The first time members of the Rolling Stones, The Beatles and The Who came together in concert for a film project by former Rolling Stone Bill Wyman.
In November 1984, Bill Wyman got together a group of well-known musicians to record an album to help the Ronnie Lane Appeal for A.R.M.S. The band was called Willie and the Poor Boys and the fantastic line up on the album included Bill Wyman, Charlie Watts, Kenney Jones, Jimmy Page, Paul Rodgers, Chris Rea, Andy Fairweather-Low, Geraint Watkins, Mickey Gee and Henry Spinetti.
The following year on March 11 and 12 in 1985, the core members of the band and more additional star guests, turned up at the Fulham Town Hall, to make this film of Willie and the Poor Boys. This rare event, marked a historical rock ‘n’ roll moment where members of the Rolling Stones, The Who and The Beatles joined together for a film project.
Discovered in Bill Wyman’s personal archive, this concert film and accompanying documentary make up this superb special edition, which has been digitally re-mastered with Dolby 5.1 and DTS soundtrack options.
Willie and the Poor Boys track list
- Poor Boy Boogie (Fairweather Low/Wyman) (Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd)
- You Never Can Tell (Berry) (Tristan Music Ltd)
- Chicken Shack Boogie (Cullum/Milburn) (EMI Music Pub (WP)/EMI United Partnership Ltd)
- Let’s Talk It Over (Trad arr Bill Wyman) (Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd)
- All Night Long (Clifton Chenier) (Sony.ATV Music Publishing (UK) Ltd)
- Saturday Night (Bartholomew/King) (EMI Partnership)
- Baby, Please Don’t Go (big Joe Williams) (Universal/MCA Music Ltd)
- These Arms Of Mine (Otis Redding) (Wildwood Music Ltd)
Willie and the Poor Boys special features
- 30 minute documentary on the making of Willie and The Poor Boys
- Dolby 5.1 DTS and stereo options
Do you know of a film on a band that features Bill Wyman, Ron Wood & Charlie Watts (it’s not the Rolling Stones) – also features Kenney Jones & John Entwistle (and it’s not The Who) – also features Ringo Starr (no – it’s not The Beatles) plus a few other ‘less well known’ artists such as Andy Fairweather Low, Chris Rea, Gary Brooker and Raf Ravenscroft (remember the Saxophone solo in Baker Street?). Don’t know? Well, it’s Willie & the Poor Boys!
This band in concert was filmed in a 50’s style Rock ‘n’ Roll show at the Fulham Town Hall, London, UK in 1985 and was a concept based on an original idea by former Rolling Stone Bill Wyman.
“The one thing that we found with the video shoot was that everyone went in there with great spirits & really went out to have a good time,” said Bill Wyman during The Making Of Willie and the Poor Boys.
This film is a real gem unearthed by Classic Pictures from Bill Wyman’s personal vault and will be a must have for any collector of classic rock.
Bill Wyman says: “The word that seemed to permeate the surroundings on the shoot for two days was fun… everyone wanted to have fun.”
Originally filmed in aid of the Ronnie Lane Appeal for A.R.M.S (Action for Research into Multiple Sclerosis)
- Can You Hear Me (Allen Toussaint) (Ardmore & Beechwood Ltd)
- Production: Ben Williams, Jill O’Connor, Katie Cullinan, Kerry Osmond, tom Flynn
- Print and design: Craig Whyte
- Graphics: Alexander Hollowood
- Video mastering: Ben Gates
- DVD author: Will Prince
- Sound engineer: John Buckley
- With thanks to all at Ripple Records for their support
- RunningTime 65 mins approx
- Language – English
- Audio – 5.1 Dolby Digital / 5.1 DTS / Dolby Stereo
- Format: 4:3
- Region: PAL All Regions