The drummer of the Rolling Stones, the legendary Charlie Watts, passed away today Tuesday, August 24, in the afternoon in London at the age of 80. The confirmation of the news came through the social networks of the English group, which also mourned the loss of his friend and bandmate.
“It is with great regret that we announce the death of our beloved Charlie Watts. He died peacefully in a London hospital today, surrounded by his family. Charlie was a loving father and grandfather husband and also a member of the Rolling Stones and one of the best drummers of his generation.
We kindly ask that you respect the privacy of his family, band members and close friends at this difficult time“
— The Rolling Stones (@RollingStones) August 24, 2021
The news, although very sad for rock lovers, is not exactly surprising. Earlier this month, Watts ‘absence from the Rolling Stones’ North American tour had already been confirmed and this was all due to health concerns. However, the reason had not been revealed. In a note shared on the Stones’ social media on August 5, a representative for the band warned:
“Charlie has undergone a completely successful procedure, but the doctors have concluded that he needs to rest and recover. With the trials that started a few weeks ago, it’s disappointing to say the least, but it’s also fair to say that no one anticipated this“
Charlie Watts even said that, for the first time in his life, he felt that his rhythm with the drumsticks was no longer the same. At the time, Watts also confirmed that Steve Jordan would perform as the Stones’ drummer on the US leg of the tour:
“For the first time my rhythm was a bit bad. I’m working hard to get into full shape, but today I took the advice of the experts that it’s going to take a while. (outdoorelementsusa.com)
After all the fans have been through Covid, he really did not want the ticket holders for this tour to be disappointed by another postponement or cancellation.
So I asked my good friend Steve Jordan to replace me” he justified.
