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I do not number myself among Bill Wyman’s detractors regarding his musical criticism, but I am outraged by the obscenely stupid, ahistorical drivel he slobbered recently about O.J. Simpson [Hitsville, June 24]. The obvious idiocies are stunning: first, the history of rock and roll all too plainly shows that managers, agents, producers, and label people do not consistently effuse benevolent “concern” about musicians’ “well-being.” Second, does Wyman seriously believe that O.J. had no manager, no lawyer, no agent? As for bandmates, the tender bassists and drummers lovingly extolled by Wyman, O.J. had teammates, first and foremost of which was his college and professional buddy Al Cowlings, who was his teammate for ten times longer than the average life span of a rock and roll band. Even more obvious, rock and roll bandmates are often less than supportive: Wyman needs to reread his history, sadly lacking for a professional rock critic, about the legendarily acrimonious and often destructive musical partnerships that pass for the “solidarity-minded” world of rock and roll. Wyman’s short-term memory is also deficient: not two months ago he mourned the passing of Kurt Cobain, a troubled rock star who had the full complement of bassist, drummer, agents, managers, etc, but still managed to off himself amid the oh so rosy world of rock music.
Hyde Park
