In November of 1984, Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman assembled an all-star band of UK rock stars and top session players under the moniker Willie and the Poor Boys (taken from the Creedence Clearwater Revivial album of the same name). The band featured the likes of Rolling Stones Charlie Watts and Ronnie Wood; current Who drummer Kenney Jones (who, with Wood, had been in Faces with …entire summary
Mel Collins - saxophone
Ray Cooper - percussion
Willie Garnett - horn
Mickey Gee - guitar, vocals
Steve Gregory - horn
Kenney Jones - drums
Andy Fairweather-Low - guitar, vocals
Jimmy Page - guitar,
Raphael Ravenscroft - saxophone
Chris Rea - vocals
Paul Rodgers - vocals
Terry Taylor - percussion
Geraint Watkins - keyboards, Vocals,
Charlie Watts - drums
Terry Williams - drums
Ron Woods - guitar
Bill Wyman assembled an all-star band of UK rock stars and top session players under the moniker Willie and the Poor Boys (taken from the Creedence Clearwater Revivial album of the same name). The band featured the likes of Rolling Stones Charlie Watts and Ronnie Wood; current Who drummer Kenney Jones (who, with Wood, had been in Faces with Ronnie Lane); Chris Rea; Andy Fairweather-Low; and many others. The band was hastily put together and played a series of performances featuring old rock ‘n’ roll and blues covers in support of ailing Faces bassist Ronnie Lane, who had been stricken with multiple sclerosis.
The fall 1984 tour also featured headliners Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, and Jimmy Page (who, collectively, had been members of the Yardbirds, Cream, Led Zeppelin, and the Jeff Beck Group) and resulted in a long form video and live LP. This amazing rock ‘n’ roll trek was called the Ronnie Lane Appeal ARMS (Advanced Research for Multiple Sclerosis) tour.
The following March, Wyman re-assembled a scaled down version of the ensemble and recorded several shows and another live show video in the UK. This recording comes from that tour, although the exact venue and city are unknown. The show features guest appearances from Jimmy Page and Ringo Starr and includes such gems as "Baby Please Don't Go" (a blues song that the Yardbirds enjoyed covering), Little Richard’s "Slippin' And Slidin',” and jump-blues standard "Chicken Shack Boogie.”
What makes Willie and the Poor Boys significant is the fact that it represents the first time members of The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Who, and Led Zeppelin worked together on a single musical project.
After leaving The Rolling Stones in the mid-’90s, Wyman assembled his version of Willie and the Poor Boys, entitled Bill Wyman’s Rhythm Kings. That group has released several albums and done numerous tours.
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