Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts has spoken exclusively to ClashMusic about the making of their classic album ‘Exile On Main Street’.
Released in 1972, ‘Exile On Main Street’ was initially greeted with confusion. A sprawling work, it was the result of the group going into self-imposed ‘exile’ in France.
Taking over a palatial mansion, The Rolling Stones continually made music. Set to be re-issued alongside some never before heard material, Charlie Watts spoke to ClashMusic about the making of the album.
The genial drummer was asked about Bill Wyman’s involvement in the album, with continual rumour and myth suggesting that he walked out the band due to the extent of their drug use.
Previously, it was thought that Bill Wyman played only eight songs on ‘Exile On Main Street’ but according to Charlie Watts he is on nearly every track.
“He was there all the time – I thought played more than that? I dunno. [Picks up album inner sleeve with track listings and credits] Yeah, he’s on all of these, isn’t he? He’s playing upright bass on that [points to ‘Rip This Joint’, though Bill Plummer is actually credited with that track]. Mick Taylor…blimey, I never knew Mick played the bass on it.”
“Anyway, whatever it would say, it would be somebody else. Because you know why? Sometimes you’ll all go home at four in the morning, and Keith will suddenly want to do something – oh, here’s Mick Taylor on bass again – and Mick will be around to play bass. Or Bill will be mucking about on something – he often played the bass end of a piano or something. I’m sure someone might overdub… I mean, you never know.”
Meanwhile, Charlie Watts recalled recording in the cellar of the French mansion. “We didn’t record round the house much; we recorded in the cellar. I think that’s Mick and Keith going through something. We didn’t record in those rooms. They might have done guitars in a room like that. That was a beautiful house – which I found out this year, I always thought it was pulled down, but it’s actually there.”
Keep checking back for the full transcript of our interview with Charlie Watts!
