Bill Wyman

I had a wonderful time with the Stones but after 31 years, I thought it was time to move on.

I always listen to a lot of different music when I am working on a project.

I didn't want to stay in the Stones, and be stuck in a position having to play a music I didn't like anymore and that restricted me from doing all the others things I'm interested in because of time.

I open events for museums and I do charity work and photography.

With the Rhythm Kings, I can involve myself in arranging and producing the music as well as the choice of songs.

I'm always shy in front of an audience, so I'm always at the back, in the shadows, just doing it. I don't like the front, the adulation.

I don't make any money.

I was listening to music long before rock 'n roll.

Because of the fashion, the young people don't have any access to the history of music, unless people like me revive it. There are very few people to revive it, because you can't earn any money doing it.

I live in a house that was built in 1480. It has a moat around it. It is like a little baby castle.

But why is it that in music, anything more than 5 years old - apart from a few hits - is never played on radio to the young public?

I always say that I am very proud of the work that I did with the Rolling Stones and that I am also proud of what I have done with the Rhythm Kings.

I love to play smaller crowds with the Rhythm Kings.

There are things that I am very proud of and there are things that you are not so proud of. But I think that applies to any musician.

You're always frustrated, you don't have the chance to do a song on the album, like the Beatles did with Ringo and George, or like Led Zeppelin, where everybody was given a chance to contribute. There never is a chance with the Stones.

I am much more my own man than I was when I was with the Stones.

You never know what your next dig is going to find.

The Stones always tried to do the odd smaller gig when they could.

If you are any competent musician, if you have creative ideas, ideas of songs, of arrangements, in a band like the Stones, where these 2 people do all the things, there is no freedom.

Because of the fashion the young people dont have any access to the history of music unless people like me revive it. There are very few people to revive it because you cant earn any money doing it.

I always got great respect as a bass player.

I have very interesting hobbies like archeology and photography.

I have found two Roman sites in the area that I live in.

I think anyone would want to see their favorite band in a small club over a large stadium.

My first record I owned was by Les Paul.

Everything had to be done in-between Stones time.

I have no restrictions, no limits, no musical history to live with.

The first records I heard were from Dizzy Gillespie and people like that.