Charlie Watts, Rolling Stones Drummer, Dies at 80

In a famous ad lib – captured at Madison Square Garden in 1969, and heard on the Stones’ live album “Get Yer Ya-Ya’s Out” – vocalist Mick Jagger asks the crowd, “Charlie’s good tonight, in’ne?” Fans and observers alike considered Watts more than good – he was held as one of the greatest rock drummers of his era, and of all time.

Though he grew weary of the band’s touring pace as early as the 1980s, he soldiered on with the Stones for three more decades, in what was arguably the most comfortable and lucrative drumming gig in music. He prevailed through bouts with heroin addiction and a battle with throat cancer, quietly addressing these challenges as the spotlight shined more brightly on his more flamboyant band mates.

He emblazoned the bass drum head of his early kit with the name “Chico,” after saxophonist Gerry Mulligan’s drummer Chico Hamilton. In his teens, he worked in various regional jazz groups. Jagger was in the process of establishing his own blues-based band, originally called the Rollin’ Stones, with Richards, guitarist Brian Jones, bassist Bill Wyman and pianist Ian Stewart. The weak link in the unit was drummer Tony Chapman, and, after pleas from Richards and Jones, Watts replaced Chapman in the nascent group; he was replaced in Korner’s band by Ginger Baker, later of Cream.

He stood out on the Stones’ first U.S. No. 1, “ Satisfaction” and on latter-day exotica like “Paint It Black” and “Ruby Tuesday,” “Dandelion,” “We Love You” and “She’s a Rainbow” . In the late ‘70s, he began using heroin, and his addiction became so acute that he nodded out in the studio during the recording of “Some Girls” . He later said in an interview with the BBC that Richards – an enthusiastic abuser of the drug – shook him awake at the session and counseled him, “You should do this when you’re older.” Watts said he took the guitarist’s advice and stopped using the drug.

Source: Healthcare Press (healthcarepress.net)

Rest In Peace ☮️. ❤️

HCGreenslade My condolences 💐

R.I.P. Charlie Watts.

Losing the icons we had while growing up is inevitable, but I don't have to like it. RIP Charlie.

cheekbyname Oh no ☹️

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