Charlie Watts, Longtime Rolling Stones Drummer, Dies At 80

Charlie Watts, Longtime Rolling Stones Drummer, Dies At 80




Charlie Watts, who'd been the drummer for The Rolling Stones since joining the order in 1963 shortly right after its inception, has died, his spokesperson confirmed by means of the a note posted to the band's social media accounts. He was 80.


"It is with immense sadness that we announce the death of our beloved Charlie Watts. He passed away peacefully in a London hospital earlier today surrounded by his family member the note reads. "Charlie was a cherished hubby, father, grandfather along with as a member of The Rolling Stones one of the best drummers of his generation."


"We kindly request that the privacy of his family member, musical group members, and close companions is respected at this complicated time," it concludes.


Earlier this month, The Stones announced Watts would not be joining their upcoming No Filter Tour by means of the United States in the fall as he was recuperating from a medical procedure. "For once my timing has been a little bit off, Watts mentioned in a statement then. "I am working hard to get completely fit nevertheless I have today accepted on the suggestions of the experts that this will take a while."


Watts was an art-school graduate, jazz fan, and gigging drummer in his early twenties while he linked up with Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Brian Jones, Bill Wyman, and Ian Stewart in London in 1963 to solidify the lineup that kicked off a legendary period of creativity and international success for The Rolling Stones. Watts's steady drumming offered the backbeat, indebted to his jazz interests and the blues recordings the musical group had steeped themselves in. He's long been hailed as one of the big drummers in rock history, and indeed, he helped architect the genre while in its emergence as a popular art form.


You hear it on all of the hits: "Wild Horses" "Satisfaction" and also you Can't Routinely Get What You Want" and "Miss You" and "It's Only Rock 'N Roll however I Like It)." The power and control he displayed, largely with a stone face, helped the musical group keep stadiums filled well into their septuagenarian years.


It was there from the starting, also, evident from their early TV performances and those while in their iconic late-'60s and early '70s run. And he continued on, steady as ever, by way of the band's various eras and lineup changes while in the '80s, '90s, 2000s, and 2010s, though he didn't habitually love the grind of touring. The band's deeper cuts are overflowing with wonderful Watts moments, even as he remained primarily a non-showy and tight drummer habitually in service of the song.


If you know The Stones, you know charismatic frontman Jagger, whose fame are usually feel like it transcends any musical group or era by right now, and likely Richards, also, whose behaviors helped color a global film franchise that's made billions. You could may not necessarily know Watts, who intentionally ceded the spotlight to his bandmates and seemingly sought little of the excesses that came with being in one of the world's biggest bands. Nevertheless his steady rhythm allowed the sort to continue releasing new music and touring large venues for decades.


Companions and fans from all over have paid tribute to Watts on social media.









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