Wayne Perkins, a Birmingham, Alabama-born session guitarist who nearly joined the Rolling Stones in 1976, has died. He was 74.
The guitarist died on Monday after struggling a stroke.
“For many who have not heard, Wayne handed away yesterday peacefully,” his brother Dale mentioned on Fb.
“Our sisters and relations had been there with him. We respect all the sort ideas and recollections. He was certainly one of a form, and we liked him very a lot, and thanks all.”
You possibly can hear Perkins’ guitar solo on the Rolling Stones’ “Hand of Destiny” beneath.
Hearken to the Rolling Stones’ ‘Hand of Destiny’
Perkins first gained the Stones’ consideration by way of his good friend Eric Clapton, who advisable him because the band’s new guitarist after Mick Taylor left earlier than the recording of 1976’s Black and Blue.
READ MORE: Prime 40 Albums of 1976
He was certainly one of a number of guitarists who performed on the album because the group continued its seek for a brand new everlasting member. Perkins performed on three tracks on the album, “Hand of Destiny,” “Reminiscence Motel” and “Idiot to Cry.”
Perkins additionally performed on “Anxious About You,” which was recorded through the album classes however not launched till 1981’s Tattoo You.
He impressed the Rolling Stones and was almost requested to affix the band through the recording classes for Black and Blue.
However, as famous in his 2010 memoir Life, Stones guitarist Keith Richards mentioned, “We favored Perkins quite a bit. He was a stunning participant … [but] it wasn’t a lot the enjoying, when it got here right down to it. It got here right down to the truth that [Ron Wood] was English.” Wooden obtained the job as an alternative.
Who Did Wayne Perkins Play With?
This wasn’t the primary time Perkins nearly joined a legendary group.
Lynyrd Skynyrd singer Ronnie Van Zant additionally requested him to affix his band after admiring his intensive work as a session guitarist at Muscle Shoals Sound Studio, the place he performed on information by Joe Cocker, Leon Russell and Steve Winwood. Perkins performed on a few of Skynyrd’s earliest demos.
However Perkins turned down that supply, too, telling Al.com in 2017, “They did not want me, and I had numerous different stuff coming my method.”
Perkins obtained his begin at Muscle Shoals when he was 15. In 1972, he cofounded the group Smith Perkins Smith, which launched an album that yr on Island Data, the primary U.S. act on the British label.
That led to Perkins enjoying on Bob Marley and the Wailers’ breakthrough 1973 album Catch a Fireplace. A yr later, he performed on Joni Mitchell’s traditional Courtroom and Spark. Extra work adopted, together with stints in Russell’s band after which the decision to help the Stones.
You possibly can hear Perkins’ guitar solo on the Rolling Stones’ “Anxious About You,” recorded through the Black and Blue classes however not launched till 1981’s Tattoo You, beneath.
Hearken to the Rolling Stones’ ‘Anxious About You’
Perkins continued to play on information all through the ’80s, ’90s and ’00s. Over the previous few years, he was recognized with a number of mind tumors earlier than struggling a stroke on March 1.
In Memoriam: 2026 Deaths
A take a look at these we have misplaced in 2026.
