The Stone’s Stone: A Tribute to Charlie Watts

A tribute to the magnificent drummer Charlie Watts, who has passed away at the age of 80.

by Marc Baker |
charlie watts

Marc Baker, the veteran arts journalist and lifelong Rolling Stones fan, remembers the ‘Wembley Whammer’.

Charlie Watts performing during Desert Trip at the Empire Polo Field on October 14, 2016 in Indio, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Tonight, it’s hard to imagine The Rolling Stones, or indeed the world of music, without the wonderfully talented Charlie Watts.

He was the fixture and fittings of the band our parents told us never to listen to. But we did.

In fact, Mr Watts was The Rolling Stones.

For many of us of a certain generation, he was a beat we all followed

Guitarist Keith Richards always testified, “Charlie is the beat I listen to when I play the guitar. His drum pedal kick hole in the drum kit is the only thing I see when I’m on stage. He is the only beat that I follow.”

And for many of us of a certain generation, he was a beat we all followed when it came to putting on a Stones record.

Unassumingly shy but tailored by the best in Savile Row, Charlie Watts was the best of the best. The drummer’s drummer. The Stone’s Stone.

Known affectionately and introduced many times on stage by Mick as the “Wembley Whammer” he shied away from the fame, money and the limelight and will be deeply missed by Stones fans around the world who lived for those rare moments we got to see them play live.

If you were there, you know there is nothing like it.

And live they were. The moment the crowd got a glimpse of Charlie take his seat at the drumkit and turn his famous shop sign from “Closed” to “Open” and heard the exhilarating introduction of “Ladies and gentlemen, The Rolling Stones” there was simply no other worldly feeling like it. Nobody else plays that loud.

Despite preferring to take a back seat, he was always heard very loud and very clear

And despite Charlie always preferring to take a back seat, he was always heard very loud and very clear.

Damn this will be a hard act to follow by Steve Jordan when the band resume their No Filter tour in the States next month. They will be magnificent as ever, but one thing will be missing.

His absence will leave a giant hole in The Rolling Stones and fans will find it hard to contain their tears on that opening night at the St Louis Dome on September 26. US travel restrictions allowing, I’ll be there.

Sadly, like with everything in life, nothing lasts forever. We all think our idols and close family members are invincible and will be with us for a lifetime. But let’s tonight remind ourselves we are not immortal.

So maybe then the last words do belong to Charlie.

Luckily, I have been fortunate to see them play all over the world and even got to party and hang out with them many times as a journalist – something I never thought would dream possible growing up and collecting their vinyl whilst growing up in North Wales.

Charlie always saw any gig as his last

Back in 2016, when the Stones opened their Exhibitionism show at The Saatchi Gallery on the King’s Road, Charlie cheekily summed up the lucrative nature of the Stones. When asked what the best part of the exhibition was, he meekly replied: “People paying at the door.”

And when asked if the band would be able to pull off their impossible dream and play forever, he said “It seems that way doesn’t it? Whether I agree with it…. It seems to be that way.”

Charlie always saw any gig as his last and unlike the band he was never one to plan too much for the future.

And tonight, as the band look ahead and plan without their founding father for their 60th anniversary next year – a spectacle that may take them around the world one last time – there is one quote from Charlie that is quite haunting.

On that same balmy night at the Saatchi, I remember fondly Charlie being asked if he was looking ahead to their band’s 60th anniversary celebrations – a feat that has taken them a long way from their humble beginnings from their one-bedroom flat in Edith Grove, Chelsea.

And on that night, Charlie – the man of very few words – perhaps uttered his wisest: “The 60th anniversary? I’ll be 80 then!”

Goodnight Charlie. We will all miss you.

1 Comment

  • wolvezone says:
    August 29, 2021 at 9:24 pm

    I was eight years old when I started listening to the Rolling Stones and they became my partners for life in music. Always loved going to concerts and listening to the music and the band I loved. It was back in 1965 and I’ve stayed a true fan.

    You (The Stones have always been there for me. In good times and bad times). Charlie, Mick and Keith all the time. It is with a heavy heart I say goodbye. Love you Charlie. Thank you for the grove and the beat my friend. Rest in peace.

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