![]() ![]() He would often cite the importance of British musician Alexis Korner, who in many ways represented the meeting point between the burgeoning jazz and rhythm and blues scenes in London.Īt Korner’s invitation, Watts joined his band Blues Incorporated, but only after a work stint in Denmark, following which he played briefly with future comic and film star Dudley Moore’s jazz trio. In 1961, as a largely unknown 20-year-old, Watts demonstrated his passion for jazz by writing the cartoon-filled tribute book to Charlie Parker, Ode To A High Flying Bird, published after the Stones became famous. Charlie received a drumkit from his parents when he was 14 and was playing around town by 16. Watts would later say that the record that made him decide he wanted to be a drummer was the 1952 disc “Walking Shoes,” by West Coast saxophonist Gerry Mulligan with Chico Hamilton on drums. His mother Lillian was a homemaker, and Charlie and younger sister Lydia (born in 1944) grew up in no great comfort, in a “prefab” house, as constructed in the hundreds of thousands in Britain after the widespread bomb damage from the war. Like Brian Jones and Bill Wyman, he was named after his father who, after being demobbed from World War II, worked as a driver with British Railways. His private life, too, was as un-rock’n’roll as could be: away from touring, he moved to a horse stud farm in rural Devon, stabling Arabian horses with his wife Shirley, to whom he was married in 1964.Ĭharles Robert Watts was born in Wembley, north London, on J(Mick Jagger would sometimes refer to him in his stage introduction as “the Wembley whammer”). ![]() But even here, Watts made every effort to deflect the limelight in favor of his fellow musicians. He was far more comfortable in the world of his first love, jazz, happily fronting his own groups and playing in others, on stage in small clubs and often on record, in a variety of line-ups from big bands to quintets and quartets. On their second live album Get Your Ya- Ya’s Out!, Mick Jagger says: “Charlie’s good tonight, isn’t he?” All of this with what was widely held to be the smallest drum kit in all of rock’n’roll, totaling perhaps seven items. He truly hated to be in the spotlight, and was famously reluctant to take a bow, or to speak, when introduced on the band’s stadium and arena shows – which only made the applause from scores of thousands of fans even louder. You’d find out that Charlie Watts is the Stones.”īut the other ingredient that made him so warmly loved by friends and strangers alike was his extraordinary humility. If Charlie wasn’t doing what he’s doing on drums, that wouldn’t be true at all. Everybody thinks Mick and Keith are the Rolling Stones. “Charlie’s always there, but he doesn’t want to let everybody know,” he said in 1979. From that day forward, he was a constant on the drum stool for the better part of 60 years, until he was forced to miss the resumption of the band’s No Filter tour in the US in September 2021 while recuperatingfrom a medical procedure. Watts played his first gig with the Stones in January 1963, some seven months after their live debut, and after being energetically sought-after by his future bandmates. We kindly request that the privacy of his family, band members, and close friends is respected at this difficult time.” Charlie was a cherished husband, father, and grandfather and one of the greatest drummers of his generation. “He passed away peacefully in a London hospital earlier today surrounded by his family. “It is with immense sadness that we announce the death of our beloved Charlie Watts,” a statement said. The news was confirmed by Watts’ publicist. I think The Rolling Stones have gotten a lot better, An awful lot better, I think, A lot of people don’t, but I think they have.Charlie Watts, beloved drummer with the Rolling Stones and one of the most admired musicians of the rock era, has died at the age of 80. It’s been years and years and years I’ve been playing the drums, and they’re still a challenge. I think the whole lot is what’s more enjoyable. I don’t think it’s really done so that you’re supposed to feel, Oh, he’s the most wonderful drummer. Mick’s not good on his own problems, but he’s very good at other people’s, He’s been wonderful over the years. You’d imagine Mick would be the happiest person in the world, and yet a lot of the times he isn’t. I hate leaving home, I love what I do, but I’d love to go home every night. ![]() Rock and roll has probably given more than it’s taken. I wanted to play drums because I fell in love with the glitter and the lights, but it wasn’t about adulation, It was being up there playing.
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