Description

Preorder your signed copy on vinyl. Limited numbers available!

In November 2026 Demon Music will mark the 90th birthday of the legendary Bill Wyman with a new ‘Best Of’ celebrating his solo recordings with 12 tracks from 1974’s ‘Monkey Grip’ up to ‘Drive My Car’ in 2024.

Taking time out from his day job as bass player in “the world’s greatest Rock ‘n’ Roll band”, Bill released his first solo collection of self-written songs in May 1974, with collaborators including Dr. John, Leon Russell, Little Feat’s Lowell George, and Crosby, Stills & Nash drummer, Dallas Taylor. And while Bill would adapt his style to suit his changing tastes, and revel in the opportunity to try out new technology – the early ’80s saw him land two UK Top 40 hits with ‘(Si Si) Je Suis Un Rock Star’, and ‘A New Fashion’ – this way of working set a pattern for five more solo albums that gave him an outlet for his individual approach to songwriting, and to work with a cast of friends and heroes that featured Van Morrison, Joe Walsh, Chris Rea, Ray Cooper, Robbie McIntosh and Guy Fletcher, among many others.

Never totally comfortable in the spotlight, in the ’90s Bill started to assemble “my own band”, The Rhythm Kings. He described this experience as “almost like doing solo albums (but) with a lot of friends.” The Rhythm Kings combined Bill’s original songs with classics from the R&B and Rock ‘n’ Roll songbooks, but what began as another studio project became a hugely successful and popular live act. Bill takes pride in the fact he played almost the same number of gigs with the Rhythm Kings as with the Rolling Stones in the previous three decade! And while this ensemble would coalesce around a more settled cast of talents such as Georgie Fame, Procol Harum’s Gary Brooker, Andy Fairweather-Low, Albert Lee and Beverley Skeete, their recordings still found room for guest appearances from legendary friends including Eric Clapton, George Harrison, and Mark Knopfler.

Born in 1936 in Lewisham, South London, Bill joined the Rolling Stones in 1962, playing bass on 19 studio albums for 30 years before departing in 1992. He made a celebrated return for a guest appearance on their 2023 chart-topping comeback album Hackney Diamonds. Alongside his solo work, he recorded the 1972 one-off Jamming With Edward! with Ry Cooder, Nicky Hopkins,
Mick Jagger, and Charlie Watts. In 1997, he launched Bill Wyman’s Rhythm Kings, the acclaimed back-to-roots collective that toured and recorded into the 2010s.

Now, as he approaches his 90th birthday, Wyman remains as creatively driven and musically passionate as ever. The Best Of not only celebrates his past achievements, but also affirms his place to this day as one of Britain’s most enduring and inventive musicians.
Includes the 1891 hit (Si Si) Je Suis Un Rock Star’, plus ‘A New Fashion’, ‘Monkey Grip Glue’ and ‘Come Back Suzanne’, amongst others.

Tracklisting:

A1. I Wanna Get Me A Gun
A2. Monkey Grip Glue
A3. White Lightnin’
A4. Ride On Baby
A5. A New Fashion
A6. Come Back Suzanne

B1. (Si Si) Je Suis Un Rock Star
B2. Stuff (Can’t Get Enough)
B3. What & How & If & When & Why
B4. Thunder On The Mountain
B5. Drive My Car
B6. Bad News

Release date: 20th November 2026
Format: LP
Cat: DEMREC1371
Barcode: 5014797914063

Only available from our store! Limited to one vinyl per customer or household. Signature may vary in colour or position to the image shown.