These words from Charlie Watts were comforting to her

Charlie Watts was considered the stoic and reliable backbone of the Rolling Stones. The drummer died in 2021, shaking the band’s future. However, they had already spoken clearly some time before about what would happen if Watts died.

“I was with Charlie before he died and he said, ‘Make sure Steve Jordan represents me. He has my blessing,'” Ronnie Wood explained in a recent interview with “BBC”. “That was really comforting.” Keith Richards agrees: “The feeling that I’m fulfilling Charlie’s wishes makes it a little easier. I will always miss the man dearly, but I know that if he were here today he would be very happy that the band is carrying on.”

On the death of Charlie Watts

In 2004, Charlie Watts was diagnosed with throat cancer. The drummer had been a smoker for years. To combat the cancer, he received radiation therapy and was then considered recovered. In August 2005 he was able to take part in the Rolling Stones’ world tour again. However, he had to have an operation shortly before the US shows of the “No Filter” tour in 2021 and therefore could not be there. Charlie Watts died on August 24, 2021 at the age of 80, surrounded by his family in a London hospital. What exactly led to his death was not communicated by the band or the family. However, according to various reports, the cancer may have returned, which is why he even had to undergo two surgeries.

However, one last time fans can hear new songs that were created together with Charlie Watts. “Hackney Diamonds” includes “Mess It Up” and “Live By The Sword”, which were recorded in 2019 together with the Stones drummer. Steve Jordan stepped in for the remaining songs and for the “Sixty” anniversary tour, just as Charlie Watts had wanted his bandmates to do.