Beijing News News In the early morning of August 25, Beijing time, according to British media reports, Charlie Watts, drummer of the Rolling Stones, died at the age of 80. Watts' public relations director said in a statement that Watts died in a London hospital earlier on the 24th. After the announcement, Rolling Stone lead singer Mick Jagger posted a photo of Watts playing drums on social networking sites to pay tribute to him. Guitarist Keith Richards posted a photo of an empty drum kit.
Charlie Watts performed in France in 2017. According to foreign media reports, Watts has never been absent from the Rolling Stones, except this year. Photo/IC Photo
After the sad news came out, musicians such as Paul McCartney, Elton John and Beatles member Ringo Starr sent out tributes. In a video, Paul McCartney comforted Watts' family and band, saying, "He's a kind man, I knew he was sick, but I didn't expect him to be so sick." Watts is a great drummer! Elton John called Watts the hippest man, "He's such a wonderful musical partner, the hippest man, and the top drummer." Ringo Starr also expressed his remembrance of Watts and posted a photo of him chatting with Watts, writing, "We will miss you and wish your family peace." ”
In addition to the above veteran musicians, singer Brian Adams, musical theater icon Perry Farrell and other artists from all walks of life expressed their condolences to Watts' family and lamented that Watts was not only a great musician, but also a gentleman, which may be related to the music he has always loved.
In March 2014, the Rolling Stones ' 14 on fire " tour was performed at the Shanghai station. Photo/IC Photo
According to foreign media reports, Watts barely listened to rock and roll when he was a teenager. Watts grew up listening to jazz, and throughout his life, he never lost his love of jazz, even after he was introduced to rock and roll in blues music. Founded in 1962, the Rolling Stones have continued the traditional blues rock line since their inception, rewriting rock history. Watts joined the Rolling Stones in 1963, one of the longest-serving members in the band's history, and is recognized as one of the greatest drummers in rock and roll, with Watts ranked 12th on Rolling Stone Magazine's 100 Drummers in 2016.
Jazz culture also influenced Watts' dress, and watts became an expert in fashion to some extent due to his father's love of clothing tailoring. He owns more than 200 outfits and uses the dresses of jazz legends such as Fred Astaire, Myles Davis, duke of Ellington and others as inspiration for his style, and has made it to the best dressed lists for Vanity Fair and GQ.
Picture of the Rolling Stones' 2016 London exhibition, with Charlie Watts on the far right. Photo/IC Photo
It was reported that in the weeks before Watts' death, he could not participate in the Rolling Stones' next tour plan due to health problems, until the news of his death was made public, and for fans, he did not expect to be "missed forever". Watts' public relations director statement emphasized, "Hopefully, at this difficult time, the privacy of his family, band members and close friends will be respected." For the Rolling Stones fans, on this day, they lost the band's eternal "engine".
Beijing News Editor Tian Kaini Proofreader Chen Diyan