Tuesday, August 24, 2021

Charlie Watts, 1941-2021

 


 

It's been a bad few days for rock & roll. First Don Everly, now legendary rock steady Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts has died at age 80:

Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts, who helped them become one of the greatest bands in rock 'n' roll, has died at the age of 80.

"It is with immense sadness that we announce the death of our beloved Charlie Watts," a statement said.

"He passed away peacefully in a London hospital earlier today surrounded by his family."

It said he was "a cherished husband, father and grandfather" and "one of the greatest drummers of his generation".

The statement added: "We kindly request that the privacy of his family, band members and close friends is respected at this difficult time."

The news comes weeks after it was announced that Watts would miss the band's US tour dates to recover from an unspecified medical procedure. Watts was previously treated for throat cancer in 2004.

He had been a member of the Stones since January 1963, when he joined Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Brian Jones in their fledgling group.

A jazz aficionado at heart, Watts helped them become, with The Beatles, one of the bands who took rock 'n' roll to the masses in the 60s with classics like (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction, Jumpin' Jack Flash, Get Off My Cloud and Sympathy for the Devil.

The BBC's obituary is here.

Many critics believe Watts was rock's greatest drummer, and we wouldn't argue with that too strenuously.  Many of those same crtitics, if they had to choose, would say the Stones' "Between the Buttons" album was his best work, to which he contributed more than his drumming:

The back cover of Between the Buttons is dominated by a six-panel cartoon accompanied by a rhythmic poem drawn by drummer Charlie Watts. When Watts asked Oldham what the title of the album would be, he told him it was "between the buttons", a term meaning "undecided". Watts gave the phrase to the title of his cartoon which in turn became the title of the album.[4] On the album cover itself, the band name and album title appear on the buttons on Watts' overcoat. Often difficult to see, this text was included blown-up on a hype-sticker affixed to original US pressings and would also be added to the bottom corners of the artwork for several CD and LP reissues. 

In remembrance, let's play "Ruby Tuesday" from that 1967 album, "Get Off My Cloud" (from  1965's "December's Children"), and"Tumbling Dice" (from 1972's "Exile on Main Street").  Rest in rolling thunder.

Basically, Watts plays the same 4/4-beat-fill-4/4-beat-fill pattern throughout the song, guaranteeing you won't be able to escape the noisy upstairs neighbors, no matter how hard you try. That he keeps it up for the entire three minutes without once breaking the beat is a testament to his timeless talent.

Read More: Top 10 Charlie Watts Rolling Stones Songs | https://ultimateclassicrock.com/charlie-watts-rolling-stones-songs/?utm_source=tsmclip&utm_medium=referral
Basically, Watts plays the same 4/4-beat-fill-4/4-beat-fill pattern throughout the song, guaranteeing you won't be able to escape the noisy upstairs neighbors, no matter how hard you try. That he keeps it up for the entire three minutes without once breaking the beat is a testament to his timeless talent.

Read More: Top 10 Charlie Watts Rolling Stones Songs | https://ultimateclassicrock.com/charlie-watts-rolling-stones-songs/?utm_source=tsmclip&utm_medium=referral
Basically, Watts plays the same 4/4-beat-fill-4/4-beat-fill pattern throughout the song, guaranteeing you won't be able to escape the noisy upstairs neighbors, no matter how hard you try. That he keeps it up for the entire three minutes without once breaking the beat is a testament to his timeless talent.

Read More: Top 10 Charlie Watts Rolling Stones Songs | https://ultimateclassicrock.com/charlie-watts-rolling-stones-songs/?utm_source=tsmclip&utm_medium=referral
Basically, Watts plays the same 4/4-beat-fill-4/4-beat-fill pattern throughout the song, guaranteeing you won't be able to escape the noisy upstairs neighbors, no matter how hard you try. That he keeps it up for the entire three minutes without once breaking the beat is a testament to his timeless talent.

Read More: Top 10 Charlie Watts Rolling Stones Songs | https://ultimateclassicrock.com/charlie-watts-rolling-stones-songs/?utm_source=tsmclip&utm_medium=referral

 

 


We could go on and on and on ...

BONUS: 

 

 

 

BONUS II:  Quiet, steady man Watts on the rock star stereotype not fitting him --

"I've never filled the stereotype of the rock star. Back in the 70s, Bill Wyman and I decided to grow beards and the effort left us exhausted."

 

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