Few musicians have seen rock’s golden age as closely as Bill Wyman, the quiet observer behind the Rolling Stones’ thunderous rhythm. In a new interview, the 88-year-old bassist reflects on the madness, the genius, and the moments that defined his time among the greats — from Jimi Hendrix’s brilliance to Keith Moon’s unpredictable chaos and Mick Jagger’s cold reaction when Wyman decided to walk away.
Wyman recalls a particularly wild scene involving The Who’s drummer, Keith Moon, whose antics were legendary even among rock’s most reckless. “She had scratches on her face,” Wyman remembered. “I asked what happened, and she said, ‘Oh, nothing — Keith threw the cat at me.’”
He laughs gently now, but the story captures the uncontrollable energy of that era — a time when genius and madness often collided under flashing lights and clouded rooms.
When the conversation turns to Jimi Hendrix, Wyman’s tone softens. He describes the guitarist as “pure magic — someone who could make a note feel like a confession.” Hendrix’s performances left him spellbound, and decades later, Wyman still calls them “moments you never forget.”
But not all memories carry the warmth of nostalgia. When he finally left the Rolling Stones after three decades, Mick Jagger’s reaction was as blunt as the man himself. Wyman admits, “He didn’t say much. He just said, ‘Well, that’s your decision.’ That was it.”
Even so, he looks back without bitterness — just perspective. “It was time. I’d done my part,” he says.
Now, Wyman spends his days surrounded by memories and music, occasionally joining old friends for charity shows or private sessions. His reflections remind fans that behind the chaos and fame of rock’s most iconic moments were real people — living fast, laughing hard, and trying to make sense of the noise.
