- Remember When: Bill Wyman Became the First Original Member of The Rolling Stones to Willingly Leave the Band
On January 23, 1993, Bill Wyman made a historic decision that would change the trajectory of one of the most iconic bands in rock history. He became the first original member of The Rolling Stones to voluntarily leave the group after 30 years of collaboration. While the departure marked the end of an era for the band, it wasn’t a sudden move. Wyman had been contemplating leaving for years due to the demands of touring, his desire for a more peaceful life, and the fact that he was growing apart from the band’s direction.
Wyman had joined The Rolling Stones in 1962, just months after its formation, and quickly became a vital part of their sound. His steady basslines provided the foundation for the band’s rhythm section, and his offbeat character became an integral part of their image. As the Stones grew into one of the biggest bands in the world, Wyman’s role, though somewhat in the background compared to Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, was crucial.
In the years leading up to his departure, Wyman had begun to spend more time focusing on his personal interests, including his love of history and his growing solo career. The pressures of constant touring and recording, which were a hallmark of the band, began to weigh on him. Although his relationship with Jagger and Richards remained cordial, the band’s ever-evolving nature made it clear to Wyman that it was time to move on.
His exit was amicable, though not without some initial tension. Wyman later explained in interviews that his decision was fueled by a desire for peace and a slower lifestyle. He was replaced by Darryl Jones, a session musician who had played with the band during tours prior to Wyman’s departure. While Wyman was no longer part of the active lineup, his legacy as a founding member of The Rolling Stones remains cemented in rock history.
In the years after leaving the band, Wyman continued to enjoy a successful career in music, releasing solo albums and focusing on his passion for music history and collecting. Despite no longer being in the limelight as part of The Rolling Stones, his departure marked a moment of change within the band, one that signaled a transition from their 1960s and 1970s golden era into a more modern version of the group.
Looking back, Bill Wyman’s decision to leave The Rolling Stones was a pivotal moment not only in the band’s history but in the landscape of rock music itself. The Stones carried on, of course, and remain one of the most influential and enduring rock bands of all time—but for fans and critics alike, the absence of Wyman was a reminder of the past, of the founding elements that made the band the phenomenon it became.