The three have been band members since 1963 and have co-created epoch-making tracks including (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction, Paint It Black, Jumpin’ Jack Flash and Brown Sugar.
On Monday, Watts died peacefully in a London hospital accompanied by his family. He was considered the gentlest person in the Rolling Stones, providing an essential balance for his more enthusiastic band members.
Sir Mick paid tribute to his colleagues of nearly 60 years on social media, sharing photos of Watts sitting behind the drum set smiling.
The 78-year-old Rolling Stones lead singer did not add a title.
In his tribute, 77-year-old Richards posted a photo of Watts drum set with a “closed” sign hung on it.
He also did not include the title.
When the rest of the rock industry lined up to pay their respects to Watts, they paid tribute to them.
Sir Paul McCartney described Watts as “a great drummer, as steady as a rock”, while Sir Elton John called him the “ultimate drummer” in his eulogy posted on social media.
His opponent in the Beatles, jazz Ringo Starr I also posted a photo on Twitter, writing: “God bless Charlie Watts, we will miss you, family peace and love, Ringo.”
Queen’s drummer Roger Taylor said on Instagram: “How sad we have lost a real gentleman. The Rolling Stones have a flawless beating heart.”
Guitarist and former member of The Smiths Johnny Marr praised Watts’ performance on and off stage.
He wrote on Twitter: “In addition to being a unique musician, Charlie Watts has maintained an elegant temperament throughout his career with the Rolling Stones. Quite an accomplishment.”
Lead singer Roger Daltrey of The Who described Watts as “the perfect gentleman, who dresses like he is on the drums.”
In a statement, he added: “Charlie is a truly great drummer. His musical knowledge of drum technology, from jazz to blues, I’m sure this is what makes the Rolling Stones the best rock band in the world. Core. The world.”
Rock singer Alice Cooper also paid tribute, saying that the music industry has lost “a true rock gentleman.”
He added: “Charlie Watts has maintained the beat of the world’s greatest rock band for more than 50 years. I think he is the greatest pocket drummer of all time.
“Every time I go backstage to watch the Rolling Stones, Charlie is the first to greet me. He will be missed deeply and cannot be replaced, but I have no doubt that The Stones will move on. My message to Charlie ? have a rest!”
In the eulogy, Yoko Ono, widow of John Lennon, expressed condolences to Watts’s relatives and said: “Rest in peace, Charlie Watts. We offer to Shirley, Serafina, Charlotte, and all the family members of the Rolling Stones My deepest condolences. Love, Yoko.”
His publicist said in a statement that Watts is a “cherished husband, father and grandfather” and “one of the greatest drummers of his generation.”
The news of his death came a few weeks after it was announced that Watts (who celebrated his 80th birthday in June) would miss the band’s upcoming US tour.
One of his spokespersons said at the time that because he had recovered from medical procedures that he had never specified, he was “unlikely to resume the Rolling Stones U.S. Filterless Tour this fall.”
After being postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic last year, the band will resume touring the United States in September.
Session and touring musician Steve Jordan were previously announced as temporary replacements for Watts’ drummer.
Watts said at the time: “This time my time was a bit wrong. I am trying to become completely healthy, but today I accepted it based on expert advice that it will take a while.”
A spokesperson said at the time that Watts’ operation was “completely successful”, but he needed time to recover.
After the news came out, Sir Mick welcomed Jordan. He will join the band when he starts touring in St. Louis on September 26, and plans to tour in Pittsburgh, Nashville, Minneapolis, Dallas and other places.
In addition to lead singer Mick jazz and guitarist Keith Richards, Watts is one of the longest-serving members of Stones, and the band’s musician lineup is constantly changing, including Mick Taylor, Ronnie Wood and Bill Wyman.
In 2004, Watts received treatment for laryngeal cancer at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London. After fighting the disease for 4 months, he recovered completely, which included 6 weeks of intensive radiation therapy.
Watts was diagnosed after he found a lump on the left side of his neck.
The doctor performed a biopsy and confirmed that the tumor was malignant and was diagnosed with laryngeal cancer in June of the same year.
His spokesperson said at the time that Watts’ treatment “has not interfered with any tour or recording plans of the group, and they have been’relaxing between work commitments’”.
After he recovered, the band began to produce their 22nd studio album “A Bigger Bang”.
According to reports, Watts quit smoking in the 1980s and said in an interview with Rolling Stone that he felt “very lucky” that the doctor had discovered cancer sooner.
This talented musician grew up in Wembley, north London. When he was young, he heard the music of Duke Ellington and Charlie Parker. He said that it was the Walking Shoes record recorded by saxophonist Gerry Mulligan and drummer Chico Hamilton that inspired the recording. His inspiration. Want to be a drummer.
As a teenager, he was invited to join Alexis Korner’s blues company, where he would meet young Jazz Mick, and he occasionally sang with the band.
In 1989, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame along with other members of the Rolling Stones, and in 2006 was inducted into the Modern Drummer Hall of Fame by Modern Drummer magazine.
Cricket enthusiast Watts married his girlfriend Shirley (she is a sculpture student at the Royal Academy of Art) in 1964, and they have a daughter, Serafina.
