Terry Murden/Shutterstock
Charlie Watts, the drummer for the Rolling Stones and one of the most iconic musicians of all time, has passed away at the age of 80. Rock music will never be the same…
Rest In Peace, Charlie Watts
duranduran/Twitter
One of the greatest rock’ n’ roll drummers of all time, Charlie Watts, who played with the Rolling Stone, has died at the age of 80-years-old. His passing occurred just weeks after Watts needed to depart the Stones’ current U.S. tour. He had been battling throat cancer since 2004.
“It is with immense sadness that we announce the death of our beloved Charlie Watts,” the band wrote in a statement. “[He was] a cherished husband, father, and grandfather…and one of the greatest drummers of his generation.” Many don’t know that Rolling Stones had a few other drummers before Watts. However, none of them worked out. Then Watts came along and helped catapulted the band to international fame. Now, songs like “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction,” “Jumpin’ Jack Flash,” “Get Off My Cloud,” and “Sympathy for the Devil” are some of the most famous rock songs ever.
“Charlie Watts gives me the freedom to fly on stage,” Stones’ guitarist Keith Richards once said. Meanwhile, while Richards and lead singer Mick Jagger have become infamous rock stars ever, Watts never had any desire to follow suit. “I’ve actually never been interested in all that stuff and still am not,” he told the San Diego Tribune in 1991. “I don’t know what showbiz is, and I’ve never watched MTV. There are people who just play instruments, and I’m pleased to know that I’m one of them.”
Now, many other beloved musicians have shared incredibly kind words about Watts…
One of the Greatest Drummers Ever
Everett Collection/Shutterstock
After the Stones announced Watts’ passing, countless memories and tributes flooded social media, from the likes of the Beatles’ Sir Paul McCartney and Sir Ringo Starr, and Sir Elton John, among many others. “A very sad day. Charlie Watts was the ultimate drummer,” Sir John wrote on Twitter. “The most stylish of men, and such brilliant company. My deepest condolences to Shirley, Seraphina and Charlott. And of course, The Rolling Stones.” Meanwhile, Brian May, the guitarist for Queen, called Watts “the nicest gent you could ever meet. And such a pillar of strength for the Rolling Stones – to whom he brought a touch of Jazz and a mountain of pure class.”
American musicians also came out to remember Watts as well. The Police drummer Stewart Copeland said that Watts was “a unique, iconic drummer (and dancer),” while Duran Duran’s drummer Roger Taylor said, “his simple style was a lesson to us all.” Later that day, Lenny Kravitz called Watts “the beat of The Stones,” and Bryan Adams named him “one of the greatest rock drummers ever and a real gentleman.”
Rest in peace, Charlie Watts, rock and roll will never be the same.
