When Bill Wyman Left in 1993, the Rolling Stones Never Seriously Considered Disbanding — Here's What Really Happened

Most people assume the Stones hitting the road without their original bassist for the first time in 30 years would have triggered an existential crisis. But according to Keith Richards’ autobiography Life and interviews around the 1994 Voodoo Lounge tour, the band barely paused. Wyman had been drifting away for years—he missed the Steel Wheels tour rehearsals and often seemed bored. His departure was amicable and long expected. Jagger and Richards simply decided to hire a session player and keep rolling.

The real discussions weren’t about breaking up but about who could replace him