 | |
List Price: $24.00 | | Publisher: Da Capo Press
Salesrank: 558615
|
| Our Price: $15.00 |
| Used Price: $7.75 |
|
| Media: Paperback |
|
Editorial Review:
During the height of the Rolling Stones' success, Bill Wyman kept a diary, recoding the churning chaos of the band's creative evolution, power plays, recording sessions, tours, romances, drug busts, and financial disarray. Stone Alone is a meticulous, shrewd and humorous look at the complex personalities of the Stones and the role they played in the startling cultural revolution of the times. 63 photos.
Stone Alone: The Story Of A Rock 'n' Roll Band Reviews:
LOADS OF FUN 
2009-06-05 - Well-written but disjointed (as it would have to be, I guess). I've always liked Mr Wyman's expert but unobtrusive bass sound and can now delight in reading his musings on the past. The book was put together from a diary and reads like it, but it is LOTS of fun, and mostly fascinating, though the "and then I got my leg over this girl, and then over that girl, and then over this girl, and then over that girl's again" gets a bit repetitive after the hundred and fifteenth time. It makes me wonder if Mr Wyman has/had some kind of complex and is out to "prove" something. Then again, maybe I'm just jealous and am the one with the complex. But no matter. Nothing is perfect, though this book comes pretty close. Thank you, Bill Wyman. I enjoyed reading it and will no doubt enjoy reading it again. You are one of my all-time favorite Rhythm Kings.
What makes them tick? 
2008-03-03 - This work by Bill Wyman is quite intersesting to a Rolling Stones die hard like myself.
However, there is little insight into the personalities involved other than Brian Jones.
These 5 guys worked and played their tails off to achieve their success....Sadly, Wyman's description of events is totally matter of fact.
What drove these guys to these heights? Where is the human drama that defines the Rolling Stones?
There is more to this band than playing gigs and scoring with women. These guys do not exist in a vacuum. There is more to the Stones than the one line quips they have delivered to the media for nearly one half century, and Wyman chooses the quips. Too bad.
poor job 
2007-10-27 - Bill Wyman chose the wrong writer. How can the story of the Rolling Stones be so boring? Would make you never want to read another rock biography again. What is worth reading could be reduced by 2/3s. Stale.
Great Book - TILL 
2007-06-24 - Like the other esteemed reviewer noted, "Stone Alone" ends with the debacle at Altamont (with the exception of a couple of pages' "memoirs" about the Stones' "comeback" 1989 tour.) Great anecdotes (sp?) about all the other Stones, too, but although I myself have ripped every single bass guiltar lick I have ever played off Bill, it ain't really interesting listening to him rant about how he'd 'made it' more than any of the other 4 Stones. Still, said it before and I'll say it again: The Stones SHOULD have stopped after Mick Taylor left, 12/11/74, but Bill's desertion was to the Stones what Elvis' death was/has been to Rock and Roll: THE END.
Good Overview, Needs More Music, Less Finances
2007-02-10 - This is a good insider book on the Rolling Stones, but long-time Stones bass wizard Bill Wyman spends too much time discussing how poor the band remained well into the period where they were considered millionaires and not enough on the creative processes behind the incredible songbook the band created. It is fascinating to see how the Stones were conned by Alan Klein, but even that gets old after several hundred pages. Wyman is at his best when he discusses the lesser-known members of the band, such as Charlie Watts or Brian Jones. His overall opinion of Mick Jagger and Keith Richards is that they shorted the other band members in the recognition department for the many songs that the others either wrote or helped write but got absolutely no credit (and thus no royalties) for. This is a legitimate beef and has always bothered not only Wyman, but also Mick Taylor and Ronnie Wood.
Wyman is honest in his assessment of his own personal life, which left much to be desired. He also is kind in his assessment of Brian Jones, whose role has been trivialized by the louder remaining Stones but who was the creator and driving force of the band and the sound during their formative years.
The book gets bogged down from time to time with an almost obsessive attention to detail on finances, but it's an enjoyable and informative read most of the time. Wyman's picture book 'Rolling with the Stones' is superior. If you are a Stones fan, both books are required reading.
Hats off to the greatest bass player the Stones could ever hope to have. They have never been the same without him. Thank you, Bill, for the music and the memories.
