It's been some 25 years since Bill Wyman left the band. Is that good or bad? If you wanna be cynical you can say it was better he left. He had done some great stuff with the Rythm Kings, and that stuff would probably not be released if he had been in the band. If he had stayed in the Stones he would just play the bass and nothing else. It's Mick&Keith who runs everything. Anyone who misses him?



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2018-03-08 23:05 by bv.

i dont think it matters a great deal now, when he left most of us would never have thought the band would still be going 25 years later anyway, so that they are is the bonus.

The Stones adapted without him and created a new sound. But imo that sound was better with Bill and Bill had a unique way of playing bass that although not as technical as Darryl was definitely more interesting.

Neither.

There was a Rollin' Stones band before Bill Wyman joined, and there would have been one if he had not replaced Dick Taylor -- which no doubt would have met with a similar success regardless...

...with one notable exception...

Miss Bill a lot.
Not just the playing, but like every Stone, what he added to the group in the overall persona of the band. An original. Glad I got to to see him live with the band a few times.. Not going to put much into the rumor of him making an appearance at any of the upcoming shows, but plan on eating at his restaurant while in town .

He has been missed...not the most technically gifted bassist but it worked and at times it couldn't have been better. He got out at the right time in terms of new recordings...he didn't want to tour any more and so from his perspective it was perfect timing. Not so for us fans.

Bill was great. I prefer Darryll Jones

It's unfortunate for Wyman's legacy that the beginning of the Stones' best era as a live act coincided with him leaving the band.

Would we have had those swaggering, uninhibited performances during 1994/5 with a motionless Wyman onstage?

Bill's departure seemed to release the Stones back to their roots.

A capable bassist, but Darryl Jones is a far better fit for the band.

Absolutely nothing good in that. They lost an integral part of their sound. A gap Darryll hasn't been able to fill. They are 0,8 x Rolling Stones now. Or less even.
And, as opposed to the other band members, Bill didn't drop in quality and deliverance over the years. He was rock steady.

No, don't miss him at all. An important part of history yes, great Bass player yes but Darryl Jones doesn't get enough credit. He offers much more as a Bass player in my opinion and I prefer his playing to Bills. Sorry if that upsets anyone but just simply how I feel.

Bill was the greatest.. never been the same since he left.

Bill is heavily missed, and practically irreplaceable, yet glad they continued without him even if their sound has been lessened.
I think Darryl does what is minimally necessary just as a session/studio musician should, and in that sense they could have hired any skilled bass player.

_____________________________________________________________
Rip this joint, gonna save your soul, round and round and round we go......

Cool topic!

I miss him a lot. D. Jones is very good but the loss of Bill, as well as Stu was the end of the classic Stones sound - at least to my ears. They're still great, but it's not the same.

"Gonna find my way to heaven ..."

I guess I'm used to it. I miss Bill but have nothing bad to say about Darryl...D fits in with Charlie and if Charlie is happy, the band is happy and that makes me happy

Of course I miss Bill, but even if he were willing and able to tour with them, I fear the magic isn't there any longer. His brief reunion at the O2 (admittedly, not the songs I would have given him) seemed uninspired. Yes, I know he complained he didn't have time to rehearse. They did three days of rehearsals at his studio a year earlier. I wonder if they were less than thrilled with his playing then. Playing with different musicians (especially a drummer) for 25 years can change you. That said, Keith, Ronnie, and Darryl are either variable or undistinguished much of the time on stage during the post-Wyman years so I'm not blaming Bill for that.

In the studio, I like Darryl fine (especially VOODOO LOUNGE). I think more appropriate choices to replace Bill would have been Joey Spaminato or Jeff Sarli, but they clearly wanted more of a professional sideman such as Darryl or Doug Wimbish. Both of those choices are preferable to Charley Drayton. I suspect Drayton's replacement in the Winos, Jerome Smith was also an early contender to replace Bill since he played on the WANDERING SPIRIT sessions as well.

Met Jerome Smith a couple of times in the last month or two ....
Really friendly and can really rock the joint vocal wise ...

He did a barn-stormin' set with Ben Waters and few nights ago ... The guy's cool ...



ROCKMAN

Quote
Stoneage
Absolutely nothing good in that. They lost an integral part of their sound. A gap Darryll hasn't been able to fill. They are 0,8 x Rolling Stones now. Or less even.
And, as opposed to the other band members, Bill didn't drop in quality and deliverance over the years. He was rock steady.

amen

Interesting as always, Terry. Whenever I hear the Winos playing "Something Else" with Jerome I think how much he plays like Darryl.

What a shame Ben Waters didn't stay on after the 2011 rehearsals at Bill's studio. Would have loved to hear authentic boogie-woogie notes on stage. Of course, I'd love it if Chuck played his studio organ or piano in concert rather than the set-up he takes on tour.

Quote
Olly
It's unfortunate for Wyman's legacy that the beginning of the Stones' best era as a live act coincided with him leaving the band.

Would we have had those swaggering, uninhibited performances during 1994/5 with a motionless Wyman onstage?

Bill's departure seemed to release the Stones back to their roots.

A capable bassist, but Darryl Jones is a far better fit for the band.

Yup

What a shame Ben Waters didn't stay on after the 2011 rehearsals at Bill's studio.

Had some really interesting Stones chats with Ben ... The rehearsal sessions
were all recorded but very jam like ... the first day was spent just sitting around telling old tales from the past ... A lot of what I was told cant be
repeated here ..... Jagger didn't turn up till the final day and Ben was actually asked if he could accompany them on tour but it never eventuated ....
I'll see ben again tonight at Pistol Pete's so hopefully some more Stones stories and again at up-coming folk festival after some pasta and a LAUGH ...



ROCKMAN

Now there's a guy who lives the Life of Riley. Two guys, actually. Should you feel the need to unburden your soul to someone sworn to the sanctity of the confessional, you know how to reach me, my son.

... But father it is not I who have sinned ...... HHHHaaaaaaaaaaaaaa



ROCKMAN

ROCKMAN

Quote
Olly
It's unfortunate for Wyman's legacy that the beginning of the Stones' best era as a live act coincided with him leaving the band.

Would we have had those swaggering, uninhibited performances during 1994/5 with a motionless Wyman onstage?

Bill's departure seemed to release the Stones back to their roots.

A capable bassist, but Darryl Jones is a far better fit for the band.

Wrong on all four counts. You managed to make four incredibly bad statements in one post.

Quote
Rockman
What a shame Ben Waters didn't stay on after the 2011 rehearsals at Bill's studio.

Had some really interesting Stones chats with Ben ... The rehearsal sessions
were all recorded but very jam like ... the first day was spent just sitting around telling old tales from the past ... A lot of what I was told cant be
repeated here ..... Jagger didn't turn up till the final day and Ben was actually asked if he could accompany them on tour but it never eventuated ....
I'll see ben again tonight at Pistol Pete's so hopefully some more Stones stories and again at up-coming folk festival after some pasta and a LAUGH ...

Agreed that Ben should be in The Stones. Far more suitable than that Las Vegas ivory tinkler that they mostly use

Enjoy Ben's show! I'd be there but for family obligations at the moment.

--
Captain Corella
60 Years a Fan

He wasn't much more than a half-time member anyway. And I don't think his playing was something special eighter.

A note on Darryl's technicality - let's be frank, he is the most technical musician on stage than any of them. It isn't only Bill that he's more technical than.

People say Darryl doesn't get enough credit - I say neither does Bill.

Quote
Olly
It's unfortunate for Wyman's legacy that the beginning of the Stones' best era as a live act coincided with him leaving the band.

Would we have had those swaggering, uninhibited performances during 1994/5 with a motionless Wyman onstage?

Bill's departure seemed to release the Stones back to their roots.

A capable bassist, but Darryl Jones is a far better fit for the band.

“Best era as a live act” began in 94-95? Have you seen or heard any of their live performances between ‘69 and ‘78???

Quote
Stoneage
Absolutely nothing good in that. They lost an integral part of their sound. A gap Darryll hasn't been able to fill. They are 0,8 x Rolling Stones now. Or less even.
And, as opposed to the other band members, Bill didn't drop in quality and deliverance over the years. He was rock steady.

Of course

Daryl 's playing is horrible since the Licks Tour (Listen to it's only rock and roll for exemple), he sounds like a cover band) , he doesn't care about Stones's Discography and worst he can't play the real Wyman bass part.
I think is tired of doing this.




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