The old Rolling Stones bassist, Bill Wyman, nearing the sizeable age of 80 years.
He rounded out the 78 the other day, but the age of plagues him in nowise, and he is still fresh to annual tours with his Rhythm Kings band, which he started a few years after he had left, Mick Jagger & Co. in 1993.
On the Bill Wyman’s birthday is the 31. October took the Rhythm Kings set off on a six weeks long tour in Europe, as the 4. and 5. december, gives concerts in respectively. Posten in Odense and Bremen in Copenhagen.
the Tour takes place far from the luxury of a private plane, 5-star hotels and large limousines, that he knows all about from his 31 years in the Rolling Stones.
On the other hand it is more fun, assuring, he Extra Magazine on the phone from London, where the last samples going on.
– It is more fun with the audience closer. Exactly, as it was more fun with the Stones, before we were famous and just drove around in a small cart from concert to concert. There was no pressure from record companies, and we should not worry about the charts. Just enjoy it and have fun.
– It is also the pleasure by the Rhythm Kings. We do it not for money, but because we think it is a blast to play all types of music, we are able to – from blues, jazz, soul, rock’a’ billy and a little bit country-like.
Bill Wyman was the Stones ‘ bassist in 31 years. (AP Photo)
Five lømler ready to conquer the world. (Topfoto)
along the Way in the conversation is Bill Wyman interrupted by another phone, as I have to take’, apologized he.
– It was the doctor. Everything was in order, announced the Bill, when he again was in the phone with the Extra Leaf.
– How do you have it with, you are approaching the 80 year?
– Utterly ridiculous, right?
– But I still have good health, enjoying life with a wonderful young wife and three teenage daughters. Life is fat. So why not just continue.
– How did you avoid the usual gammelmands diseases?
– I get them just don’t, hehe! No, I don’t live according to certain rules, do not grow exercise. Living just plain, as I have always done. Have never taken drugs, don’t drink all the world, and have not smoked since I stopped, after 50 years, seven years ago.
Bill Wyman started the Rhythm Kings in 1999, and even though there is a fairly fixed strain in the orchestra, are invited each time one or a few guests on tours.
This time the american Motown singer Mary Wilson with the glorious past of the legendary The Supremes with Diana Ross as the figurehead.
But Mary was the nicest of them, appraise the always kvindeglade bassist.
– We became good friends in the 60’s in a time period, adding the Bill and laugh in the phone, and then you can even imagine what you must lie in it.
the Bill was known as a true womaniser in the Rolling Stones. In the game, he reduced almost Mick Jagger for a pure amateur. Deceased Brian Jones was his only true competitor.
” Is it true that you’ve been in bed more than 1,000 ladies?
– It is true enough, but it was not what people think it was. Before the Stones gave a mate me a good advice: ’always Treat women like a lady’, and I did always. Even when I broke up with them. Any of them, I am writing still. A friend in Australia who I went out with in 1963-’64 – she has grandchildren now – I’m still in contact with. I treated them never bad, and threw their togs out.
Bill with his first wife, Swedish-born Astrid. (Atlas Photography)
Bill is married to his second wife, the very young Mandy Smith. (Zuma Press)
– It was not the so-called one night stands. I saw them always again. When I was in New York, there were always two black women I saw. Each and every time. I so always it is like to have the company on tour. Tours are not as romantic as it sounds. It is exciting the two hours, you are on the scene. The rest is a nightmare to pack down and pack out. Female company helped to pass the time, and I were not looking for them. They sought me out and was very friendly and sweet.
– But I was always careful with who I was together with. Never with the groupies, and I have never been infected with sexual diseases, what many people had at the time, says Bill Wyman.
– Have you never regretted that you left the Rolling Stones?
– Never so much as a second. We are still good friends. They actually just sent me a nice box of champagne as a birthday gift. We are a kind family and is still on the gifts with each other for christmas and birthdays, says Bill, there is also still receives royalties from his time in ’the world’s greatest band’.
– It was the time with all the hits’one, so it is definitely very useful, underplayed he is.
Bill and his wife, Suzanne. (Eaglepress)
You played with them at a few concerts in the summer, which marked the 50th anniversary of the Stones?
– Yes, I played a couple of songs. They wouldn’t let me in more.
– You would like to have been more with?
– Well, I got the impression of having to be more involved. But it was just for two songs, It was a lot of fun, and it gave my three daughters the opportunity to see me in the Stones. So, on the way, it was fine. But you can’t go back and relive things as they were in the past. How it works not, whether it is about an old girlfriend, school buddies, or the soldiers-friends.
– You were not with the american concerts behind?
– They asked but I said no. I could manage not to go to America for two calls location sake. Even though it was two good – ’It’s Only Rock’n’ Roll’ and ’Honky Tonk Women’, chuckling Bill Wyman.