Charlie Watts, drummer for the Rolling Stones, dies at 80
ByTheresa Seiger, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
ByTheresa Seiger, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts, who provided the backbone for the band’s songs for nearly six decades, died Tuesday, according to his publicist. He was 80.
In a statement posted on the band’s Twitter page, Watts’ spokesperson said he “passed away peacefully in a London hospital earlier today surrounded by his family.”
“Charlie was a cherished husband, father and grandfather and also as a member of The Rolling Stones one of the greatest drummers of his generation,” the statement said. “We kindly request that the privacy of his family, band members and close friends is respected at this difficult time.”
His death comes weeks after Watts announced that he wouldn’t be joining the band for a planned U.S. tour in 2021 after undergoing an unspecified medical procedure. In 2004, he underwent treatment for throat cancer, according to BBC News.
Watts joined the Rolling Stones alongside the band’s founding members, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Brian Jones, in 1963. In the decades since, he earned a reputation for being well-liked, understated and one of the best rock drummers of his generation.
“Everybody thinks Mick and Keith are the Rolling Stones,” Richards said in 1979, according to Rolling Stone. “If Charlie wasn’t doing what he’s doing on drums, that wouldn’t be true at all. You’d find out that Charlie Watts is the Stones.”
To the world, he was a rock star. But Watts often said that the actual experience was draining and unpleasant, and even frightening.
“Playing the drums was all I was ever interested in,” Watts told The Observer in 2000. “The rest of it made me cringe.”
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1965 English drummer Charlie Watts of the Rolling Stones, circa 1965. (Photo by Keystone Features/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) (Antonia Hille/Getty Images)
1967 British rock group the Rolling Stones at Heathrow Airport in London, UK, April 1967. From left to right, Bill Wyman, Mick Jagger, Brian Jones and Charlie Watts. (Photo by Evening Standard/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) (Evening Standard/Getty Images)
1967 Singer Mick Jagger (left) and drummer Charlie Watts of rock group the Rolling Stones at Heathrow Airport in London, UK, April 1967. (Photo by Evening Standard/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) (Evening Standard/Getty Images)
1968 The Rolling Stones at the Kensington Gore Hotel, where they staged a mock-medieval banquet for the launch of their new album 'Beggars Banquet', London, 5th December 1968. Left to right: Keith Richards (front), Brian Jones (1942 -1969, back), Mick Jagger, Bill Wyman and Charlie Watts. (Photo by Larry Ellis/Daily Express/Getty Images) (Larry Ellis/Getty Images)
1969 British rock band The Rolling Stones in Hyde Park, London, UK, 13th June 1969; (L-R) Charlie Watts, Mick Taylor, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards. (Photo by Evening Standard/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) (Evening Standard/Getty Images)
1969 British musicians Keith Richards and Charlie Watts of rock band The Rolling Stones at Heathrow Airport upon their return from the States, London, UK, 8th December 1969. (Photo by Evening Standard/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) (Evening Standard/Getty Images)
1972 English drummer Charlie Watts of rock group the Rolling Stones at Heathrow Airport in London with his wife Shirley (left) and their daughter Seraphina, UK, 5th December 1972. (Photo by Evening Standard/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) (Evening Standard/Getty Images)
1973 Drummer Charlie Watts of the Rolling Stones, at a British concert and sporting a new David Bowie style feather cut. (Photo by Daily Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) (Express/Getty Images)
1976 British drummer Charlie Watts as The Rolling Stones perform at Earls Court, as part of their Tour of Europe '76, London, England, May 1976. (Photo by John Minihan/Evening Standard/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) (John Minihan/Getty Images)
1983 Diana, Princess of Wales (1961 -1997) meets Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts and guitarist Bill Wyman after a rock concert at the Albert Hall, London, 22nd September 1983; also Steve Winwood and Eric Clapton. The princess is wearing a total silver outfit. (Photo by Terry Disney/Daily Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) (Terry Disney/Getty Images)
2012 Ronnie Wood, Charlie Watts and Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones perform live at 02 Arena on November 25, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Ian Gavan/Getty Images) (Ian Gavan/Getty Images)
2013 In this handout image provided by The Rolling Stones, Mick Jagger, Charlie Watts, Katy Perry, Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood pose backstage at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 11, 2013 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by The Rolling Stones via Getty Images) (Handout/Getty Images)
2014 Ronnie Wood on guitar and Charlie Watts on drums of The Rolling Stones perform at du Arena, Yas Island on February 21, 2014 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Neville Hopwood/Getty Images) (Neville Hopwood/Getty Images)
2014 Charlie Watts of the Rolling Stones watches the action from the players' pavilion with Western Australian coach Justin Langer during day one of the Sheffield Shield match between Western Australia and Tasmania at WACA on October 31, 2014 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Will Russell/Getty Images) (Will Russell/Getty Images)
2014 Charlie Watts of The Rolling Stones performs live at Perth Arena on October 29, 2014 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images) (Paul Kane/Getty Images)
2016 Musician Charlie Watts of The Rolling Stones performs during Desert Trip at the Empire Polo Field on October 14, 2016 in Indio, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
2016 (L-R) Ronnie Wood, Keith Richards, Mick Jagger and Charlie Watts of The Rolling Stones attend The Rolling Stones celebrate the North American debut of Exhibitionism at Industria in the West Village on November 15, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images) (Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)
2019 Keith Richards (L) and Charlie Watts of The Rolling Stones perform onstage at Rose Bowl on August 22, 2019 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
2020 In this screengrab, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood and Charlie Watts of musical group "The Rolling Stones" perform during "One World: Together At Home" presented by Global Citizen on April, 18, 2020. The global broadcast and digital special was held to support frontline healthcare workers and the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund for the World Health Organization, powered by the UN Foundation. (Photo by Getty Images/Getty Images for Global Citizen ) (Getty Images/Getty Images for Global Citizen)
The Stones began, Watts said, “as white blokes from England playing Black American music” but quickly evolved their own distinctive sound. Watts was a jazz drummer in his early years and never lost his affinity for the music he first loved, heading his own jazz band and taking on numerous other side projects.
“With the jazz, it’s great being onstage with such wonderful players, and with the Stones, it’s great being up there with your friends,” he told The Observer.
Watts was born in Neasden, London, on June 2, 1941, the son of a lorry driver and a housewife. He married his wife, Shirley Ann Shepherd, in 1964, according to USA Today. The couple had one daughter, Seraphina, who was born in 1968, according to the newspaper.
Fellow musicians, friends and fans took to social media Tuesday to remember and mourn Watts.
#God bless Charlie Watts we’re going to miss you man peace and love to the family Ringo 😎✌️🌟❤️🌈🎶☮️ pic.twitter.com/3tSFg7EMQG
A very sad day. Charlie Watts was the ultimate drummer. The most stylish of men, and such brilliant company. My deepest condolences to Shirley, Seraphina and Charlotte. And of course, The Rolling Stones.
Rock n roll would not be rock n roll without the rhythm, the style, the VIBE of this incredible musician. Rest In Peace #CharlieWatts, one of the greatest and most important architects of the music we love. pic.twitter.com/xEfzaSLCba
Charlie Watts was the most elegant and dignified drummer in rock and roll. He played exactly what was needed - no more - no less. He is one of a kind. pic.twitter.com/aasPZ2fMYX
I’m just shocked to hear about Charlie Watts. I don’t know what to say, I feel terrible for Charlie’s family. Charlie was a great drummer and I loved the Stones music, they made great records. Love & Mercy. pic.twitter.com/C4q2zXvVKo
He is survived by his wife, his daughter and a granddaughter named Charlotte, according to The Guardian.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Beverly Cleary Beverly Cleary, who sold more than 85 million children's books worldwide, died March 25. She was 104. (Vern Fisher/Monterey Herald via AP)
Jessica Walter Jessica Walter attends the ABC Walt Disney Television Upfront on May 14, 2019 in New York City. Her daughter confirmed her death at the age of 80. (Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)
George Segal Actor George Segal, who starred in "The Goldbergs" and was nominated for an Oscar in 1966, died March 23. He was 87. (Kevork Djansezian/Associated Press )
Elgin Baylor dies FILE PHOTO: NBA Hall of Fame and former player, Elgin Baylor speaks at an event before an NBA basketball game between the Los Angeles Clippers and the Dallas Mavericks in Los Angeles, Monday, Feb. 25, 2019. The Lakers announced the Hall of Famer died March 22 at the age of 86. (Alex Gallardo/AP)
Actor Yaphet Kotto, James Bond villain and 'Alien' star, dead at 81 Actor Yaphet Kotto, who played Mr. Big in the James Bond film "Live and Let Die," died March 15, 2021, at age 81, multiple news outlets are reporting. (NBC/NBCU Photo Bank/Getty Images)
Marvelous Marvin Hagler Marvelous Marvin Hagler, the undisputed middleweight boxing champion from 1980 to 1987, died, his wife said March 13. He was 66.. (Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
Roger Mudd Roger Mudd, a longtime political correspondent for CBS News who later moved to NBC, died March 9. He was 93. (NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images)
Mark Pavelich Mark Pavelich, who set up the winning goal in the U.S. hockey team's "Miracle on Ice" victory against the Soviet Union in 1980. was found dead March 4 at a Minnesota treatment center. He was 63.. (Bruce Bennett Studios via Getty Images )
Reggae legend Bunny Wailer dead at 73 Bunny Wailer, the last standing member of the Bob Marley group, The Wailers, is pictured on stage in Paris the July 20, 2014. The reggae icon died Tuesday, March 2, 2021, at the age of 73. (Michael Bunel/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Vernon Jordan FILE PHOTO: Vernon Jordan, former advisor to President Bill Clinton, introduces Clinton on the second day of the Civil Rights Summit at the LBJ Presidential Library April 9, 2014 in Austin, Texas. Jordan died March 1 at the age of 85. (Pool/Getty Images)
Prince Markie Dee Prince Markie Dee, a member of the Fat Boys hip-hop group, died Feb. 18. He was 52. (Johnny Nunez/WireImage)
Rush Limbaugh FILE PHOTO: Radio personality Rush Limbaugh reacts after First Lady Melania Trump gives him the Presidential Medal of Freedom during the State of the Union address in the chamber of the U.S. House of Representatives on February 04, 2020 in Washington, DC. He was 70. (Mark Wilson/Getty Images)
Chick Corea Chick Corea, who pioneered jazz fusion as a composer and keyboardist, died Feb. 9. He was 79. (Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images)
Larry Flynt Larry Flynt, the founder and publisher of Hustler magazine who was involved in several First Amendment battles, died Feb. 10. He was 78. (Dave Pickoff/Associated Press )
Marty Schottenheimer FILE - San Diego Chargers head coach Marty Schottenheimer answers a question at a news conference in San Diego, in this Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2007, file photo. Schottenheimer died Monday night, Feb. 8, 2021, at a hospice in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Denis Poroy/AP)
Supremes co-founder Mary Wilson dead at 76 Singer Mary Wilson, a co-founder of legendary Motown group The Supremes, died Feb. 8, 2021, at age 76, multiple news outlets are reporting. (WIll Jacks/WireImage/Getty Images)
Leon Spinks Leon Spinks, right, who stunned the boxing world when he defeated Muhammad Ali for the heavyweight title in February 1978, died Feb. 5. He was 67. (Associated Press )
Jim Weatherly Jim Weatherly, who wrote Gladys Knight & the Pips' biggest hits, including "Midnight Train to Georgia," died Feb. 3. He was 77. ( Ava Gandy/WireImage)
Christopher Plummer FILE PHOTO: Christopher Plummer attends the post-screening event for "Knives Out" hosted by Audi Canada, Lionsgate, Mongrel Media and MRC at Patria on September 07, 2019 in Toronto, Canada. The actor died at the age of 91. (ANDREW KELLY/Getty Images for Audi Canada)
Dianne Durham Dianne Durham, right, the first Black to win a USA Gymnastics national title, died Feb. 4 in Chicago. She was 52. (Lisa Genesen, Associated Press, file)
Actor Hal Holbrook dead at 95, report says Actor Hal Holbrook died Jan. 23 at age 95, according to The New York Times. (Walt Disney Television/ABC Photo Archives via Getty Images)
Dustin Diamond dies at 44 Actor and stand-up comedian Dustin Diamond, best known for portraying Samuel "Screech" Powers in the "Saved by the Bell" franchise, died Monday, Feb. 1, 2021. He was 44. (Ben A. Pruchnie/Getty Images, File)
Hilton Valentine, guitarist for ‘The Animals’ dead at 77 FILE PHOTO: Hilton Valentine guitarist for British rock and roll band, The Animals, has died. He was 77. The photo shows the English rock band when they reformed in 1983 for a world tour. Clockwise from back left, is bassist Chas Chandler, guitarist Hilton Valentine, drummer John Steel, keyboard player Alan Price and singer Eric Burdon. (Photo by Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) (Keystone/Getty Images)
Sophie Pop artist and producer Sophie, who was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2018, died in Greece on Jan. 30 at the age of 34. (Scott Dudelson/Getty Images for Coachella)
John Chaney Hall of Fame college basketball coach John Chaney, who led Temple University's basketball team to 17 NCAA tournament appearances in 24 years, died at the age of 89, the university announced Jan. 29. ( Joseph Labolito/WireImage)
Cloris Leachman Actress Cloris Leachman, whose eight-decade career included an Oscar-winning performance in "The Last Picture Show" and a role as the grim-faced Frau Blücher in “Young Frankenstein,” died Jan. 2. She was 94. (Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP file)
Jimmie Rodgers Jimmie Rodgers, who scored his biggest hit with "Honeycomb" in 1957, died Jan. 18. He was 87. (Jim McCrary/Redfern)
Legendary talk show host Larry King dead at 87 FILE PHOTO: Legendary talk show host Larry King has died. He was 87. (Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images)
Gregory Sierra Gregory Sierra, who played Sgt. Miguel “Chano” Amanguale on "Barney Miller," died Jan. 4. Sierra also starred on "Sanford and Son" and appeared in several other television shows. (Walt Disney Television via Getty Images Photo Archives/Walt Disney Television via Getty Images)
Bob Avian Tony Award-winning choreographer Bob Avian died in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on Jan. 21. He was 83. (Shiho Fukada/Associated Press, File)
Mira Furlan Actress Mira Furlan, who starred in all 111 episodes of "Babylon 5" and also appeared in "Lost." died Jan. 20. She was 65. ( Michael Schwartz/WireImage)
Baseball legend Hank Aaron dead at 86 FILE PHOTO: Legendary baseball slugger Henry “Hank” Aaron has died. He was 86. (Tim Bradbury/Getty Images)
Don Sutton Hall of Fame pitcher Don Sutton, who won 324 games and pitched for six pennant winners during his 23-year major league baseball career, died Jan. 18. He was 75. ( Andrew Snook/Icon Sportswire/Corbis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Harry Brant Harry Brant, the son of supermodel Stephanie Seymour and businessman Peter Brant, died Jan. 17 from an accidental overdose. He was 24. ( Gilbert Carrasquillo/FilmMagic)
Phil Spector has died at 81 FILE PHOTO: Music producer Phil Spector, known for his "Wall of Sound" and who was later convicted of murder, has died. He was 81. (Pool/Getty Images)
Sylvain Sylvain Sylvain Sylvain, a guitarist for the New York Dolls, a group that ushered in the punk rock era of the 1970s, died Jan. 13. He was 69. ( Matt Kent/WireImage)
Siegfried Fischbacher FILE PHOTO: Siegfried Fischbacher speaks during the 23rd annual Keep Memory Alive 'Power of Love Gala' benefit for the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health at MGM Grand Garden Arena on March 16, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Fischbacher died Jan. 15 at the age of 81. (Bryan Steffy/Getty Images for Keep Memory Ali)
Sheldon Adelson FILE - This Feb. 10, 2017 file photo, Chief Executive of Las Vegas Sands Corporation Sheldon Adelson shows at a business roundtable with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington. Adelson, the billionaire mogul and power broker who built a casino empire spanning from Las Vegas to China and became a singular force in domestic and international politics has died after a long illness, his wife said Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2021. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File) (Andrew Harnik/AP)
Eve Branson FILE PHOTO: Richard Branson (L) and honoree Eve Branson attend the AltaMed Power Up, We Are The Future Gala at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel on May 12, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California. Richard Branson announced the death of his mother due to COVID-19. (Michael Kovac)
Nancy Bush Ellis FILE PHOTO: This Jan. 7, 1990, file photo shows President George H. W. Bush hiding behind his sister, Nancy Ellis, as he prepares for a jog along the C&O canal in the Georgetown section of Washington. A longtime Democrat who helped her Republican brother and nephew get elected president, died of complications of the coronavirus Sunday, Jan. 10, 2021, at an assisted living facility in Concord, Massachusetts. She was 94. (Marcy Nighswander/AP)
Actor John Reilly dead at 86 Actor John Reilly is pictured holding his daughter, Caitlyn Reilly, when she was a child. The longtime soap opera actor died in early January 2021 of an undisclosed cause. (Courtesy Caitlyn Reilly)
Tommy Lasorda FILE PHOTO: Tommy Lasorda of the Los Angeles Dodgers poses for a portrait during spring training photo day at Camelback Ranch on February 20, 2014 in Glendale, Arizona. The Dodgers announced Lasorda died at the age of 93. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Neil Sheehan Neil Sheehan, a Pulitzer Prize-winning author whose articles on the Pentagon Papers triggered a court battle, died Jan. 7. He was 84. (Frederic Reglain/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)
Eric Jerome Dickey Bestselling author Eric Jerome Dickey died Jan. 3 in Los Angeles. He was 59. (Joseph Jones via Associated Press )
Tanya Roberts FILE PHOTO: Actress Tanya Roberts arrives at the gala premiere of "Criss Angel Believe" by Cirque du Soleil at the Luxor Resort & Casino October 31, 2008 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The former Bond girl died Jan. 4 at the age of 65. Her death was confirmed after conflicting reports from her publicist and her companion. (Ethan Miller)
Gerry Marsden FILE PHOTO - In this April 25, 1964 file photo, Gerry Marsden leaps over his band, the Pacemakers. Gerry Marsden, the British singer and lead singer of Gerry and the Pacemakers, who was instrumental in turning a song from the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical “Carousel” into one of the great anthems in the world of football, has died. He was 78. (AP)
Paul Westphal Hall of Fame basketball coach Paul Westphal died Jan. 2, the Phoenix Suns announced. He was 70. (Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
Floyd Little Hall of Fame running back Floyd Little, who starred at Syracuse University and for the NFL's Denver Broncos, died Jan. 1. He was 78. ( Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post via Getty Images)
