Stone Alone: The Story of a Rock 'n' Roll Band

I read Keith Richards' "Life" first and then found this book by Bill Wyman. I must say that Bill is the better writer. His attention to detail is incredible. This is an excellent chronicle that gives you a good idea of what it was like to be a Rolling Stone in the 60's (that's his main thrust). Bill spends more time on the Stones and much less on whatever happened on the outside of the band if it was not directly related to the band. Not a lot of info on the writing of their songs simply because Bill was not the songwriter in the Stones (obviously). But the touring is covered in great detail and to me this was the highlight of the book. His account of the Stones' financial problems is also very illuminating. Incredible to think that a group with such immense popularity were not instant multi-millionaires. Bill also spends a good deal of space writing about Brian and his slow ouster from the band and its (partially) self-inflicted character. Overall, a great read for Stones fans and for anyone interested in the history of rock music.

This is a good insider book on the Rolling Stones, but long-time Stones bass wizard Bill Wyman spends too much time discussing how poor the band remained well into the period where they were considered millionaires and not enough on the creative processes behind the incredible songbook the band created. It is fascinating to see how the Stones were conned by Alan Klein, but even that gets old after several hundred pages. Wyman is at his best when he discusses the lesser-known members of the band, such as Charlie Watts or Brian Jones. His overall opinion of Mick Jagger and Keith Richards is that they shorted the other band members in the recognition department for the many songs that the others either wrote or helped write but got absolutely no credit (and thus no royalties) for. This is a legitimate beef and has always bothered not only Wyman, but also Mick Taylor and Ronnie Wood. Wyman is honest in his assessment of his own personal life, which left much to be desired. He also is kind in his assessment of Brian Jones, whose role has been trivialized by the louder remaining Stones but who was the creator and driving force of the band and the sound during their formative years. The book gets bogged down from time to time with an almost obsessive attention to detail on finances, but it's an enjoyable and informative read most of the time. Wyman's picture book 'Rolling with the Stones' is superior. If you are a Stones fan, both books are required reading. Hats off to the greatest bass player the Stones could ever hope to have. They have never been the same without him. Thank you, Bill, for the music and the memories.

Bill Wyman wrote/co-wrote the only book about The Rolling Stones that is worth reading. I thoroughly enjoyed his assessment of Mick, and how Charlie and Bill were treated as second class members of the band by Mick, Keith and Andrew Loog Oldham. Not to worry, Bill got his revenge by refusing to let Mick have access to all of Bill’s amazing documentation he assembled throughout his tenure. My only disappointment was that the book ended too soon, and didn’t continue through his remaining years with the band, and instead ending shortly after the death of Brian Jones. The book could have been twice as long, and I would have enjoyed all of it. Again, if you read one book about The Rolling Stones this is the one.

Slow paced but very thorough. Wyman documented everything about his life even before he became a working musician and subsequently famous. Buy "Life" by Keith Richards instead. Faster pace with lots more dirt. Also consider "Papa John" if you want a blood and guts telling of how debauched the famous musicians really were.

This is a very comprehensive look at the life of the Rolling stones long time bass player, Bill Wyman. He takes you from his impoverished childhood in England after the war, up into his life as a member of one of the biggest rock bands of all time. His attention to detail when retelling specific events in his life is nothing short of remarkable. The book includes dates and times of many events, as well as more minor details such as what they all wore to certain shows. My only complaint is that he stops the story shortly after the death of Brian Jones, and doesn't really talk about his life from that point until his own departure from the band many years later. Still ..... this is a must have for any true fan of the Stones. It really hones in on the behind the scenes relationships of the different band members and how they all felt about each other, and gives you a very detailed inside look at the inner workings of one of rocks all time biggest acts.

Bill Wyman's book is very matter of fact (almost reads like a To-Do list, but of an eye-opening and very exciting life!). He lets the reader in on the relationship which seem like many bands' experience, yet of one of the most successful and enduring rock bands of all time! He is realistic, non-judgemental and open-minded of not only his relationships within the band, but of his strengths and flaws. Readers will be interested in some of his observations about guitarist Brian Jones' personality and life as well (nuanced, rather than the usual either gushy style of some other writers about Brian that I have read or derogatory writing of some other writers-rather Bill presents Brian Jones as an artists like most creatives with extreme strengths and flaws. He also presents some intriguing observations about the Fab Four, casting some doubt on some of the more commonly heard stories about the Fab Four and how the Fabs met certain people they played with: hint: the Stones and the Fabs played with many of their friends years before they were famous and usually even before the formation of the Stones as they were known in 63-64 and the Beatles in the same period of time. A good read.

M. Wyman sait jouer de la basse, et il sait écrire. Son récit du début des Stones est fascinant. Évidemment, ce livre est une autobiographie, mais c'en est une qui déborde largement celle du simple auteur. Les origines, et la vie, de tous les acteurs dans le giron des Rolling Stones est assez bien documentée. Le récit s'interrompt avec le décès de Brian Jones, et le spectacle dans Hyde park qui l'a immédiatement suivi, mais, comme M. Wyman n'a quitté les Stones que beaucoup plus tard, le bouquin nous laisse un peu sur notre faim. Le livre est si riche en détails, que le post-Hyde Park aurais surement été juteux. Quoiqu'il en soit, l'écriture est facile a lire. Si sur scène M. Wyman vous semble mimer une statue de sel, et que vous êtes sur l'impression que sa biographie vous laissera elle-aussi sans intérêt, détrompez-vous. Si la vie de ce bassiste est plus rangée que celle de ses comparses, son récit n'en est pas moins intéressant. Vous verrez l'Angleterre de l'après-guerre à travers les yeux d'un membre de la classe ouvrière, vous vivrez les premiers balbutiements de la "British Invasion" avec quelqu'un qui y a participé, et serez spectateurs de l'ascension stratosphérique d'un ensemble musical hors-normes aux côtés d'un de ses moteurs. Une vrai bonne lecture.

A must-read for fans or any one interested in how The Rolling Stones began and became famous. And it's also particularly essential for those interested in how the leadership and control of the band were shifted from Brian Jone's to Jagger's and Richards' hands. Bill Wyman, who is very organized , kept a diary of every one of his days with the Stones, so it's an accurate source of information and certainly one you can trust.

Stone Alone è la storia della band amata da mezzo mondo: I Rolling Stones! Fedele ricostruzione della carriera dei cinque membri originali poiché descrive tutti i momenti salienti della band dal diario di Bill Wyman bassista per gli anni in cui ha condiviso le sorti del gruppo e non solo; racconta anche gli anni della prima infanzia del protagonista durante la seconda guerra mondiale, la situazione familiare, il servizio militare, gli anni di lavoro in azienda e musicista la sera, le esperienze sentimentali, la vita sociale in Gran Bretagna, l’arrivo del Rock ‘n Roll negli anni cinquanta...per approdare alla chiamata degli Stones come bassista. Arrivano poi i successi del debutto fino alla scalata ai primi posti delle classifiche, giorno dopo giorno. Ho letto un po’ più di metà del libro ed è tutto molto interessante e avvincente per il dettaglio apportato alle storie narrate. Ad esempio, so che la parte relativa alla perdita di Brian Jones è stata vissuta da Bill Wyman con sincero rispetto e ammirazione per le sue doti straordinarie. Ne consiglio la lettura, vale veramente la pena leggere questa biografia se si capisce l’inglese, poiché non è stata purtroppo fatta una traduzione di Stone Alone, almeno ad oggi.

I love detail. Bill Wyman has not disappointed. He (quite rightly) praised Brian Jones who was a genius. Brian Jones should've received a co-credit and some of their songs i.e. Under My Thumb and Ride On Baby. He stated that Brian had a psychological problem that should've been addressed, rather than Mick Jagger and Keith Richards kicking him out. Had Brian survived and engaged a solicitor, Mick Jagger, and Keith Richards would've discovered that Brian had registered the band's name and owned the band's name! What I like is Bill's honesty. He said he'd wish he'd stuck up for Brian more and others were jealous of Brian because he was so talented. Also, the financial arrangements with Allen Klein. Maybe if Mick Jagger and Keith Richards had listened to Bill that day they met Allen Klein at his suite in the London Hilton, they would've been far better off. Bill, twice at that meeting said that they should have a solicitor present and read through the documents. Only, he was shouted down by Keith Richards, who himself wasn't given all the info by Andrew Oldham. Bill is so streetwise even way back then. Many, many years ago, read in a newspaper, that Bill said he'd wish him and Brian wrote together. Brian was also shy, but I think Brian and Bill would have been a great team. Bill also reminds us that it was Brian's band and not these stories we here that everyone formed around Ian Stewart. Bill also says that he dislikes those who re-write history for themselves i.e. who formed the band. Bill was not scared to show his feeling in the book which's what I like. I thoroughly recommend this book. He also is not a hypocrite. When he discovered his first wife had an affair, he told her to tell her lover not to come to their home again. The book should be reprinted.

Bought this last year - read it consistently in the run up to Christmas 2012. Recently got interested again in the music of my past, like the Rolling Stones. [I was a fan, and had some personal experiences of thier ealy performances in my neighbourhood, while still at club level.] Bill Wyman kept a diary and video recordings of everything the Stones did while he was with them [There is a list of all their engagements and a full discography, to the date of publication, at the end of the book]. There's also a fascinating account of Bill's early life as an ordinary kid from South East London [Penge] in the post World War II years. That really rings true - I am a contemporary of the younger Stones members. Later on Bill joined a local band as a part time bass guitar player, but for many years he had held down a regular job. He got married and had a son, before he joined the Stones' band. The gradual change from semi-professional musician to full-time and then big-time performer is well described. Then follows the inside account of life within a mega-huge touring rock/pop band, with the mayhem, financial disputes and series of sexual conquests that all in the band [except the faithful Charlie Watts] engaged in. There are useful insights in Bill's account of the decline and mysterious demise of Brian Jones, who was at first the band's leader, major 'babe-magnet' and the most musically talented, though later he was eclipsed by Keith Richards, as his memory faded. This book is a hefty volume - full of often entertaining true dramas, and with a large number of black and white photos of Bill Wyman's youth, his family, and the youthful and later Rolling Stones at work and play. Well worth seeking this book out - not just for rock, pop or R&B fans, but anyone interested in the culture of the period from 1950s/60s to the 1990s in Britain.