Why did Bill Wyman leave the Rolling Stones?
In the 1980s, the distance between Wyman and the other band members grew due to, among other things, the Mandy Smith affair. After contributing to the 1989 album Steel Wheels, Wyman decided he had had enough and took time to retire. The Stones regretted his leaving but continued to record and tour, using several sidemen, most notably Darryl Jones, to play bass. Wyman has stated that from the late 1980s onward The Rolling Stones’ recorded music had become creatively stagnant, that he had lost interest in the experiences of recording and touring with the band, and that it was simply right for him to retire from the band. Jagger has also said that Wyman had developed claustrophobia and had increasingly disliked air travel typical of band touring.
