Blog » 2011 - A year in review
Saturday 31st December 2011
As the world welcomes in 2012, Bill Wyman has had a fruitful and packed 2011. From touring across the UK and Europe, releasing his Signature Bass guitar, and even a five-disc collectors CD edition of the Rhythm Kings, 2011 has been an eventful year. Here are some of the highlights.
Fans of the Rhythm Kings rejoiced with not one, but two tours by the band. The start of 2011 saw Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings touring several European countries. The European concert was also a chance for fans to take some great photos, including the Rhythm Kings playing in Ijmuiden, Hengelo, Hamburg and Osnabruck.
The year was bookended with a UK tour by Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings in October, November and December. As well as taking in the UK, the tour featured the fantastic addition of special guest Mary Wilson of The Original Supremes. Fans also got in on the action, taking photos of gigs in Gateshead and Bristol, Swansea and Manchester, and Glasgow.
The tail-end of 2011 saw a flurry of announcements from Bill, including the development and release of his famed Signature Bass guitar in October 2011. The Bill Wyman Signature bass faithfully captures the spirit of Bill's homemade fretless bass. The result - the Bill Wyman Signature bass - follows months of R&D, and has a short-scale neck and features Bill's own unique headstock design. Read all about the Bill Wyman Signature Bass, and see some photos of the guitar.
Bill also released the special five-disc Collectors Edition Box Set of the best of the Rhythm Kings in the US. The Collectors' Edition Box Set features Eric Clapton, George Harrison, Mark Knopfler, Nicky Hopkins, Paul Carrack, Peter Frampton, Georgie Fame and Andy Fairweather-Low, and is also available on iTunes.
November 2011 also revealed that Bill had struck up a great song writing partnership with Madeleine Peyroux. The famed jazz-folk singer worked with Bill who co-wrote a song and also performs on Madeleine's new album Standing On The Rooftop.
Not content with simply touring or releasing new music, Bill also opened a photo exhibition of his photography in London at the end of 2011. The Second Nature photo exhibition ran from October 5 until late December, and featured a fantastic collection of Bill's photographs that chronicle the musical life he has led and the legends he has met.
Bill, naturally, was in popular demand in 2011 on radio and TV. He appeared on the famous red sofa on BBC Breakfast, as well as numerous radio appearances, including BBC Radio 2 and BBC Radio 6.
Bill's video appearances also kept up a pace, with highlights including a great video where Bill discusses his metal detecting experiences, interviews on Dutch TV and Kultur Journal, as well as great footage of Bill with Louis Bertignac and performing with the Rhythm Kings in the Sergovia concert.
Finally, Bill has been featured heavily on Twitter, Myspace and Facebook. This year, he launched his official Bill Wyman Fan Page on Facebook, adding photos, videos and diary events. You can join Bill on Facebook here and 'like' the page the say up to date with everything Bill.
Have a Happy New Year and looking forwards to 2012!
Fans of the Rhythm Kings rejoiced with not one, but two tours by the band. The start of 2011 saw Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings touring several European countries. The European concert was also a chance for fans to take some great photos, including the Rhythm Kings playing in Ijmuiden, Hengelo, Hamburg and Osnabruck.
The year was bookended with a UK tour by Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings in October, November and December. As well as taking in the UK, the tour featured the fantastic addition of special guest Mary Wilson of The Original Supremes. Fans also got in on the action, taking photos of gigs in Gateshead and Bristol, Swansea and Manchester, and Glasgow.
The tail-end of 2011 saw a flurry of announcements from Bill, including the development and release of his famed Signature Bass guitar in October 2011. The Bill Wyman Signature bass faithfully captures the spirit of Bill's homemade fretless bass. The result - the Bill Wyman Signature bass - follows months of R&D, and has a short-scale neck and features Bill's own unique headstock design. Read all about the Bill Wyman Signature Bass, and see some photos of the guitar.
Bill also released the special five-disc Collectors Edition Box Set of the best of the Rhythm Kings in the US. The Collectors' Edition Box Set features Eric Clapton, George Harrison, Mark Knopfler, Nicky Hopkins, Paul Carrack, Peter Frampton, Georgie Fame and Andy Fairweather-Low, and is also available on iTunes.
November 2011 also revealed that Bill had struck up a great song writing partnership with Madeleine Peyroux. The famed jazz-folk singer worked with Bill who co-wrote a song and also performs on Madeleine's new album Standing On The Rooftop.
Not content with simply touring or releasing new music, Bill also opened a photo exhibition of his photography in London at the end of 2011. The Second Nature photo exhibition ran from October 5 until late December, and featured a fantastic collection of Bill's photographs that chronicle the musical life he has led and the legends he has met.
Bill, naturally, was in popular demand in 2011 on radio and TV. He appeared on the famous red sofa on BBC Breakfast, as well as numerous radio appearances, including BBC Radio 2 and BBC Radio 6.
Bill's video appearances also kept up a pace, with highlights including a great video where Bill discusses his metal detecting experiences, interviews on Dutch TV and Kultur Journal, as well as great footage of Bill with Louis Bertignac and performing with the Rhythm Kings in the Sergovia concert.
Finally, Bill has been featured heavily on Twitter, Myspace and Facebook. This year, he launched his official Bill Wyman Fan Page on Facebook, adding photos, videos and diary events. You can join Bill on Facebook here and 'like' the page the say up to date with everything Bill.
Have a Happy New Year and looking forwards to 2012!
