Woke up still floored by the fact Charlie Watts no longer lives…trying to come to terms
For me the grim news means a world where The Rolling Stones are no longer a band. Although I doubt Keith and Mick will hang up the business concern part… This is a very rare case I wish they would. But nobody is asking me to pass on hundreds of millions of dollars or hang up what no doubt keeps them going and what they live and love to do. In other words I understand why they probably will keep going.
Others are able to better put in words what Charlie meant to the band. I think he brought a big element of hipness, cool and class to the group. In addition, of course, to a swing or jazz element and sensibility to the drums themselves. This is hard to qualify for a non musician but the Stones could never have worked with a John Bonham or Keith Moon…one shudders even imagining it. He was also a steady and calming presence in a band that at many points seemed more like an out of control storm. A most necessary centering presence. Charlie Watts always seemed like a man among boys…. The grown up in the band. He was of course a few years older and looked the part choosing (maybe he had no choice) to age gracefully.
While I saw the band four times and am grateful for that I will always regret not seeing Charlie Watts playing jazz in a small club and getting to meet him. It’s just that my own love of jazz came a bit too late to make that a reality.
