He told Classic Rock magazine: “When Charlie left, I thought they would close. I really did. They could replace the bass, but I didn’t think they could replace Charlie, and his charisma, and what a great guy he was.
“But they went on, which surprised me. I wouldn’t say it disappointed me, but it surprised me. I think it would’ve been a good time for them to [end]. But I don’t think they’ve got anything else to do – otherwise they’d do it, wouldn’t they?”
Bill – who left the group in the 1990s – went on to explain he thinks the other bandmembers – Sir Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood – decided to keep the band going because they don’t have any big solo projects to fill their time.
He added: “I’ve got six different things I’m doing all the time, and I’m so happy doing them, but I don’t think they … Well, Ronnie’s s got art as a second thing.
“And Mick’s tried to do movies and things but hasn’t really succeeded; and he’s done solo stuff which really didn’t work as well as it should’ve done either.
“And so they just … It’s just the Stones all the time.”
Jagger, 81. previously admitted he found it strange to perform without Charlie because he had been working with him since he was a teenager.
He told the Mirror newspaper: “Of course, it’s hard. I mean, it’s all my life ever since I was 19 or whatever, it’s always been Charlie.
“Of course, it’s emotional, but you have to get past that in life. I love Charlie and all the things, but I still want to carry on making music.”
Guitarist Richards, 80, added: “It was because of Charlie’s demise that we felt that if the Stones were going to continue, then we better make a mark of what the Stones are now.”
