The great Charlie Watts has died

[Mord]

 Rolling Stones drummer, Charlie Watts, has died. He will be remembered as one of rock's most distinctive drummers. He passed away after having surgery. Charlie was 80 years old and had been the Stones' drummer for 59 years. He will be greatly missed on their 60th anniversary tour next year.

[Flower]

I just saw this .. very sad.   

[Mike Scott]

End of an era! Don't know how they can go on without him? R.I.P, Charlie.

[marsattacks666]

I am so very sad. Charles Watts is such an incredible musician and drummer. R.I.P.

[Lunkenstein]

Such very sad news.  Time surely does keep moving on.  Charlie was one of rock's greatest drummers.  In addition to his musical talent, I always liked his laid back personality, which helped balance the band as a whole.  RIP to another legend.

[Hepcat]

Rolling Stones drummer, Charlie Watts, has died.

Oh no!!! I was so hoping that the three originals plus the "new" guy Ron Wood would make it to 1 January 2023 for a proper 60th anniversary concert commemorating their first performance with all five originals at the Station Hotel in Richmond.

Here though was Charlie circa 1966:



And Charlie fairly recently:

[Sir Masksalot]

A lot of parents (including mine) didn't want us kids listening to Stones music, believing they were "corrupt".
Still, I recall enjoying all their classic hits as they first rolled out on top 40 radio. The surviving group will be
hard-pressed replacing Mr Watts, if they ever can. Led Zeppelin was never the same after losing their drummer.

[Mord]

Charlie was one of the few drummers who could prove his greatness without tedious, egomaniacal 20 minute solos. The man had a very distinctive style. Irreplaceable.

[Hepcat]

When it came to drumming, Charlie Watts was a minimalist. As such he was an efficiency expert and drummed with an economy of motion unlike some well known contemporaries (e.g. Keith Moon who flailed away most energetically). He also suffered from no compulsion to habitually hit his drums as hard as he could unlike some other famous drummers (e.g. John Bonham). Neither was he compelled to set himself up behind as much of an array of drums as would fit on stage to show off his mastery of the art as do so many modern drummers (e.g. Neil Peart, Terry Bozzio, Phil Collins). He brought along only and precisely those drums and cymbals he needed to keep the beat for the set that his band was going to play.



And that's exactly what he did. He kept the beat for the he World's Greatest Rock & Roll Band for more than 58 years. He knew what to play to bring out the best in each Stones' tune and more importantly he knew what NOT to play. Charlie Watts was integral to the sound of the Stones and there's no way they would have sounded as good without the way in which he laid down the beat.

[marsattacks666]

I would love to own that Gretch kit.

[Hepcat]

Here's the tribute to Charlie Watts that the Rolling Stones just put together:

Tribute to Charlie Watts