4 Charlie Watts
A Free Rolling Stones Doc, His Beat Goes On
On Tuesday, Charlie Watts, backbone and backbeat of the Rolling Stones passed away at age 80 surrounded by family. While not the Stones first drummer he has been with the band since 1963 their second year. Mick, Keith, and Brian Jones (early on) loved the limelight while Watts played the straight man to these jesters.
Old school jazz-style drummer, family man, and style icon he is universally respected by peers. In tribute, Questlove called him “the heartbeat of Rock & Roll” and Elton John said “Charlie Watts was the ultimate drummer. The most stylish of men, and such brilliant company.” He has always had the respect of his bandmate as well. As Keith Richards told RollingStone magazine 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.”
In memoriam, we present Rolling Stones: Rock of Ages.
RIP Charlie Watts and thank you for keeping the Stones rolling.
