The Rolling Stones’ agent, Charlie Watts (1941-2021), announced that he died yesterday in a London hospital at the age of 80. Bernard Doherty said Watts died “peacefully, in a London hospital, surrounded by his family”.
“Charlie was a beloved husband, father and grandfather and also as a member of the Rolling Stones, one of the greatest drummers of his generation. We ask that the privacy of family, band members and close friends be respected at this difficult time,” Doherty added in a statement.
Along with singer Mick Jagger and guitarist Keith Richards, Charlie Watts was one of the oldest members of the band, through which names such as Mick Taylor, Ronnie Wood and Bill Wyman have passed.
The band announced earlier this month that Watts would not be touring the US between September 26 and November 20 as he was recovering from an “unspecified medical procedure” to be replaced by musician Steve Jordan. “With rehearsals starting in a few weeks, this is disappointing to say the least, but it is also fair to say that no one expected. For the first time my pace was a bit awkward. I have to accept the expert advice that this will take a little longer,” he said. at that time.
“I don’t want Rolling Stones fans to be disappointed by another postponement or cancellation after all the heartache caused by COVID-19, so I asked my dear friend Steve Jordan to replace me,” he added.
The last time the Rolling Stones played together at One World: Together At Home, in April of last year, when they presented a remote version of their 1969 classic, You can’t always get what you want.
The quiet man in a troubled gang
Charlie Watts, known as the quiet man of the scandal-ridden Rolling Stones, contrasts with the behavior of the rest of the band members on and off stage, having lived for more than 50 years with his wife, Shirley Shepherd, in a rural area. in Devon, a county in southwest England. The other members have also been known for “divorce, addiction and arrests”, Britain’s Daily Mirror reported.
The drummer who helped the group achieve success with Rolling Stone told Rolling Stone magazine in 1994. Successes like Jumpin’ Jack Flash NS (I can’t get no) satisfaction.
The most turbulent period that the drummer lived in was the 80s, when he had to self-medicate for alcohol and heroin abuse, and was able to successfully and quickly get rid of the addiction. He said in 2012, in an interview with The Mirror, “It was something too short for me. I ended up stopping. It didn’t suit me.”
“For five decades of chaos, drummer Charlie Watts has been the calm in the midst of a Rolling Stones storm, on and off stage,” the British newspaper wrote.
In 2004, Watts was successfully treated for throat cancer after a four-month bout with the disease, including six months of intense radiotherapy.
Jazz before rock
Born June 2, 1941 in London, Charles Robert Watts discovered jazz when he was about ten years old, having learned to play the drums without any formal training, only watching the great jazz players in London nightclubs.
After studying art, he worked as a graphic designer and played in several jazz bands before joining The Rolling Stones in 1963.
Jazz has never been left behind, leading for many years a 32-piece band called the Charlie Watts Orchestra, but he is best known in rock music. In 2016, he was named the 12th best drummer of all time by Rolling Stone magazine. Ten years ago, he was inducted into the Modern Drummer magazine’s Modern Drummer Hall of Fame, along with other notables like Ringo Starr (Beatles) and Keith Moon of The Who.
Shirley Farmer is a contributor to Brytfmonline.com, covering a wide range of topics including news, politics, business, technology, sports, entertainment, and lifestyle. She focuses on delivering clear, balanced reporting that helps readers stay informed about current events and emerging developments. With an emphasis on accuracy, relevance, and accessibility, Shirley writes stories that provide useful information and meaningful context, making complex topics easier to understand for a broad audience.