Bill Wyman has called Mick Jagger a failed actor and a failed solo artist.
The former bass player with The Rolling Stones said Jagger’s acting and solo career had both flopped and that he should have wound up the band by now. Wyman, 88, who quit the Stones in 1993, said Jagger, 81, and Keith Richards, 80, only kept the band going because they had nothing else to do. Wyman said: “Mick’s tried to do movies and things but hasn’t really succeeded.
“And he’s done solo stuff which didn’t really work as well as it should’ve done either. And so they just...it’s the Stones all the time. I don’t think they’ve got anything else to do, otherwise they’d do it wouldn’t they?”
Jagger starred as Ned Kelly in 1970, a film about the Australian outlaw and has appeared in a handful of films since and released four solo albums.
Wyman has released seven solo albums and has become a keen archeologist and run his own restaurant and the band’s guitarist Ronnie Wood, 77, has also become an acclaimed artist.
Speaking in the November edition of Classic Rock magazine Wyman said he was surprised Jagger didn’t wind up the band when drummer Charlie Watts, died aged 80 in 2021.
He added: “I’ve got six different things I’m doing all the time, and I’m so happy doing them. When Charlie left, I thought they would close. I really did.
“They could replace the bass, but I didn’t think they could replace Charlie, and his charisma, and what a great guy he was, but they went on which surprised me.
“I wouldn’t say it disappointed me, but it surprised me. I think it would have been a good time for them to...but I don’t think they’ve got anything else to do.”
The Rolling Stones formed in 1962 and released their latest album Hackney Diamonds last year (2023).
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