Legendary Rolling Stones Bassist Bill Wyman Reveals his Ultimate Dream: Going Back on Tour!
Bill Wyman, former member of the Rolling Stones, recently shared in an interview that even after more than three decades since leaving the band, he still dreams of being on tour with the iconic rock group. The 87-year-old musician revealed that he actually quit the band two years earlier than the official records indicate, and it took his former bandmates that long to accept his decision to depart.
While the Rolling Stones are gearing up to kick off a new North American tour tonight, Wyman stated that he would not be joining them on stage. Instead, he will be at one of his three homes, spread across the U.K. and France. Despite being physically separated from the band, Wyman confessed that he continues to have vivid dreams of being on tour with them, reminiscing about dressing rooms and hotel stays with Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, and Ronnie Wood. He also mentioned dreaming about other friends like David Bowie, describing the experience as both nice and confusing.
Regarding his departure from the Rolling Stones, Wyman recounted, “I left in 1991 – but they would not believe me! They refused to accept I had left. It wasn’t until 1993 when they were preparing for a tour in 1994 that they finally acknowledged that I had departed two years earlier. They say I left in 1993.”
Explaining his decision to leave the band, Wyman expressed that after dedicating half of his life to the Rolling Stones, he felt it was time to explore other passions such as archaeology, writing books, organizing photo exhibitions, and playing charity cricket. He had a deep interest in ancient cultures and photography, which he wanted to pursue beyond his music career.
Wyman, an enthusiastic collector with a penchant for memorabilia related to Rupert the Bear, revealed that he has preserved a significant amount of material documenting his musical journey, creating a personal archive. He added, “I’ve got a library that I created of everything that has happened to me. I wanted to keep an archive of the Stones to show my son I was once in a band.”
Reflecting on the financial struggles the Rolling Stones faced in their early years, Wyman shared insights into the band’s humble beginnings. Recalling gigs where they earned as little as £2, he highlighted the initial lack of financial success as a blues band in a time when blues music was not widely popular. However, their fortunes turned around significantly later on, especially after their breakthrough in the American music scene in 1964.
Today, the Rolling Stones are one of the most legendary and enduring rock bands in history, with a massive catalogue of hits and countless fans worldwide. While their former bassist Bill Wyman has chosen a different path, his contributions to the band and his unique experiences continue to be cherished by music lovers and historians alike.
