Back To Basics is Bill Wyman’s fourth solo album, the first to appear since the Bill Wyman album was released in 1982, ten years prior to the bass-player's departure from The Rolling Stones in December 1992.
Wyman has written books, had his photographs exhibited around the world and he still tours with the Rhythm Kings. While archiving old demos last year, the musician realised that he had around 60 songs which had never been released, three songs from which feature on the new 12-track album.
Among the accompanying musicians is Guy Fletcher (Dire Straits, Mark Knopfler) who plays keyboards on the new release.
In a 2008 interview with The Telegraph, the musician talked about the pressure of being a Stone for 31 years. “The next album or single always had to be the best, or at least sell more, “ he declared while acknowledging that he enjoyed playing with his mates.
He was particularly close to drummer Charlie Watts.“But when I toured with the Stones it would take a month to practice all these songs we’d been playing for 30 years.”
“They didn’t want me to leave,” the 76-year old rock legend revealed in that interview. Despite the pressure, Bill Wyman allowed himself a reunion for old time's sake and joined the band onstage in London for their 50th Anniversary Concert in 2012.
The musician was the subject of much controversy at the time of his marriage to 18-year old Mandy Smith in 1989, when he was 49. The couple separated soon afterwards.
