Day Tripping: October 24

A Riddle Wrapped In An Enigma

William George Perks was born in South London in 1936. The oldest of his former mates, he has published seven books for journals he has written since World War II and became an amateur archeologist. William has used his signature metal detector to uncover relics from the Roman Empire era in Britain.

Long before any of that, Bill took piano lessons in his teens, bought his first guitar, and then married an eighteen-year-old bank teller on his birthday in 1959.

Perks switched to playing bass after hearing it for the first time at a Baron Knights concert and never looked back. In 1962, his drummer friend Tony Chapman told Bill about an audition for a new band.

“I’m not a musician, I just play bass.”

Bill’s new bandmates were impressed with his bass playing and the equipment he modified himself. He legally changed his name to Bill Wyman after two years with the Rolling Stones. Bill was closer to Brian Jones and Charlie Watts, preferring their quieter demeanor to the Glitter Twins.

He wasn’t much for drugs or alcohol, but he developed what he called a psychological crutch and went “Girl mad”. Wyman was 52 when he married then 18-year-old Mandy Smith who he’d been intimate with already for four years.

That marriage lasted only two years and when his divorce was finalized in 1993, Wyman decided he’d also had enough of touring with the Stones. He continued on with solo projects and his Rythm Kings, also reuniting with Ronny Lane and The Faces briefly.

Aside from his interest in archeology, Bill has exhibited his extensive photography works including portraits of friends like Marc Chagall.

Today is:

Food Day Bologna Day — WHAT?! On the same day?

Musical Ride

The plagiarism trial began in 1988 against former Credence Clearwater Revival founder John Fogerty. The suit which is brought by his former record label boss Saul Zaentz accuses Fogerty of writing his new song The Old Man Down the Road by using elements from CCR’s Running Through the Jungle which Fogerty also wrote.

So Fogerty was being sued for using his own prior creativity to create a new song. This can only happen because Zaentz owned the publishing rights to CCR music.

Interesting Notes

Black Thursday in 1929 signaled the crash of the New York Stock Exchange. A panic selloff of 13 million shares caused the market to drop to its lowest level in 30 years.

Coupled with the crash of the London Exchange, the Great Depression began which lasted for nearly a decade.

Gone But Not Forgotten

Because of her natural red hair, Maureen O’Hara was dubbed the Queen of Technicolor. The Irish-born actress was discovered in local theatre by Charles Laughton who brought her to film in The Hunchback of Notre Dame.

Maureen O'Hara became best known for starring in films alongside John Wayne. Ms. O’Hara was 95 when she died in 2015.

Notable Births

1947 — Kevin Kline said, “Some of my favorite characters that I’ve played have been very pompous because I love making fun of pompous people.”

1986 — Drake said, “I was born to make mistakes, not to fake perfection.”

K. Barrett Maria Rattray Maryam Merchant Dr. Mehmet Yildiz Tree Langdon Myriam Ben Salem Phil Truman Chelsea Mandler MAT Terry Mansfield Hollie Petit, Ph.D. Terry Trueman Dr. Preeti Singh John Gruber Bill Abbate James G Brennan ScienceDuuude Marcus Liam Ireland Claire Kelly Noorain Hassan, BMS Amy Pierovich David Acaster Nora Thewriteyard David Perlmutter Joe Luca Holly Kellums Michael Burg, MD Lucy Dan Dave Logan

All previous Day Tripping entries are available at the following links:

The Story Of Day Tripping Through History What’s Past Is Often Present

A comprehensive directory for Day Tripping