It may be a sad day for Rolling Stones fans, but will the iconic rock band soldier on without their drummer?
By: Ringo Bones
For those who are regularly attending Stones concerts since the 1990s, they’ll probably be voting for Jim Keltner as a potential replacement, but for those who had been there since the Rolling Stones set up shop back in the early 1960s nothing beats Charlie Watts. Often viewed as the “reluctant rock star” of the Stones’ line-up, Watts had been the longest serving drummer of the Rolling Stones when he joined up back in January 1963. While their front-man Mick Jagger had always had doubts of the long-term future of the Stones since the mid 1960s, typified by his now famous quote” I would rather die than sing Satisfaction at 40”. Well, Jagger turned 40 back in 1983 and yet the Stones managed to soldier on as if the band is still in its prime till the present day. Sadly, it seems like time and human physiology are the Stones’ greatest enemy when their drummer Charlie Watts passed away on the 24th of August 2021 at the age of 80.
Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney recently paid tribute to the iconic drummer. Famous as the long time drummer for the Rolling Stones and dubbed as “the greatest rock drummer of his generation”, Watts also did drums for his Jazz band during tour breaks. His other well-known hobbies include collecting antique silver and classic cars even though he hardly ever drives them. His distinctive drumming style contributed to the Stones’ rather unique back-beat since the 1960s, he will be forever missed by his fans and music enthusiasts the world over. Only time will tell if the Rolling Stones will soldier on for another world tour.
