Iconic rock legend Charles (Charlie) Watts spent over half a century with the Rolling Stones. The 80-year-old drummer was surrounded by family when he passed away peacefully in a London hospital on Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2021. His publicist asked that everyone respect the privacy of his family, band members, and close friends during this difficult time.
His death comes after news broke earlier this month that Watts would not be joining the Rolling Stones’ No Filter Tour of U.S. stadiums set to begin in September. Vogue reported this is because he needed to recuperate after an undisclosed but successful medical procedure. On August 4, a Stones spokesperson explained: “I gather his doctors…concluded that he now needs proper rest and recuperation.”
Watts, who has been with the Rolling Stones since admitted his timing was a little off: “I am working hard to get fully fit but I have today accepted on the advice of the experts that this will take a while.”
Not wanting to disappoint ticketholders, he added, “I have asked my friend Steve Jordan to stand in for me.” His stand-in has worked on several Keith Richards recordings and has experience as a house band member for several late-night TV shows.
The stage will not be the same without him and his impeccable timing, according to Joe Gross for Rolling Stone Magazine. He recalled something Richards said in 1979:
‘Everybody thinks Mick and Keith are the Rolling Stones. If Charlie wasn’t doing what he’s doing on drums, that wouldn’t be true at all. You’d find out that Charlie Watts is the Stones.’
He had been with the band since January 1963 when he joined Brian Jones, Richards, and Mick Jagger. Throughout the past 58 years, he became one of the most prominent instrumentalists in rock and roll.
That is a significant achievement for a young man who never had any formal drum-playing instruction. He taught himself to play by listening to his favorite jazz musicians.
No cause of death was released. Even though plans were made for Steve Jordan to replace Watts in the upcoming tour, the band has not released a statement concerning any further changes.
Watts leaves behind Shirley Ann, his wife of 57 years, their daughter Seraphina, and granddaughter, Charlotte.
Written by Cathy Milne-Ware
Sources:
Deadline: Charlie Watts Dies: Rolling Stones Drummer Was 80; by Greg Evans
Rolling Stone: Charlie Watts Dies: Rolling Stones Drummer Was 80; by Joe Gross
FOX News: Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts dead at 80; by Tyler McCarthy
Variety: Rolling Stones Drummer Charlie Watts Is ‘Unlikely’ to Join Group’s 2021 U.S. Tour; by Jem Aswad
Featured and Top Image Courtesy of Raph_PH’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
Discover more from Guardian Liberty Voice
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
7 Responses
Hi, i think that i noticed you visited my weblog thus i
got here to return the want?.I’m attempting to in finding issues to
improve my site!I guess its good enough to use a few of your ideas!!
Pretty element of content. I just stumbled upon your web site and in accession capital to say that I get in fact enjoyed
account your weblog posts. Any way I will be subscribing to
your feeds or even I achievement you get right of entry to
consistently rapidly.
What i do not realize is in reality how you’re not really much
more well-favored than you might be now. You’re very intelligent.
You understand therefore considerably when it comes to
this matter, made me for my part imagine it from so many various angles.
Its like men and women are not involved unless it is something to do with
Woman gaga! Your individual stuffs great. At all times maintain it
up!
Heya i’m for the primary time here. I found this board
and I to find It truly useful & it helped me out much. I
hope to give one thing again and aid others such as you helped me.
My spouse and I stumbled over here coming from a different web page and
thought I might check things out. I like what I see so
now i am following you. Look forward to going over your web page for a second time.
I go to see each day a few web sites and information sites to read articles, except this web site offers quality based articles.
Excellent way of explaining, and nice article to take facts
concerning my presentation focus, which i am going to convey in college.