Bill Wyman biography

Synopsis

Profile

Born William George Perks on October 24, 1936, in Lewishman, Kent. As a child, Wyman played organ with his father, taking up piano lessons at age 10. After serving in the Armed Forces in the British Navy, he returned to England, took a job as a carpenter, and set about teaching himself to play bass guitar.

In 1962, Wyman auditioned and earned a spot with the Rolling Stones, who then included Mick Jagger (vocals, harmonica), Keith Richards (guitar, vocals), Charlie Watts (drums), and Brian Jones (guitar). The band released its debut album, The Rolling Stones, in 1964. Subsequent albums throughout the 1960s and 1970s catapulted the British band into a worldwide phenomenon thanks to such hit songs as "Brown Sugar" (1971), "Angie" (1973), "It's Only Rock 'n Roll" (1974) and "Respectable" (1978).

During the Stones' run of success, Wyman also managed to launch a solo career. His second solo album, Stone Alone (1976), received critical acclaim but poor sales. Wyman stayed with the Stones until 1993, and has since been playing with his own band the Rhythm Kings. The group has released several albums, including 2004's Just a Thrill, which featured a guest appearance by George Harrison of the Beatles fame. The band continues to tour every year.

Exploring other creative outlets, Wyman has written several books. He explored his time with the Rolling Stones in Stone Alone: The Story of a Rock and Roll Band (1990), Rolling with the Stones (2002), The Stones: A History in Cartoons (2006), and The Rolling Stones: In the Beginning (2006). A true fan of blues music, he also wrote Bill Wyman's Blues Odyssey: A Journey to Music's Heart and Soul (2001). Wyman is also a gifted photographer whose portraits of artist Marc Chagall were published in 1998's Wyman Shoots Chagall.

An amateur archaeologist and metal detector hobbyist, he also penned Bill Wyman's Treasure Island: Britain's History Uncovered (2005). He became the spokesman for the Bill Wyman Signature Metal Detector in 2007.

Wyman has been married to Suzanne Accosta since 1993, and the couple has three daughters, Katharine, Jessica, and Matilda. He also has