Bill Wyman and The Rhythm Kings

There’s plenty of life left in the old dog that is Bill Wyman, and to prove it he’s on an extensive UK tour right now, which stops at New Brighton’s Floral Hall this Saturday, November 11 as one of the main highlights of the International Guitar Festival of Great Britain.

The original “Je Suis un Rockstar” hadn’t touched the bass for two years after leaving the Stones, until he got the idea for the Rhythm Kings in late 1995 as an informal jamming band exploring his early traditional roots.

“I began jamming at home with Terry Taylor and we thought of calling ourselves the Dirt Boys, playing and singing old raunchy blues numbers,” he says. “Then we began to concentrate on the more serious music of artists like Fats Waller, Louis Jordan and Billie Holiday, and thought it would be worthwhile taking the sessions a little further with other musicians. I put the word out and events snowballed.”

More stellar music names joined Bill and players such as Martin Taylor, Georgie Fame, Peter Frampton, Albert Lee, Andy Fairweather Low, Gary Brooker and Beverly Skeete were in his address book. The sound was formed and the rest fell into place.

This is one of the most exciting gigs to grace the guitar festival, say its organisers, and we have a pair of tickets to give away.

To be in with a chance of winning, simply fill your details in the form below and we’ll pick a winner at random.

Angie Sammons

This competition is now closed: Congratulations to our winner, Paula Baines, of Orrell Park, Liverpool 9