Rolling Stones - Wyman Slams Music Video Game Culture

Former ROLLING STONES star BILL WYMAN has hit out at rock computer games, insisting they stop young people learning to play real instruments.

Wyman played bass guitar in the rock band from 1962 until he left in 1992 and formed his own group, Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings.

The 72 year old is concerned youngsters nowadays are losing the urge to pick up an instrument - because they are so involved with games such as Guitar Hero and the forthcoming Beatles: Rock Band.

He says, "It encourages kids not to learn, that's the trouble. It makes less and less people dedicated to really get down and learn an instrument. I think is a pity so I'm not really keen on that kind of stuff."

And his views are shared by Pink Floyd star Nick Mason: "It irritates me having watched my kids do it - if they spent as much time practising the guitar as learning how to press the buttons they'd be damn good by now."

But Mason hasn't ruled out a game featuring the hits of Pink Floyd. He adds, "I think we'd consider it. I think everyone's looking at new ways of selling the music because the business of selling records has almost disappeared."