Sometimes, the death of a musician hits you harder than others. Recently, we’ve lost Joey Jordison and Dusty Hill and now news is coming through of the passing of The Rolling Stones’ Charlie Watts. Having had to recently drop out of their upcoming US dates to recover from a medical procedure, this still comes as a massive shock.
The full statement from the band states: “He passed away peacefully in a London hospital earlier today surrounded by his family.” The band have also asked for privacy for his family, close friends and the band itself. While the focus of The Rolling Stones may have been on Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, there’s no doubt that Charlie Watts was the heart and soul of the band and one of the best drummers rock had. Effortlessly cool and dripping with groove, there was no-one quite like him whilst so many drummers who came after can point to him as a direct influence.
Managing to be in a band as big and influential as the Stones, right from the very start, as they ascended to a mythological level we’ll likely never see again and to never leave is only the tip of the iceberg in regard to the legacy Watts leaves behind.
Header image by Getty images
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