Breaking - Charlie Watts dead

NOW I feel old! RIP.

So young…

Pokoj mu duši.

Oh no! A Rolling Stone, one of my favorite bands. Well, he didn't gather any moss. RIP Charlie Watts.

I don't understand how ANY of them are still alive

Fuck.

So healthy!

If you asked Jagger or any other member of the band, back in the 60s, that they'll be playing well into their old age...they probably would have laughed. The sustainability of their popularity is amazing.

Is he the one who married a child or am I confusing him with someone else?

I thought that was Bill Wyman, but I could be wrong.

Maybe they both had child brides?

I think Charlie is the only Rolling Stone who is still married to his original wife.

I always liked him the best...even though he looked dopey, he seemed the most reasonable one of the band.

I never thought he would be the one to die first* (*well, technically second after Brian Jones but that guy was an accident waiting to happen). I thought Keith Richards would be after Brian.

At least it was quick and not years of suffering...He went from touring got sick and died

Time Waits for No One.

R10, you are right, that is who I was thinking of. Sorry, Charlie Watts, may you rest in peace.

[quote]The sustainability of their popularity is amazing.

Recently saw a film of their summer show in Hyde Park a few years back, and it was sensational. Some of the greatest rock'n'roll songs ever, relished by a massive crowd of all generations, as the light slowly dipped. Nobody does it better. RIP Charlie.

I am very glad I got to see them 6 years ago. Damn.

Married to the same woman for his whole adult life, though he did cheat on her in 1983-86, then sobered up when he realized how much money he’d lose (which shows common sense, something many rock stars lacked, bigly). I remember in Gimme Shelter, when people were talking about what happened at Altamont Charlie says “Oh dear, what a shame.” I was taken aback. I thought the Stones were this cursing, drinking, drugging band of hardcore rockers and here’s this polite schoolboy…”oh dear, what a shame.”

Definitely the coolest of the bunch. Not Keith and certainly not Mick.

Awww, that’s a shame.

I loved his song Behind Closed Doors.

I guess The Stones will finally have to stop touring. But I wouldn't bet on it.

They already got a replacement for their next tour when Charlie announced he wasn't going with them.

Most fans don't care about the drummer of the band unless it's someone truly extraordinary like Neil Peart was with Rush.

What a sad day….he was the heartbeat of the The Rolling Stones and a cool guy too. This band provided me with the soundtrack to my life then and now…RIP Charlie

He got better looking with age. Dressed well, loved jazz, a class act.

Keith perennially looks at death’s door and Ronnie Wood alongside him.

[quote] Keith perennially looks at death’s door

Well, he’s been there for years. They just won’t open the door and let him in.

He was 80, time to go!

Puh-leeze, 80 is the new 30!

Wow, Charlie Watts is dead but Sonny Barger, the head of Hells Angels who was at Altamont and may have helped kill Meredith Hunter, is still alive after having had throat cancer & prostate cancer. No rhyme or reason to this world

I remember when I saw them live during some stadium tour that when Mick was introducing the band Charlie got the biggest, loudest sustained cheers and applause out of all of them.

Even he was a little surprised by that. It was a beautiful moment. 😭😢😭

Charlie has gotten the most applause/ovations for decades now. He’s the Mary Ann of The Rolling Stones and Mick is Ginger.

RIP, Charlie.

Charlie was married to the same woman for 57 years. Wow.

So what? Only Keith Richards and Mick Jagger matter from the RS

No r33, they don't. Mick himself has said in the past that the only three irreplaceable members of the Stones are himself, Keith, and Charlie.

It will be interesting to see where they go from here, if they hang it up or keep going without him. I know Keith would like to die out on the road and Mick likes the ongoing relevance and adulation.

And money, R34, they’re still in it for the money.

Isn’t Mick still getting young things pregnant?

Charlie Watts was dealing with lung cancer a while back, perhaps 10-12 years ago, which he overcame. That may be the cause of death.

“Charlie has had a procedure which was completely successful, but I gather his doctors this week concluded that he now needs proper rest and recuperation. With rehearsals starting in a couple of weeks it’s very disappointing to say the least, but it’s also fair to say no one saw this coming.”

Was it just natural causes?

short and sweet

Rest In Peace, Charlie Watts.

And if there is an afterlife, well then, you've got a chance to find out what kind of unholy deal Keith Richards made in order to outlive you.

The photo that Keith Richards posted is more meaningful and special than the photo posted by Mick Jagger.

[quote] It will be interesting to see where they go from here

They’ve already replaced him and are still touring

Bill Wyman had retired from the band a years ago and had been replaced by Darryl Jones, I believe Watts retired from the band a year or two ago, but I don't know if they'd found a replacement as nobody's been touring.

Wyman has been devoting himself to being an old man with a metal detector and dabbling in archeology, BTW, which I think is cool.

Steve Jordan has already replaced him

Bill Wyman “retired” after writing a book that was unflattering to Mick & Keith. Bill, Charlie and Brian were the original band members. Charlie & bill were the only 2 who attended Brian’s funeral.

Old jews

Old news

r45 Charlie joined after Mick and Keith, he came in around '63 or so. Dick Taylor I believe was their original bass player and Ian Stewart played keyboards at the very beginning.

Theres a story that Keith’s father went on tour or to one of the concerts, and got stuck into the champagne.

Charlie reputedly told him to ease up on the good stuff or he might end up looking like his son.

Recall reading in a Watts profile-interview many years ago the following tale, Stones scholars please verify or correct.

Jagger was in some semi-public space, hotel perhaps, and knew Watts was around nearby. Watts eventually ambled into Jagger's grouping, whereupon the singer said, 'And here's my little drummer boy!' Not missing a beat, Watts punched Jagger hard enough on the jaw to knock him to the floor. I hope it's true.

It's true. The band was in Amsterdam at a local hotel. Charlie was in bed or about to be when Mick called his room. Mick and Keith were partying in Keith's room and Mick called Charlie and said something like "Hey, where's my fucking drummer? Get your ass down here!" Charlie got up, showered and shaved, put on a fresh suit and polished his shoes and left. He got in the elevator, went down to Keith's room, walked up to Mick and punched him right in the mouth knocking him to the floor. While Mick was down there, Charlie shouted "Don't you ever talk to me like that again! I'm not your fucking drummer, you're my fucking singer!". He then turned around and went back to his room.

R51 I heard that story many years ago. perhaps 30 years ago. I'm assuming that it's true.

Ha, thanks R51 for adding so much to the bare bones of the story I dimly recalled. Once again, DL's awesome collective memory does the job.

I now remember I first read the story in London's listing magazine 'Time Out' when Watts was publicising club dates for his jazz band.

Their family just announced the death of Shirley Watts, after a "brief illness". She was 82 years old.