Throughout his book,keith seems to overlook bill wyman. Is it because of the Jumpin Jack flash riff bill was playing on piano when mick and keith heard it? Keith says jjf is THE riff in the stones catalogue.Bill is great and contrary to what keith says, bill is as part of the stones sound as anybody.

No

maybe its just that bill is uninteresting

Yes. And though Keith should have thought about his book more than he did, his co-writer and editor should have asked him many far-ranging questions about good times...amazing times...bad times and what his true regrets and pleasures have been in terms of the musicians and crew he has worked with for so long. He lacks humility in the book. And I'm sure he must feel humble from time to time.
Maybe not

As much as I love Keith I thought he was too tough on Bill in Life. Even though Keith has given Bill a lot of credit for his playing during the years. Bill just wants to be loved like every other human, and he helped Keith a lot during the rough time in Toronto in '77.

You're a rag trade girl, You're the queen of porn, You're the easiest lay on the white house lawn!!

I wish he'd commented on Bill's todger. In fact, I wish he'd commented on all of their todgers.

I think Keith for the most part talked about Bill like they probably always did amongst themselves, taking the mickey out of Bill for his weak tea and fondness for girls, any girls. The only part that was odd was the begrudging respect for Keith offered for Bill's playing. Rather than admit that his sound was a crucial element of the Stones sound, he said that he had good "Timing". Huh? I'm not a musician but that seems like the absolute minimum compliment you could give.

In truth I've never read an astute analysis of Bill's playing over the years. The Wyman/Watts rhythm section was lauded, but nobody seemed able or willing to say why. There's something about Bill and Keith's relationship that's like two magnets repelling each other. You never see them acknowledge each other on stage. I've read where they both felt the other didn't like the other one for whatever reason. Oh well, candles at Christmas.

Unless I'm mistaken Keith is the only Stone Bill hasn't seen socially since quitting the band.

werent they both at woodys daughters wedding?

Keith didn't really go into details into people he wasn't friends with it seems, besides Bill, he dedicated just one page to Taylor, and he barely mentioned Nicky Hopkins (who was as important in the band as anyone in the late 60's/early 70's).

Slighted Bill?

Are you kidding...I'm sure MJ wished he were slighted in a similar manner.

My impression was that he was pretty cold towards him. I never read Stone Alone, but in Rolling with the Stones Bill went out of his way to say some nice things about Keith and called him a good friend. Keith Didn't do that at all.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011-10-22 05:07 by ryanpow.

Sometimes I fear that it's just a job and they don't love each other as much as we love them and then I remember of course not. That only happens to people who work together who aren't famous.

You can work with someone and get along while not having all that much in common with them. You don't have to be best friends with people you work well with. The Stones survived all these years because they were able to unite behind making music and making money. Their private lives were connected because they were in the band. It was to a degree something they didn't necessarily seek out, especially after spending so much time together out on tour and in the studio. Just because Keith doesn't go out of his way in his book to say what a great guy Bill is doesn't mean he doesn't care about him, or disrespect him as a musician. In the end it's just about the music isn't it?

Who knows what was left out of the book?
Perhaps Keith did speak more about his colleagues in the Stones quite a bit and his editor didn't think any of it was worthy or something that would sell the book.
Outside of Mick, Brian and Woody, it seems the other Stones were slighted as far as Keith commenting on the individual relationships, etc. I don't know anything about Bill, Mick Taylor or even Charlie that I didn't know before.

"Life" is not the normal horseshit autobiography that makes nice and offers
reflection and balance and the wisdom of years. It is what Keith has said:
a re-living of his life, in his head, as it happened. That is why it is such
a great and amazing book.

Certain times are vivid, certain times are just a blur.

Was Bill Wyman slighted during Keith's "Life"? Yes. Keith didn't change history.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011-10-22 09:11 by nocomment.

When you have about ten pages about drug buddy Freddy Sessler and about two asides on the guy who created all this music with you for thirty years, yes, I would say Bill was slighted.

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71Tele
When you have about ten pages about drug buddy Freddy Sessler and about two asides on the guy who created all this music with you for thirty years, yes, I would say Bill was slighted.

Keith has slighted Bill for nearly half a century.

KR was slighted in Bill's books as well, mainly in the first one

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KeithNacho
KR was slighted in Bill's books as well, mainly in the first one

Bill gave Brian credit that no-one else was giving, but I don't feel he slighted Keith at all.

Are we looking for something that just isn't there????

Ultimately does it matter? Bill probably doesn't care. I know I don't.

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24FPS

In truth I've never read an astute analysis of Bill's playing over the years. The Wyman/Watts rhythm section was lauded, but nobody seemed able or willing to say why.

Don Was has spoken a lot about Bill - Don's a bass player himself, so I'm not suprised - I remeber reading an article about Don's work with the Stones and Don seems to regret that he never got a chance to work with Bill. In his words " Bill's amazing bass player and truly one of the greatest bass players in rock n roll history" I hope I can find that article, If I do I will post it on this website. Meantime, You can see Don on the bonus features of "Stones In Exile" DVD where he talks about Bill's bass playing again.

I don't think Keith ever forgave Bill for leaving the Stones, even though Bill clearly had valid reasons for doing so. The thing about being a band - a brand - is that your livelihood depends on the band and brand remaining intact, because that is what the public has chosen to pay for. That was the bitter pill Mick had to swallow - the public was only interested as long as he was part of the Stones.

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Bliss
I don't think Keith ever forgave Bill for leaving the Stones, even though Bill clearly had valid reasons for doing so.

Keith never praised Bill before that though.

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stones78
Keith didn't really go into details into people he wasn't friends with it seems, besides Bill, he dedicated just one page to Taylor, and he barely mentioned Nicky Hopkins (who was as important in the band as anyone in the late 60's/early 70's).

No he wasn't. He wasn't nearly as important at that point as Mick,Keith,or Taylor. I hate statements like that.

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brianwalker

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stones78
Keith didn't really go into details into people he wasn't friends with it seems, besides Bill, he dedicated just one page to Taylor, and he barely mentioned Nicky Hopkins (who was as important in the band as anyone in the late 60's/early 70's).

No he wasn't. He wasn't nearly as important at that point as Mick,Keith,or Taylor. I hate statements like that.

I'd say that Nicky Hopkins was more important musically than Mick Taylor in 1969 (& Brian in 1968 - early 1969).

There was a disconnect but Keith and Bill had a rapprochement brought about by Ronnie. You can deplore Ronnie all you want, and long for Taylor, but I think the RS would have gone down in flames for good without Ronnie's peacemaking abilities.

But Keith stated subsequently that he was very upset that Bill left - "No one get to leave the RS except in a box".

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ryanpow
My impression was that he was pretty cold towards him. I never read Stone Alone, but in Rolling with the Stones Bill went out of his way to say some nice things about Keith and called him a good friend. Keith Didn't do that at all.

BooHoo..
On the other hand, everyone can dig out lot of interviews where Keith says nice things about Bill.

Keith just never had anything in common with Bill, and he didn't like Bill's playing very much. And the latter has always amazed me, that Keith never seemed to have been able to understand why the Stones where such a great band, and that Wyman was such an integral part of it. Their choice of Darryl Jones as replacement says it all.

Mathijs

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Scooby
looking for something that just isn't there????

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