The Rolling Stones today they enjoy a reputation rarely seen in the world of rock and roll. Although they created some of the greatest rock and roll hits of all time and lived in abundance for decades, the former bass player Bill Wyman reveals that not everything was easy, even in the band’s commercial peak.
The Stones began their career as part of the British Invasion, learning from the greats of the blues, in the late 60s they set out to experiment with sound. During this period, they became involved in the counterculture and flirted with psychedelia, creating some of their most famous songs.
However, that success was not always accompanied by wealth. Wyman remembers, “We didn’t even have a dime.” In an interview with Classic RockWyman talked about the difficulties they faced and debunked misconceptions about the group. According to him, the manager Allen Klein incorporated into all incomes. “Klein had all the money, and if you wanted something, you had to beg. You were in the red, you weren’t going crazy, you were just worried about how to pay the bills. It was a nightmare.”
For many of the band members, the taxes became unbearable during the 70s. As Wyman noted, the arrival of Labor leader Harold Wilson and his tax increase to 93% was problematic. Although these boos were often bitter derision, it should be said that these taxes only applied to the ultra-rich. During this period, many band members left the UK and moved to tax havens. “We had to leave because we owed a lot to the IRS, and with taxes like this we would never pay back the debts,” Wyman recalled.
It is worth noting that Wyman moved to France in 1971, which was before Wilson’s second term and his reforms. While it’s not unrealistic that they struggled for money at some point, it’s hard to imagine buying a house in the south of France when your finances are tight.
Source: balkanrock.com
