Simon James/GC ImagesLongtime Rolling Stones bass player Bill Wyman celebrates his 80th birthday today. Born William Perks in 1936, Wyman joined The Stones shortly after the band formed in 1962, and was a member of the group until 1993.
Wyman contributed to all of The Rolling Stones’ albums through 1989’s Steel Wheels, although he only wrote one song that appeared on any of the band’s studio releases — “In Another Land,” which is featured on 1968’s Their Satanic Majesties Request.
In 1974, Wyman released his first solo album, Monkey Grip, and he’s gone on to put out several others over the years, including, most recently, 2015’s Back to Basics. In 1981, he scored a #14 hit on the U.K. singles chart with “(Si, Si) Je Suis un Rock Star.”
During the 1980s, Wyman also composed soundtrack music for a number of films.
Since leaving The Rolling Stones, Wyman’s main musical focus has been his group The Rhythm Kings, which mostly plays old R&B and rock ‘n’ roll tunes and generally only tours in the U.K. and Europe.
In November of 2012, Wyman rejoined The Rolling Stones to play a couple of songs at two London concerts as part of the band’s 50th anniversary tour. He has since said he has no interest in playing with The Stones again.
As previously reported, Wyman and The Rhythm Kings will headline a special all-star concert in celebration of his 80th birthday this Friday, on October 28, as part of the 2016 edition of the annual BluesFest London event. Among the guest stars who will take part in the show are Robert Plant, Mark Knopfler, Simply Red singer Mick Hucknall, Bob Geldof, Imelda May and a number of as-yet-unannounced artists. The concert will be held at the Indigo venue at London’s O2 complex.
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