The world of rock n’ roll salutes a legend today. Charlie Watts, iconic drummer of The Rolling Stones has passed away.
“It is with immense sadness that we announce the death of our beloved Charlie Watts,” The Rolling Stones Official statement expressed.
Charlie passed away in a London Hospital today, August 24 surrounded by his family.
— The Rolling Stones (@RollingStones) August 24, 2021
Watts was a genius on the drums. A dark horse and unconventional rockstar who had a disdain for the title and “wanted to play drums because he fell in love with the glitter and the lights,” as he once expressed.
Any Rolling Stones die-hard knows that Watts was never traditional in the rock star or pop idol sense. He critiqued that lifestyle, from the photoshoots to the adultery.
He famously stated that:
“It’s supposed to be sex and drugs and rock and roll and I’m not really like that.” Yet, he was the backbone of one of the most iconic groups in the world, with a drumkit at his command that would sync the heartbeats of generations to their sound.
Music icons have paid heartfelt tributes to the legend. Def Leppard expressed that “those in the know know he was the heart & would of the band”
Devastating news , those in the know know he was the heart & soul of the band …. I had the absolute pleasure of meeting him a few times, a total gentleman… it goes without saying he will be sorely missed .. RIP Charlie ❤️ -Joe Elliott@RollingStones #CharlieWatts https://t.co/AEpHjUNPHh
— Def Leppard (@DefLeppard) August 24, 2021
Paul McCartney also extended his condolences expressing Charlie as “steady as a rock,” and that he always loved him.
Paul on Charlie Watts ❤️ pic.twitter.com/rn2elK6cFE
— Paul McCartney (@PaulMcCartney) August 24, 2021
Lenny Kravits also paid his condolences, calling Watts the beat of The Stones.
#CHARLIEWATTS. The beat of The Stones. There are no words, every groove has spoken for itself.
6/2/41 – 8/24/21 pic.twitter.com/Lw2USKaxYH— Lenny Kravitz (@LennyKravitz) August 24, 2021
As some fans have put it softly, ‘heaven gained a new drummer.”
Picture: Twitter