Bill Wyman is of the opinion that the Rolling Stones could have disbanded after Charlie Watt’s death – and probably should have disbanded better. The Stones’ drummer died in August 2021 at the age of 80. Before that, he had already had to withdraw from touring life due to health problems. Watts’ place on drums was taken by Steve Jordan. Mind you, he didn’t become a full member on stage.
In a new interview, Bill Wyman, 88, spoke about the death of his friend and former band member Charlie Watts. He assumed that the Rolling Stones would be history after his death. “When Charlie died, I thought they were going to stop,” he told Classic Rock. “I really thought so. They could replace the bass player, but I didn’t think they could replace Charlie and his charisma. And what a great guy he was. But they continued, which surprised me. I wouldn’t say it disappointed me, but it surprised me. I think it would have been a good time for them… but I don’t think they have anything else to do, otherwise they would, right?”
“You have nothing else”
Then Wyman suggests that the Stones must move on. Because they have nothing else that they are good at or that they can make a living from. “I have six different things that I do all the time. And I’m so happy about it. But I don’t think she… Well, Ronnie has art, secondly… And Mick tried to make films and stuff. But he didn’t really succeed. And he’s done solo projects that didn’t work out as well as they should either. And so they just do… It’s always just the Stones.
And he talks about how Watts’ death devastated him. “We were always very close. After I left the band we saw each other every week until his death. He came to our house. ‘Can I have a cup of tea, Bill?’ And we talked for an hour or two. So when the Stones did that one song with Charlie [„Live By The Sword“ auf dem Album „Hackney Diamonds “vom letzten Jahr] Mick and the producer Andrew Watt called me and asked me if I wanted to play on it and I was actually pretty happy about it. Only once.”
Bill Wyman left the Stones in 1993, but occasionally returned to the Stones stage as their special guest. However, it cannot be said that he himself has become a superstar as a solo artist with his Rhythm Kings. Most recently he complained in an interview that Mick Jagger and Keef Reibach had done it, but that he and Ronnie Wood had been fobbed off with little money.