Rest in Peace, Charlie Watts of the Rolling Stones: Legendary Drummer Passes Away at 80

Rock Cellar Magazine Staffon August 24, 2021Categories:Latest News
Rock Cellar Magazine
Charlie Watts of the Rolling Stones (Photo: Terry Murden / Shutterstock.com)

Charlie Watts, longtime drummer of the Rolling Stones, has passed away at the age of 80. The news was shared by a spokesperson for the legendary drummer on Tuesday:

“It is with immense sadness that we announce the death of our beloved Charlie Watts. He passed away peacefully in a London hospital earlier today surrounded by his family.

“Charlie was a cherished husband, father and grandfather and also a member of the Rolling Stones one of the greatest drummers of his generation.

“We kindly request that the privacy of his family, band members and close friends is respected at this difficult time.”

Along with Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, Watts was the only member of the Rolling Stones to be featured on all of the band’s studio albums, having joined Jagger, Richards and Brian Jones in 1963.

Back on Aug. 5, the Rolling Stones announced that Watts would be sitting out the band’s upcoming No Filter tour dates as the result of an unspecified medical procedure:

A spokesman for Charlie Watts has confirmed that the Rolling Stones drummer is unlikely to be available for the resumption of the Rolling Stones USA No Filter tour this fall.

The spokesman said: “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.”

In his own statement issued with that announcement, Watts said:

“For once my timing has been a little off. I am working hard to get fully fit but I have today accepted on the advice of the experts that this will take a while. After all the fans’ suffering caused by COVID, I really do not want the many fans who have been holding tickets for this tour to be disappointed by another postponement or cancellation.”

Watts had been diagnosed and treated for throat cancer in 2004.

Along with the Stones, Watts was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989 (though Watts was not present at the ceremony). He was also inducted into the Modern Drummer Hall of Fame in 2006.

Watts’ final performance with the Rolling Stones took place on Aug. 30, 2019, in Miami.

As news of his passing hit the internet, musical peers, colleagues and fans shared condolences over the unfortunate news — exemplary of the stature Watts held in the rock and roll community.

https://twitter.com/BlondieOfficial/status/1430252285192556550

https://twitter.com/officialgogos/status/1430251934389260296

May Charlie Watts rest in peace.

charlie wattskeith richardsMick Jaggerrest in peaceRolling Stonessocial mediatributes
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