Rolling Stones Bass Player is "The Quiet One"

Bill Wyman grew up as William George Perks, Jr. to a working class family in southeast London. Bill's story is truly a rags-to-riches one and shows that anything is possible in this world. At eighteen, Bill purchased his first guitar and soon discovered that he wanted to try something else, so he bought a bass guitar after watching a bass player at a Barron Knights concert. Bill cleverly made his own fretless bass guitar and joined a band. From there on out, Bill's life would never be the same. 

In the biopic, we are given an intimate look at Bill's life. He was an observer, someone who loved taking pictures and recording video, documenting the life and times of his bandmates and travel companions, The Rolling Stones.

He said some things that stuck with me. He said, "You make your own way, don't you. You head in directions that you think are good at the time... something magical happens, something unusual, something rare." I think this message is just as powerful today as it was in the 60's when Bill joined The Rolling Stones.

The film follows Bill's pre-fame early life when he was raised by his grandmother and possibly had PTSD from serving in the war. It continues to follow his own solo career as an artist and his time spent in Paris with famous artists and writers like James Baldwin. 

The film touches on his relationship with his wife, Suzanne Acosta who has been a positive influence in his life. However, it doesn't spent any time delving into his immoral and odd relationship with his former wife, a woman named Mandy Smith who was only 13 years old when he first started dating her. 

I understand that Bill Wyman probably doesn't feel comfortable discussing this past relationship and marriage, but he should as an important member of the arts community and as someone who has had such a great legacy in rock and roll. I think it's his obligation to talk about his poor decision-making in forming a relationship with a 13 year-old girl and to admit the immorality of it. I think it's important to women everywhere that men in positions of power and authority are held accountable for their actions. 

Rating: B