Blog » Bill’s blog - Bill celebrates his 74th birthday
Sunday 21st November 2010
Following Bill’s unsuccessful metal detecting expedition to Gedding, Bill was back in London for his birthday on Sunday, October 24 – but there was a nice pre-birthday surprise with some good media coverage of Bill in the Antiques Trade Gazette. The article, which had a colour photo of Bill and David Moss was titled Arman, Wyman and Me Man:
David Moss (Antiques Trade Gazette 23.10.10) said: “As has been chronicled, at last month's Paris Biennale, not just Toute la France but Tout Ie Monde was in the French capital for the fair and the many dealers' exhibitions within walking distance of the Grand Palais.
But not all the cultural activity was commercial. Halfway through the fair on the evening of September 19, there was a grand launch at the Pompidou Centre of the first major retrospective of arguably France's most famous and iconic post-War artist, Arman, known for his assemblage sculpture and with Yves Klein a founder of the New Realism.
From the early '1960s Arman, who was born the son of a Nice antiques dealer and died aged 77 in 2005, lived in New York, becoming an American citizen in 1973. But the French forgave him and honours the man with this major show, one of the Paris art events of the year.
The opening party was packed with the French art establishment, various glitterati and collectors who had loaned works for the show. Also on parade was ex-Rolling Stone Bill Wyman, a close friend of Arman and his wife Corice, who was a neighbour to the artist at his house near Nice. Speaking to the unrolling Stone, I soon learned the amiable bass wizard is now far more interested in archaeology and collecting old artefacts than the antics of the world's most famous extant rock band. He is also a very keen and accomplished photographer, so don't be surprised if he has a serious exhibition of his snaps in London next year.”
Sunday rolled around for Bill, and he and the family celebrated his 74th birthday – Bill kept it a low-key family affair, with everyone trooping out to the Shogun Japanese restaurant for Bill’s birthday dinner.
Following a couple of uneventful days, Bill and Suzanne went out on November 4 to visit the art exhibition of Suzy Murphy – a good friend of Suzanne and fantastic artist with a celebrated style. The event, which was well attended, drew crowds to explore her paintings, which use a dreamy, misty style. Bill says that many of the paintings were snapped up by buyers.
The gallery tour continued apace, with Bill and Suzanne leaving the gallery and – after what seemed an epic struggle to flag down a taxi – headed to a small gallery on WC2, which was exhibiting the Genesis book on Jimmy Page. The gallery event had attracted a wealth of celebrities, friends and associates of Bill’s, including the likes of Claude Nobs, Dominic Tarle, Sir Peter Blake, Paul McCartney’s brother Mike, plus Aninah Capaldi, Phil Carson and others.
Bill says they both were then heading upstairs to catch up with Jimmy, when Ronnie Wood arrived at the gallery, so both Bill and Ronnie headed up to see Jimmy together. Bill says that Jimmy was great and in fine form, with the trio having a great chat about old times. Bill and Jimmy also agreed to have dinner together in the future. Bill also spotted Mica – the widow of the late Ahmet Ertigun – and caught up with her to share news.
David Moss (Antiques Trade Gazette 23.10.10) said: “As has been chronicled, at last month's Paris Biennale, not just Toute la France but Tout Ie Monde was in the French capital for the fair and the many dealers' exhibitions within walking distance of the Grand Palais.
But not all the cultural activity was commercial. Halfway through the fair on the evening of September 19, there was a grand launch at the Pompidou Centre of the first major retrospective of arguably France's most famous and iconic post-War artist, Arman, known for his assemblage sculpture and with Yves Klein a founder of the New Realism.
From the early '1960s Arman, who was born the son of a Nice antiques dealer and died aged 77 in 2005, lived in New York, becoming an American citizen in 1973. But the French forgave him and honours the man with this major show, one of the Paris art events of the year.
The opening party was packed with the French art establishment, various glitterati and collectors who had loaned works for the show. Also on parade was ex-Rolling Stone Bill Wyman, a close friend of Arman and his wife Corice, who was a neighbour to the artist at his house near Nice. Speaking to the unrolling Stone, I soon learned the amiable bass wizard is now far more interested in archaeology and collecting old artefacts than the antics of the world's most famous extant rock band. He is also a very keen and accomplished photographer, so don't be surprised if he has a serious exhibition of his snaps in London next year.”
Sunday rolled around for Bill, and he and the family celebrated his 74th birthday – Bill kept it a low-key family affair, with everyone trooping out to the Shogun Japanese restaurant for Bill’s birthday dinner.
Following a couple of uneventful days, Bill and Suzanne went out on November 4 to visit the art exhibition of Suzy Murphy – a good friend of Suzanne and fantastic artist with a celebrated style. The event, which was well attended, drew crowds to explore her paintings, which use a dreamy, misty style. Bill says that many of the paintings were snapped up by buyers.
The gallery tour continued apace, with Bill and Suzanne leaving the gallery and – after what seemed an epic struggle to flag down a taxi – headed to a small gallery on WC2, which was exhibiting the Genesis book on Jimmy Page. The gallery event had attracted a wealth of celebrities, friends and associates of Bill’s, including the likes of Claude Nobs, Dominic Tarle, Sir Peter Blake, Paul McCartney’s brother Mike, plus Aninah Capaldi, Phil Carson and others.
Bill says they both were then heading upstairs to catch up with Jimmy, when Ronnie Wood arrived at the gallery, so both Bill and Ronnie headed up to see Jimmy together. Bill says that Jimmy was great and in fine form, with the trio having a great chat about old times. Bill and Jimmy also agreed to have dinner together in the future. Bill also spotted Mica – the widow of the late Ahmet Ertigun – and caught up with her to share news.
