In a recent interview with Britain’s Daily Mirror, Bill Wyman claimed that for more than two years after his departure, the Rolling Stones “refused to accept” the fact he had quit.
According to the now 87-year-old musician, the bassist abruptly announced his departure from the iconic rockers in 1991 but stated that the rest of the group didn’t believe he was serious. It was only as they were preparing to go out on tour again that they realized he had no intention of joining them.
In Wyman’s own words:
“I left in 1991 but they would not believe me.” “They refused to accept I had left. It was not until 1993, when they were starting to get together to tour in 1994, when they said, ‘You have actually now left, haven’t you?’ And I said, ‘I left two years ago’. They finally accepted it, so they say I left in 1993.”
Explaining that he decided to end his relationship with the Stones because he had “had enough” and wanted to do other things with his life, Bill added:
“I just had enough. It was half my life and I thought, ‘I have got other things I want to do’. I wanted to do archaeology, write books, have photo exhibitions and play charity cricket. I used to read about ancient cultures while I was on the road and take photos as well. I just had this whole other life I wanted to live.”
An avid collector of stamps, Rupert Bear annuals, and music hall posters, and an impressive archive about his former band, the legendary guitarist said “I’ve an archive of the Stones too. I’ve got a library that I created of everything that has happened to me. I wanted to keep an archive of the Stones to show my son I was once in a band.”
While it’s been 30+ years since he left the band, Wyman made a guest appearance on ‘Live By The Sword’ from the group’s latest album ‘Hackney Diamonds,’ and still dreams of being on tour with them.
“The weird thing is ever since I’ve left, up until the present day, I still dream I’m on tour, like we are in a dressing room or we are in a hotel.” “I still dream those dreams and I dream of other friends like David Bowie. They are all very nice but very confusing,’ stated Bill Wyman.
Keep up with the latest trending music news by following us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram
Author: Al Denté
Photo: Raph_PH