British Musician and composer - Ex-Rolling Stones bass player. 1936 -

Born William George Perks in Penge on 24th October 1936, he took piano lessons from age 10 to 13, and began an interest in music which continued with his teaching himself to play the bass guitar. On leaving school, he worked as a bookmaker's clerk before joining the Royal Air Force as a technician.

In 1962 he joined the Rolling Stones as their bass player, and began a 30-year career with the lads before leaving to develop other musical and business interests. His musical interests have always been jazz, blues and hillbilly music, influences which show clearly through his later solo work.

He helped to produce many of the Stones' songs, although only two of his songs was ever recorded by them - 'In Another Land' in 1967 and Downtown Suzie in 1975. He began to record his own songs as a solo artist in the 70s, beginning with Monkey Grip in 1974, and achieving an enormous hit with '(Si, Si) Je Suis Un Rock Star' in 1982, which was the most successful solo single of any Rolling Stones member.

Bill has been a figure of some controversy too - his alleged seduction of and relationship with the 13-year old Mandy Smith (whom he later married) caused him to become a figure of some noteriety.

Although he quit the Stones in 1992, he continues to work, play and record, focusing on his musical roots and his Sticky Fingers restaurant chain.

Solo Discography

Groovin'
Monkey Grip - 1974
Stone Alone - 1976
Bill Wyman - 1982
Struttin' Our Stuff - 1998
Anyway The Wind Blows - 1999
Double Bill - 2001

Filmography

Acting:

Charlie Is My Darling (1966)
Sympathy for the Devil (1968)
Gimme Shelter (1970)
Cocksucker Blues (1972)
Ladies and Gentlemen: The Rolling Stones (1973)
Sound of the City: London 1964-73 (1981)
Let's Spend the Night Together (1982)
Ready Steady Go, Volume 1 (1983) ....
Ready Steady Go, Volume 2 (1985)
Eat the Rich (1987) (supporting role as 'Toilet Victim')
[25 X 5: The Continuing Adventures of the Rolling Stones (1989)
At the Max (1991)
The Beatles Revolution (2000

Music

Opera (1987)
Il Mondo dell'orrore di Dario Argento (1985)
The Valley (1985)
Phenomena (1985)
Green Ice (1981)

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