Darryl Jones: "The Rolling Stones are pretty cool about letting me play what I want - they trust that I'll find the essence of the songs"

By Joel McIver
July 3, 2020


Paul Charbit/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images

[www.guitarworld.com]

He's pretty much had the same answers for these interviews since joining the Stones but this is the most informative interview I've read.

Nice! Class act as always.

Yes. Still my guess is that he's basically in it for the money. I prefer Bill or a similar player. Darryl is a jazz player, very good but not for the Stones,imo.

"At one rehearsal, I figured out what Bill had played on Respectable,
and I started playing it, and Mick was like 'Where are you going?’
I said, ‘Well, this is what Bill played on the song’ and he said
‘No no, don’t play that. Play what you hear.’

Unfortunately.

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TooTough
"At one rehearsal, I figured out what Bill had played on Respectable,
and I started playing it, and Mick was like 'Where are you going?’
I said, ‘Well, this is what Bill played on the song’ and he said
‘No no, don’t play that. Play what you hear.’

Unfortunately.

Of course he could 'copy' Bill.

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TheflyingDutchman
Yes. Still my guess is that he's basically in it for the money. I prefer Bill or a similar player. Darryl is a jazz player, very good but not for the Stones,imo.

Very ignorant comment

Darryl seems a nice guy and is clearly an excellent musician (in the proper environment), but many feel he doesn't quite gel well with the Stones.

“I’m not saying they don’t keep going, but they need Bill. Without him they’re a funk band.
They’ll be the real Rolling Stones when they get Bill back.” - Bob Dylan

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

I doubt he could “copy” Bill.

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Taylor1
I doubt he could “copy” Bill.

.


Why not. What’s so hard about playing his bass lines. Nothing. Bill is not a Billy Sheehan Just basic at best.

Don't blame Darryl for anything. He's just a hired hand. If he gets a good offer - why should he turn it down? Working with the Stones must be a dream for any professional musician.
More free time than work. Good pay. Travel in first class. See the world. Good for him. Seems like a nice guy altogether.

Whether he was the right choice for The Rolling Stones? That's another question...

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GasLightStreet
He's pretty much had the same answers for these interviews since joining the Stones

That’s what Keith told him to do

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Cooltoplady

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Taylor1
I doubt he could “copy” Bill.

.


Why not. What’s so hard about playing his bass lines. Nothing. Bill is not a Billy Sheehan Just basic at best.

That's like saying it's easy to play like Keith because he's not Yngwee Malmsteen or Steve Vai...nothing hard about Keiths playing...it's basic at best....
While those shredders are technical wizards at guitar playing, a few important gifts they lack are some heart, soul, feel, and overall vibe - things that make Keith (and Bill) unique. original, and as great as they are.

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



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2020-07-06 21:19 by Hairball.

I asked Keith, ‘Hey man, did you play bass on this song?’ and he
said ‘Yeah’. I said ‘So what’s the bassline?’ and he was like,
‘I don’t know, man. You’re the bass player, you tell me what the bassline is!’



ROCKMAN

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Hairball

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Cooltoplady

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Taylor1
I doubt he could “copy” Bill.

.


Why not. What’s so hard about playing his bass lines. Nothing. Bill is not a Billy Sheehan Just basic at best.

That's like saying it's easy to play like Keith because he's not Yngwee Malmsteen or Steve Vai...nothing hard about Keiths playing...it's basic at best....
While those shredders are technical wizards at guitar playing, a few important gifts they lack are some heart, soul, feel, and overall vibe - things that make Keith (and Bill) unique. original, and as great as they are.

Exactly

I would say that is a truism or a cliche: Just because you are technically good at what you are doing you lack soul or feeling. Try that in another trade: Federer is a technically brilliant tennis player
so therefore he probably lacks soul or feeling in his game. But the guy ranked 822 probably knows the inner soul of tennis...

Bill never played with soul or heart. Just root notes with an 3rd or octave added. Pretty lame player. Glad he's gone.

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Stoneage
I would say that is a truism or a cliche: Just because you are technically good at what you are doing you lack soul or feeling. Try that in another trade: Federer is a technically brilliant tennis player
so therefore he probably lacks soul or feeling in his game. But the guy ranked 822 probably knows the inner soul of tennis...

Tennis is a competitive sport where excelling technically helps accomplish a goal, whereas music is an art form where excelling technically isn't a requirement in order to succeed.
It was just a general observation and not all technical wizards are heartless and soulless, but the two I mentioned are interchangeable to the point of being boring...Joe Satriani is another who fits the bill imo.

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

Okay, I hear you Hairball. I was just a little bit tired of the cliche. You know, like because you're good at one thing you're bad at another...

The same can be said of the misguided myth that if you're NOT a technical wizard, then your skills/contributions are basic at best and amount to nothing - easy peasy and anyone can do it.

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

Lat's not forget that Mick and Keith asked Charlie to choose a new bass player.
Both set up the 'engine room' as they say.

Of course, Charlie was hesitant about this but Mick + Keith wanted him to make that choice.

So Darryl quite naturally fits in with Charlie! They play well together, IMHO.

They've always said they didn't tell people what to play.
Although if Keith didn't like what you played he'd erase it and record it himself.
But it's cool they give him this freedom. They wouldn't have kept him otherwise.

Keith is brilliant on rhythm guitar and in a band setting.Steve Vai could not play rhythm like him just like Joe Satriani didn’t when he was with Jagger

So if you think that Darryl is not "really" the right choice for the Stones, you believe that you know better than the Rolling Stones what is good the band?
Ok good for you because I feel that they know better than me what is good for them.
Rockandroll,
Mops

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Waterrats
So Darryl quite naturally fits in with Charlie! They play well together, IMHO

I don't think so, Waterrats. I don't even think Darryl is a rock and roll guitarist. His forte is jazz and soul. Maybe funk. Poor decision by Charlie (if it was him...).
I can't help thinking image had something to do with the decision. Like in Ron's case in the seventies. I guess they were looking for street cred or something.
Don't get me wrong. Darryl is a brilliant musician.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2020-07-07 00:10 by Stoneage.

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Taylor1
Keith is brilliant on rhythm guitar and in a band setting.Steve Vai could not play rhythm like him just like Joe Satriani didn’t when he was with Jagger

Jimmy Rip played "Keith" on those tours. But you're right. Satriani would never been able to limit himself or chose the sound to get it right had he attempted to do Keith's parts.

Rip did a pretty good job, though. You can tell he's a real fan.

Yep, Rip is a very good guitarist. Of course he is not Keith. Only Keith is Keith. Rip was very good in that one-off MJ gig in NYC (was it in 1993?)
It must have been a novelty for Jagger to completely trust and lean on a lead guitarist in that way...

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More Hot Rocks
Bill never played with soul or heart. Just root notes with an 3rd or octave added. Pretty lame player. Glad he's gone.

Your poor ears. The exact opposite is true. Bill could play one note and give a song emotional depth. Darryl has no emotional depth in his bass playing.

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24FPS

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More Hot Rocks
Bill never played with soul or heart. Just root notes with an 3rd or octave added. Pretty lame player. Glad he's gone.

Your poor ears. The exact opposite is true. Bill could play one note and give a song emotional depth. Darryl has no emotional depth in his bass playing.

oh yeah like Sympathy, Live With Me, Fingerprint File, Rip This Joint Oh wait, that wasn't Bill. I have to agree with MHR No soul no desire in his playing. Just going through the motions in ever show. He even admitted he never like Stones songs. Can't stand the man or his playing. Glad your gone Bill. Stay that way.

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Rockman
I asked Keith, ‘Hey man, did you play bass on this song?’ and he
said ‘Yeah’. I said ‘So what’s the bassline?’ and he was like,
‘I don’t know, man. You’re the bass player, you tell me what the bassline is!’

Typical Keith and very funny response!