor but others can rotate in & out of the
band to fit the
songs. Do you prefer to work w/ different artists from
project to project to keep
things fresh?
Bill: Yes
Geo: On the cover
jacket to your new book "Rolling With The Stones" I
see that the main
photo credit is by Gered Mankowitz. Gered did a few album
covers for
the Stones along w/ the 1965 tour program book. Have you &
Gered
ever given any thought of collaborating on a book together w/
his
photos & your diaries about his Stones photo sessions?
(Gered has just
re-released his book 'Satisfaction' The Stones
1965-1697 in a larger format w/
heavy stock paper)
Bill: Gered has a good memory
& doesn't need my collaboration
Geo: Will America see Bill
Wyman & The Rhythm Kings in 2003?
Bill: No
Geo: What is your most 'prized' Rolling Stones
memorabilia & why?
Bill: All of it
Be sure to read Bill's excellent book: Stone Alone for
more in depth answers
to most of your Rolling Stones & Bill's past
history!
For the most up to date information on what Bill & the
Rhythm Kings are up
to, check out his web site at: http://www.billwyman.com
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