I 've never read this :

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:
[geosound.org] 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!



[www.geosound.org]



I am a Frenchie ,as Mick affectionately called them in the Old Grey Whistle Test in 1977 .

Bill doesn't sound like he wants to talk.

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Palace Revolution 2000
Bill doesn't sound like he wants to talk.

I think so .Weird interview ,right ? Monosyllable answers .It could be intersesting to hear it .



I am a Frenchie ,as Mick affectionately called them in the Old Grey Whistle Test in 1977 .

Sounds arrogant and @#$%& up almost to the point of being fake...

Good example of an interview conducted by a nerd - and not by a journalist.
If your questions are SO terribly long, and the person you're interviewing answers in one cyllable - yes, no, and such... It's time to re-think your strategy. And get a new career!
Poor Bill! (and all others who have to put up with hordes of wanna-be-reporters, who are unfortunately just nerds")

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SwayStones

Quote
Palace Revolution 2000
Bill doesn't sound like he wants to talk.

I think so .Weird interview ,right ? Monosyllable answers .It could be intersesting to hear it .

I don't think there is anything to hear. It is more likely that it is an e-mail interview.

Therefore / Because:
- Elaborate (and well written) questions to make sure that the interviewed understands the question.
- Jumping from subject to subject: Rhythm Kings, memorabilia, basses. The interviewer has no second chance to add something to his question if he gets an unsatisfying answer.
- We had a similar (by Bill giving short answers) interview on another thread a few weeks ago that followed the same pattern.
- Precise answer requiring questions result in short answers. The subjects must be interesting to Bill. If you are on a face-to-face basis you can tell questions like: "Tell me when ...".

Whenever I interviewed Bill I found him very informative. If you are asking the wrong questions (as the radio guy once did whose turn was before mine) he qwill give yes and no answers.

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Addicted
Good example of an interview conducted by a nerd - and not by a journalist.
If your questions are SO terribly long, and the person you're interviewing answers in one cyllable - yes, no, and such... It's time to re-think your strategy. And get a new career!
Poor Bill! (and all others who have to put up with hordes of wanna-be-reporters, who are unfortunately just nerds")

Terribly long questions for sure .In french we say "make the questions AND the answers .It must have been so boring for Bill !



I am a Frenchie ,as Mick affectionately called them in the Old Grey Whistle Test in 1977 .

Quote
Addicted
Good example of an interview conducted by a nerd - and not by a journalist.
If your questions are SO terribly long, and the person you're interviewing answers in one cyllable - yes, no, and such... It's time to re-think your strategy. And get a new career!
Poor Bill! (and all others who have to put up with hordes of wanna-be-reporters, who are unfortunately just nerds")

The questions are long but very interesting, especially on basses guitars and amps...but Bill is not interesting. His answers are bored.

Quote
Paintitblak
The questions are long but very interesting, especially on basses guitars and amps...but Bill is not interesting. His answers are bored.

Well, the guy seemed bored playing with the Rolling Stones....

I think all the speculations that Brian had something to do with composing "Ruby Tuesday" should be left alone now. If Wyman really is honest (and why wouldn't he?) that this is the very first time he even hears the claim, this should indicate that the story is nothing but one more urban legend (but very living one in Brian Jones fan circles). Also Marianne rejects it in her second book.

- Doxa

Seems ironic that he mentions his most enjoyable time recording with Brian was the Beggars Banquet sessions. Everyone else says that Brian didn't do much during this time apart from the slide on No Expectations?

What does Marianne say in her second book about it? Does she acknowledge she told porkies in the first one?

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DGA35
Seems ironic that he mentions his most enjoyable time recording with Brian was the Beggars Banquet sessions. Everyone else says that Brian didn't do much during this time apart from the slide on No Expectations?

Or you could take it to mean Brian was more involved than we are sometimes led to believe.

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His Majesty
What does Marianne say in her second book about it? Does she acknowledge she told porkies in the first one?

Well, I have never read the second book (one is enough ) but I have heard reliable reports of that (I guess Lisa and Chris at Censored site will know more). She does not admit anything, but just remembers things 'differently' this time... But the point is that she doesn't claim anymore Brian being involved in creating the song.

- Doxa

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His Majesty

Quote
DGA35
Seems ironic that he mentions his most enjoyable time recording with Brian was the Beggars Banquet sessions. Everyone else says that Brian didn't do much during this time apart from the slide on No Expectations?

Or you could take it to mean Brian was more involved than we are sometimes led to believe.

Wyman does not say anything about Brian, does he? He only states that he really enjoyed making BB, a record from the BJ era. It doesn't say anything about BJ's involvement or presence.

Mathijs

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Mathijs

Quote
His Majesty

Quote
DGA35
Seems ironic that he mentions his most enjoyable time recording with Brian was the Beggars Banquet sessions. Everyone else says that Brian didn't do much during this time apart from the slide on No Expectations?

Or you could take it to mean Brian was more involved than we are sometimes led to believe.

Wyman does not say anything about Brian, does he? He only states that he really enjoyed making BB, a record from the BJ era. It doesn't say anything about BJ's involvement or presence.

Mathijs

Yes, I got the same impression as Mathijs - it is the Brian era, not Brian's involment he speaks of. But looking the face of Bill in ONE PLUS ONE one can only imagine how miserable he was in less-rewarding sessions if this was the high-light! ><

- Doxa



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009-07-30 22:48 by Doxa.

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Mathijs


Wyman does not say anything about Brian, does he? He only states that he really enjoyed making BB, a record from the BJ era. It doesn't say anything about BJ's involvement or presence.

Mathijs

No he doesn't, but still, it's obvious Brian was more involved than is generally acknowledged.

Re: Bill in One Plus One = lol!

Quote
DGA35
Seems ironic that he mentions his most enjoyable time recording with Brian was the Beggars Banquet sessions. Everyone else says that Brian didn't do much during this time apart from the slide on No Expectations?

Maybe irony IS the answer? ;-)

Brian probably played as much, if not more than Bill on Beggars Banquet.

.......my bad...but..when I first read the title of the thread I thought it was an obit.......I had to read it again a few times to be sure it wasn't.

>> I don't think there is anything to hear. It is more likely that it is an e-mail interview. <<

i agree - it has all the earmarks of a written interview, not a "live" one.
the interviewer didn't do his homework some of those questions, which is dorky,
but doing email/written interviews is really difficult.

>> It doesn't say anything about Brian's involvement or presence [with/on Beggars Banquet]. <<

i agree with that too.

Quote
Doxa

Quote
Mathijs

Quote
His Majesty

Quote
DGA35
Seems ironic that he mentions his most enjoyable time recording with Brian was the Beggars Banquet sessions. Everyone else says that Brian didn't do much during this time apart from the slide on No Expectations?

Or you could take it to mean Brian was more involved than we are sometimes led to believe.

Wyman does not say anything about Brian, does he? He only states that he really enjoyed making BB, a record from the BJ era. It doesn't say anything about BJ's involvement or presence.

Mathijs

Yes, I got the same impression as Mathijs - it is the Brian era, not Brian's involment he speaks of. But looking the face of Bill in ONE PLUS ONE one can only imagine how miserable he was in less-rewarding sessions if this was the high-light! ><

- Doxa

Doxa, I don't really think he was frowning in 1+1; I think that is just the way he looks. LOL. His modus operandi
(Sort of like when you ask a girl "When is the baby due?" and she goes "What do you mean?")

Re: that it is an on line interview; it probably is, but I have heard Bill do actual interviews with exactly these kind of answers, and still pull it off. The Stones have acquired this kind of luxury where they are "allowed" to be very short because people are mostly so elated to get their attention at all. I heard a radio interview during the release of ER on Dutch radio where Bill literally answered every question with "Ask Mick". And it was the "Bill Segment" of the interviews. He was there to do interviews. Not some on street paparazzi situation.

If some of you actually took the time to look at the guy's web site,
you'd find he's not a journalist but a guy who owns a recording studio somewhere in Philadelphia. He's got other interviews on there, too: Ian McLagan,
Shel Talmy, George Martin. Actually, I think he asked some pretty good questions regarding basses, etc...
Funny: Bill badmouths the Vox bass and the Fender bass, but when asked about
the Dan Armstrong he says, "well, of course I must have liked it if I played it."
Then why did he play the other ones if he didn't like them?
IS there a bass he actually liked?

Yes. No. Maybe.

Next.

>> I think he asked some pretty good questions regarding basses <<

the questions about basses aren't bad - except that the answer to at least one of them is in Rolling With the Stones,
which the interviewer claims to have read. not a good way to impress an author.
getting the name of that B side wrong isn't too impressive either.
but like i said it is really hard to do written interviews - you just have to splat out all your questions
and hope some of them fire the subject's imagination - but then when they do you can't pursue them further.
tragic ... have some popcorn ...



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009-07-31 09:22 by with sssoul.