The Rolling Stones are still performing, despite long time sticksman Charlie Watts not being behind his iconic drums
It was first announced in August 2021 that Charlie Watts was not going to participate in the upcoming Rolling Stones tour. In a statement released by him: "For once my timing has been a little off. I am working hard to get fully fit but today I have accepted on the advice of the experts that this will take a while. After all the fans' suffering caused by COVID, I really do not want the many fans who have been holding tickets for this tour to be disappointed by another postponement or cancellation. I have therefore asked my great friend Steve Jordan to stand in for me."
Everyone assumed that Watts would return as soon as he recovered from what a spokesperson described as a "completely successful" procedure. Details were not released. It was 2004 when Watts had beaten throat cancer, which he chalked up to smoking heavily long ago. He had revealed any other health scares since then. It was on Aug. 24, 2021 that the news was out: Charlie Watts had passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, in a London hospital
A mass flood of condolences poured in. Ringo Starr wrote on Twitter "God bless Charlie Watts. We're going to miss you, man." Many who gave their sympathies also complimented him on his unique style of drumming. Robbie Robertson commented "Charlie's drumming is powerful and unique. His approach is entirely his own and helped shape the sound of rock 'n' roll." Guitarist Ronnie Wood was closest to Charlie. He recalled his last visit with him. "We watched horse racing on TV and shot the breeze. I could tell he was pretty tired and fed up with the whole deal. He said, 'I was really hoping to be out of here by now.' Then after that, there was a complication or two and I wasn't allowed back. No one was." The last show Watts played with the Stones was a year earlier on Aug. 30, 2019 at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. It was one stop on the No Filter tour, which started in 2017 and was scheduled to end in 2020. The COVID pandemic put an end to all major touring
One of the first things on the minds of all Rolling Stones fans was whether the band would carry on with their rescheduled 2021 tour dates. It was to be confirmed they would, with Steve Jordan on drums. Prior to the tour starting back up, The Rolling Stones performed at a private event at Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts. At the show, Mick Jagger said "We all miss Charlie so much. We miss him as a band, we miss him as friends, on and off the stage." About a day later, the band kicked off the tour in St. Louis, performing at The Dome at America's Center. It marked the first time in 59 years the band has toured without Charlie Watts, but his presence was still strong in the photos and videos shown on the big screen. It was a sort of nod of respect to the passing of a fellow band member and friend
Steve Jordan, who replaced Watts on drums, was no stranger to the band. He had extensive experience working with them. He'd played with them and Keith Richards' solo band, The X-Pensive Winos. Keith Richards mentioned he was hesitant to tour without Watts. But Charlie encouraged him. "Charlie said to me 'You can do it with Steve. He can take my seat anytime.' And he talked me into it." Despite the positive encouragement and long resume, about mid-tour Jordan admitted it was still a tough job to have. In October 2021, Jordan admitted "There are people that don't understand that I lost a friend. So they're happy for me, but they don't understand that I'd rather not have this be the case. But The Rolling Stones have really, really done everything in their power to make the transition smooth and sympathetic and empathetic. They've been cognizant of everyone's feelings. I personally appreciate that."
Days prior to Watts' death, a special 40th anniversary box set edition of Tattoo You from 1981 was released. The special reissue included nine songs that the band returned to the studio to finish up, blissfully unaware it was the last time they would work with Watts. In a September 2021 interview, Mick Jagger said "I did some stuff with him in the studio very recently, while we were doing the Tattoo You things. Charlie did some work on just a few fills and stuff like that. And then we started messing around, we did some other things." A year later, a documentary titled My Life As a Rolling Stone debuted on Epix. Each episode was about a different member of the band. Work on the series had just begun when Watts passed away. Like the tour, the remaining band members had to finish what they started
Executive producer Steve Condie told Ultimate Classic Rock in an interview. "In a strange way, it made [the band] think we should be doing this because we want to show their appreciation of him." The final part of the series was about Watts, featuring his fellow Stones members and other musicians, talking of old times and showing their appreciation of him and his talent. "They wanted a program that would be devoted to him, in which they themselves - Ronnie, Keith and Mick - could say what they felt about Charlie, but also an opportunity for a broader audience to understand this extraordinary guy. It was a difficult period for them, obviously. It threw things into a little bit of doubt, but in the end, I think we all came around to the feeling that, actually, you know what? We've got to do this."
For the remaining band members, this tour and adjusting to life without their good friend and drummer doesn't happen overnight. Keith Richards told CBS in March 2022 "[It] is strange to turn suddenly and, you know, after all these years, you expect that face there!" Despite the fact Jordan has kept the drumming up to par, Watts is considered irreplaceable. In a 2021 interview, Jagger stated "It seems like only yesterday that I was in the studio with Charlie, joshing around. It's just so weird and then very sad. And I mean, it's such a long time that you work with someone like that, and you get to know someone so well and their quirks and their idiosyncrasies and they know yours. And there's a language in communication with musicians, obviously, or anything else...That's very rare. I miss that so much."
On the first anniversary of his passing, Mick Jagger posted a clip of photos and videos set to the 1974 Rolling Stones song "'Til the Last Goodbye" on his Twitter feed. In the clip, Jagger said "He had a great sense of humor. Outside the band we used to hang out quite a lot and have interesting times going. We liked sports, we'd go to football, we'd go to cricket games. We would have other interests apart from just music." Ronnie Wood also posted a series of photos, mentioning Watts' late wife Shirley, their daughter Seraphina and granddaughter. "Charlie, missing you every single day. Shirley, Seraphina and Charlotte, we hold you close in our hearts."
Watts had a reputation as "The Quiet One" in the band, compared to his rowdier bandmates. He was more content to stay in the hotel room or even visit local jazz clubs than engage in post-show parties like some rock musicians would. In a 2012 interview with Classic Rock, Watts stated "I'm very private. I'm not really that interested in talking about me." Watts was interested in music first. Everything else that came with it, be it fame, money, legacy, was sometimes a burden. He was also highly respected among other drummers. His style of playing was heavily influenced by jazz, but was simple and powerful. He was powerful without being aggressive. Complex without showing off. Judging from the level of tributes pouring in, he was definitely respected among his fellow drummers. The impact he had on music won't soon be forgotten. In the 1966 film Charlie is My Darling, he stated "Maybe it's an inferiority complex I've got. Or maybe I am great after all."
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