In August 2021, Charlie Watts, who had been the drummer for the Rolling Stones for decades, passed away. He died in hospital at the age of 80 after being prescribed several weeks of rest after an operation and therefore missing rehearsals and the upcoming “No Filter” tour. Since then, Steve Jordan has been drumming in place of his deceased colleague. In an interview, Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger opened up about how he’s coping with Watts’ death.
Mick Jagger would like to talk football with Charlie Watts again
“I don’t actually expect him to be there anymore when I turn around during a show. But I think of him. Not just during rehearsals or on stage, but in other ways,” Jagger told The Sunday Times. He says he would have liked to call his late friend and colleague about a past Arsenal game. They would then have discussed the game as Watts would have been a Tottenham fan and Jagger himself was supportive of Arsenal. The 78-year-old misses Watts “as a player and as a friend”.
Jagger is reminiscent of Watts’ tour fads
But Jagger also notices his loss on live shows: “When we come forward at the end to take our bow, Charlie is missing at first,” he explains. The singer also remembers: “He was always the last one in front. I then said, ‘Come on, what are you doing?’ He was always fiddling with his sticks because he had to line them up before he left his seat.”
Actually, Steve Jordan only wanted to help out the Rolling Stones for a short time. He hadn’t expected that he would be a permanent member of the band. The change was not easy for him, after all he too had “lost a friend”. Since the band could not attend Watts’ funeral due to the corona and tour, they made sure that the legendary Rolling Stones logo, on which Watts also worked, was lit up in the mourning color black on tour.
Keith Richards recently reported that the Rolling Stones almost broke up on Watts’ death but ultimately grew closer. He also believes that Charlie Watts smiles at the band every night on tour.
The Rolling Stones turn 60
The rockers are celebrating their 60th birthday this year with a big tour and various releases. In addition to “El Mocambo 1977”, a live record that was released in May, a comprehensive box set series is also planned.
Others are also paying tribute to the Rolling Stones’ anniversary: In June, Lego is releasing a Rolling Stones kit that can be used to recreate the band’s logo. “BBC” is planning a large-scale documentary series. Exclusive interviews and previously unavailable footage from Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood and Charlie Watts will be shown in one-hour episodes.