On August 24, 2021, the world was saddened to hear that Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts had passed away, peacefully in a London Hospital, surrounded by family members. He was 80 and had been a member of The Rolling Stones for nearly 60 years, having joined the band in 1963. Besides being a brilliant rock — and jazz — drummer, Watts was also known as the “quiet” Rolling Stone, yet he opened his heart out to so many people in his life, including both fans and road crew members.
We are at PLSN and FRONT of HOUSE share the shock and grief of Charlie Watts’ passing. Rest well Charlie, and thank you for giving the world so many decades of great music.
We reached out to a number of people who had worked with The Rolling Stones over the years to gain insights into this creative and amazing human being who will always be remembered as a gentle soul that provided backbone — and solid backbeats — of “the world’s greatest rock-n-roll band.” We have also included some of the social media postings by Keith Richards, Mick Jagger, Ronnie Wood and Bill Wyman on the passing of their dear friend and bandmate.
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“For me, Charlie was the glue for all of us working for the Stones from 1969 to 1973. And if you chose to engage, he let you into his world, which was extremely intelligent with an obviously impeccable sense of timing. He was the only rosette on the cake we were dragging about.
—Chip Monck, Rolling Stones’ early Lighting Designer
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“It was a joy to know Charlie Watts but also a privilege. We got to share in his unique take on the world, to witness his thoughtful generosity firsthand and to be the recipients of his frequent and welcoming smile. And of course, he was the coolest of them all!”
—Patrick Woodroffe, Rolling Stones’ Lighting Designer
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Keith Richards posted this poignant graphic showing Charlie’s Beloved (and well-worn) Gretsch kit displaying a “Closed” sign.
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“Charlie Watts… The distinctive drumming, the wit, the impeccable sense of style and the humility are all well documented and all very true. In my years with the Stones, I never saw him lose his temper; never saw him treat anyone with anything but respect; never saw him wearing anything that wasn’t worthy of a spread in a fashion magazine; and never got tired of watching him play his drums.
“A few thoughts/memories keep popping into my head
“The physicality. Into his late 70’s — whether during rehearsals, sound checks and 2-hour shows, he never took a break; never looked tired or out of breath; never lost tempo. And did it all with a bemused look on his face
“Perfection. In all my years with the Stones, I saw Charlie misplay only a single time. You could see shock in all the band’s faces — Charlie grinned
“His song endings were very free-form. I’m not sure that he ended a song the same way twice. It was always fun and challenging trying to guess when the final hit was going to happen and a great satisfaction when I got it right.
“Probably the thing that stands out most is the universal affection for Charlie. It was impossible not to like him. Watching Keith spend large parts of the show just in front of Charlie’s riser with his back to the audience playing to/with Charlie. Mick beaming every time he introduced him. The backline crew gathering to chant his name while he was being introduced. The audience chanting his name and giving him the biggest ovation of the night when he was introduced and walked downstage. The endearingly simple ‘hello’ he’d say when Mick would prod him to ‘say a few words.’ And the look of embarrassment on his face when the whole stadium would erupt for him.
“Incredibly sad he’s no longer with us, but I feel amazingly fortunate to have been able to watch him play for so many years.”
— Ethan Weber, Rolling Stones’ Lighting Director, 1993-present.
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Mick Jagger posted this picture of Charlie as he probably would like to be remembered — with a huge smile.
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“I turned 21 years old and a week later, I was on the “Steel Wheels Tour.” Performance A/V had hired me to run the big video projectors. As the youngest and greenest kid on the tour, I was terrified every day. I mean, the Stones! These guys were legends.
“I don’t have any amazing moment with Charlie to recount, just that a legend always greeted a goofy long-haired kid with a nod and a hello. He helped make me feel at home, and his rhythm was the soundtrack to the year that I learned that I loved this business. Thank you, Charlie, for bolstering the resolve of that young, scared kid, and for the rhythm that resolve set in motion. We all know that he was a great man, but everyone who worked with him knew he was a good man.”
— Scott Scovill, now of Moo TV, whose first job was on the video crew for the “Steel Wheels” Tour
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“Having done many Rolling Stones tours as a lighting provider (with Samuelson Concert Productions, Vari-Lite, PRG, 1982-2009), I also tour managed the Charlie Watts Quintet in Brazil in 1991.
“It was all five-star treatment and we played lovely little 800-to-2,000-seat clubs with really enthusiastic audiences. It was a true jazz tour. Jazz was always his first love; it was a whole different world and Charlie loved it. For the millions who had seen him on tour with the Rolling Stones, this was a side of him nobody ever saw. God knows how many Stones tours I’ve done over the years and you would never get such personal contact as on that jazz tour.
“On this tour, the first half of their show was a segment called ‘An Ode to Charlie Parker,’ and the quintet played Charlie Parker songs. It was a story and was narrated by Bernard Fowler, who is still one of the backing vocalists on Rolling Stones. So we have five guys in the jazz quintet and Bernard. Charlie’s brother-in-law and another person worked with the backline. There were only eight of us. It was such a private little entity.
“One time on a day off in Rio de Janeiro, I suggested we go to Sugar Loaf Mountain. There was grumbling, as many in the group were afraid of heights. I said it would be fine, it has a cable car to take us up to the top. So one morning we all go to the bottom of Sugar Loaf, get into the cable car and on the way up, all the band were absolutely petrified — they were clinging on the rails. We got to the top to walk about and found a café. The café sold caipirinhas, the national drink of Brazil, a drink made with clear grain alcohol with lemon or lime juice and lots of sugar. The guy at the café said ‘I suggest you don’t have more than one because the sugar makes it enter your blood stream more quickly.’ Everyone had one except Charlie, because he didn’t drink. All the boys ordered a second one and — before we left — we again ordered another one. By the time we got to the cable car to go down, we were all in fine spirits. On the way up they were petrified. On the way down it was a different story; they were singing and dancing. Charlie thought it was hilarious.
“I remember funny little moments. One morning Charlie asked, ‘Do you fancy we go for a walk?’ Most days we would go out for a walk together. His wife breeds horses so he would talk about horses and sport, music… regular stuff. He was such a kidnapping target so we had a few guys with us who were security. So we were walking along, 7:30 on a Sunday morning, and all of a sudden a group of photographers are hanging out behind us. What was going on? There was an election in Brazil and some of the candidates vying for seats were in this group of photographers behind us. They were trying to get a photo of Charlie with the candidates as if Charlie was endorsing them, hanging out with them.
“Charlie was obsessed with his appearance; it wasn’t vanity, but he loved looking brilliant and some of his suits were the best I’ve ever seen. One of the reasons he stopped drinking was that he started to get fat and did not want to outgrow his suits. He must have taken 15 suits with him on this tour, immaculate suits, bespoke made. We all dressed up as well in these jazz clubs; I was wearing a suit at the lighting console. One of the biggest compliments he gave me one time was when he asked, ‘Where do you buy your shirts? They are really good, fantastic material.’
“A lovely man. One of the nicest I’ve ever worked with. He was very funny; he had a fantastic knack of saying just what he wanted to say. He was such a fantastically genuine guy — a real pleasure to work with. It’s a real shame he’s gone. The Stones will continue on. He had been ill for a while so I think the band all kept it private, as they should. And Charlie liked the drummer who is going out for him on tour [Steve Jordan], and he gave it his blessing. So now they can honor Charlie by playing. He was the rock that was the Stones for 50 years.”
— Dave Keighley, now chairman of the Production Services Association in the U.K.
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Ronnie Wood’s posting included this charming shot of the two Gemini’s.
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“Godspeed to another legend who has left us today. It has been a true honor having worked and toured with you. Rest in peace, Mr. Charlie Watts and much strength and love to his wonderful family in those difficult days. IT’S ONLY ROCK’N’ROLL BUT I LIKE IT…”
—Roland Greil, Rolling Stones video designer, No Filter Tour
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“Back in 1990, I was in Barcelona with the Rolling Stones during the “Steel Wheels” tour. On a day off, I was walking on the Ramblas [a tourist boulevard that runs through the heart of the city], and as I crossed the street, I looked up and saw a figure in a long black coat and a hat. As we pass each other, I realize it’s Charlie Watts. He looks at me and smiles and we stopped and chatted. I was amazed that he was walking alone, and oddly, no one recognized him. We walked and strolled and simply shot the shit, and we stopped at a café and had a coffee and talked about Barcelona, the weather… just regular things. I had to remind myself that I was sitting with one of the Rolling Stones (!), but he was just a regular guy, hanging out with another regular guy.
“I always remember that day fondly, and while I saw him a lot over the rest of the tour, I never had the chance to spend that kind of time with him again, so I cherished that moment, and still do.
“I know I am fortunate that in my life that I get to work with and get to know rock stars, but I am even more fortunate to sometimes get to know the “person,” and this was one of those times
“I am sorry to hear of the death of Charlie Watts, but I am so grateful that his life touched mine, even if for so briefly.
“I am amazed at all the comments from people around the world, some who knew him, some who didn’t, but he touch them all in some way — for someone who was so quiet and unassuming, he sure did touch a lot of lives. How incredible. What a legacy to leave
“Godspeed Charlie, and thank you for your music, and mostly for spending some quality time with this kid, and reminding me early on in my career that rock stars are humans first.
— Cosmo Wilson, crew on the “Steel Wheels” tour.
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Bill Wyman offered this more contemplative view of Charlie
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“Charlie was a pretty amazing guy. He was really nice. In 1990, as the Steel Wheels tour was coming to an end (as the Urban Jungle tour) we were in Wembley stadium and were blocking shots for the IMAX crew shooting the ‘Stones to the Max’ movie. Charlie’s wife, Shirley was out of sight behind the drums with, as it turns out, a tea set. During one of the breaks, she brought out a cup of tea for Charlie who then pointed at me and before I knew it, I was sipping tea with the Watts family out of nice China cups while kneeling by the drum riser with my camera on the deck next to me.
“Some 22 years later, while with the Stones at Hyde Park in 2012, I ended up on the band compound to get some last-minute set change info, I see Charlie, calmly standing out in the sun, smiling, in a nice suit. Looking every bit like someone’s visiting grandpa. As I passed him, he stopped me and commented on the weather and then complimented me on the job we had all been doing on the tour and wished me a good show. As I walked away, I looked back and marveled at the kindly, smiling older gentleman in the tidy suit calmly standing in the middle of the mass of rock and roll handlers, liggers and the rest of the backstage madness. A really nice guy… And an amazing drummer! The way he hit his snare drum was epic! A true legend.
“He will be missed! His signature drum sound was every bit as much ‘The Stones’ as Jagger’s voice or Keith’s bat-fart guitar riffs
— Dave Neugebauer, onstage cameraman for several Stones tours. He roamed around Charlie’s area.
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“The Barcelona show was a one-off corporate show for Deutsche Bank at the Palau Nacional in July 2007. It was during ‘A Bigger Bang Tour,’ and a bit of a warm-up to their ‘Isle of Wight Festival’ headline slot that year, with the whole touring entourage dropping in on their way past. I designed the lighting rig and the visual content, working again with set designer Bruce French. Patrick Woodroffe came in with Ethan Weber and we did a combined effort on running the show. It was a delight to be involved in a Stones show and see the guys on stage in action all together in their typical respective fashions. The last time I had lit them was inadvertently in Keith Richards’ back garden a few years before at his daughter’s wedding. The band took turns jamming the night away on a tiny stage in the corner of a tent put in for the afternoon background music, under the magnificent moody glow of one red and one blue PAR can — just about right for Charlie’s late-night bluesy stick work.”
— Theo Cox, a lighting director who works in the UK and Australia, has lit various private shows for The Rolling Stones over the years.
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“There is nothing more I can say that has not been already written about Charlie. He was, as everyone says, a great person, a great drummer and a person I am happy to say I had the pleasure of working for in my time with the Stones. I count myself very fortunate to have been around him for quite a few years. He had a very dry sense of humor but was also very witty. As a drummer he will be missed, but as a person he will be missed a lot more.”
— Jake Berry, production director and production manager for many Rolling Stones tours.
