Bill Wyman has been successful in forcing the wording of a blue plaque dedicated to Mick Jagger and Keith Richards to be changed as it incorrectly stated the pair had ‘formed’ The Rolling Stones.
The band’s former bass player has described the statement as ‘disgusting’ for overlooking the role of chief founding member Brian Jones. It was unveiled at London’s Dartford station in February to recognise the friendship which began for Jagger and Richards as they travelled to school from the area in the fifties.
The hugely successful songwriting partnership later forged by the pair put them at the heart of The Rolling Stones by the mid-sixties, resulting in a power struggle between them and Jones which, along with various other issues, led to Jones being essentially sacked in June 1969. He died less than a month later.
“Mick Jagger and Keith Richards didn’t create the Rolling Stones – they were part of The Rolling Stones like all of us,” Wyman has told the BBC. “Brian Jones wanted to form a blues band and he enlisted each member one by one. He gave the name The Rolling Stones, he chose the music and he was the leader.”
Dartford council leader Mr Kite has acknowledged the error, and confirmed the plaque will be taken down and replaced by another with a new, more accurate commemoration.
“Accuracy in history is really, really important and we want it to be right,” he said.