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Peer pressure is influence that a peer group, observer or an individual exerts upon others in order to encourage a change in their attitudes, values, or behaviors so as to conform with group norms. Peers become an important influence on behavior during adolescence, and peer pressure has been called a hallmark of adolescent experience.

Peer conformity in young people is most pronounced with respect to style, taste, appearance, ideology, and values. Occasionally, such pressure within a high profile group can lead to concern and fearfulness, ultimately culminating in extended alienation.

Recalling the events of 1967 when Jagger and Richards were involved in the most notorious drugs bust to date in British history, Bill Wyman wrote in his autobiography_ ‘Stone Alone’_:

‘Although I was strongly against drugs myself, I was put in a vulnerable position by the pushers who were constantly around the band – in the studios, on tour in dressing rooms, hotels, planes, cars……I had to keep aware because if the cops did bust us I would have been thrown in jail together with the rest of them, as would Charlie (Watts). And who would believe that we weren’t involved?…. I accepted that if I was in the band, it was something that had to be tolerated. But they wouldn’t lift a finger to help me in my family situation….so the separation built up…I hardly socialised with the others for ten years from about 1967.

I’ve always found Wyman an interesting character – a rock’n‘roll librarian (a contradiction within itself), a successful restaurenter, a band leader (Bill Wyman’s Rhythm kings), author, and metal detector inventor.

http://www.billwymandetector.com/\

But more than anything, I admire him for jumping off the Stones’ gravy train in 1993 after thirty plus years of sterling service. Interviewed by Nigel Farndale of ‘The Sunday Telegraph’ in April 2013, the now 76 year old bassist confirmed that he had never regretted his decision to leave the band, either musically or financially.

‘When I said I wanted to leave, they told me I was probably giving up £20m for the next two years. But I had three great houses and some nice cars’. Probing a little further, Farndale asked if he’d had enough.

‘Yes, and I got married again and worked on books, and started a band to subsidise my living expenses. And I don’t regret it because I’ve never been happier’. Pausing momentarily to look at something over his interviewer’s shoulder, the bassist added : ‘I’m sure I’m happier than they are in their lives, I really do’.

Never formally acknowledged with royalties for his arranging skills – the distinctive riffs that adorn million sellers like ‘Miss You’ (1978) and ‘Jumpin’ Jack Flash’ (1968) were his – and equally dismissed as an instrumentalist – upon his departure, Jagger was moved to say ‘How hard can it be to play bass? I’ll do it myself’ – it is little wonder that Bill was looking for pastures anew by the early 90’s.

[Programme for the Stones’ September ’65 UK tour, with the Spencer Davis Group. Interesting to note from the scan, that Bill – then 29 – was passing himself off as six years younger!]
https://www.flickr.com/photos/bradford_timeline/sets/72157631421016626/with/7937165880/