There was no choice really – the death of Charlie put me on a single track. It has to be the Stones today. I’ll start off with Goat’s Head Soup. I’m sure the drums will feature more than usual!! I’ll be thinking of Charlie……………………..
Farewell Charlie Watts – one of the great Rock Drummers
It was really sad news to hear that Charlie has died. He was the driving force behind the Stones. The basis of a good band are the drums and bass with a couple of flashy individuals taking the limelight. Charlie did not travel round the kit like Ginger Baker, thrash around like a genius spotlight grabber like Keith Moon, thump around like a monster power beast like John Bonham; he was really a Jazz drummer and provided that steady base from which the band were anchored. Perfection.
The Stones will be less without him.
When I heard that he was missing the US tour I thought something major was up. He’d had throat cancer in 2004 but recovered. The rumour was that he’d had a heart op and needed to recuperate. All that is reported is that he died peacefully in his sleep. Just 80 years old and playing to near the end!!
Charlie made for a strange member of the most flamboyant band in the world; more resembling a dapper banker than a swashbuckling Rock Star. He never liked the limelight. But he sure was a fundamental part of the second-best band the world has ever known!
I’ll sure miss you Charlie! Glad I saw and heard you play!!
Rolling Stones – Gimme Shelter – a song about the violence and unpredictability of life.
Rolling Stones – Heartbreaker – a song of social importance.
Blues Muse – extract – Rolling Stones in Southern France
Rock Music Genres – The British Blues Beat Groups of the early 60s – The Rolling Stones, Yardbirds, Them, Pretty Things, Downliners Sect and Animals.
A Rolling Stones Day! The sixties scene and one of the best bands ever!
Well they started out in the Deep South Thames Delta as a Blues/R&B band – my old stompin’ ground. I lived ten miles away from where the Yardbirds and Stones used to trade riffs (not on the same night)Â in Richmond! I was a shade too young!
As a young kid I did buy all the singles and albums as they came out and still have them all. At the age of fourteen I was already into the blues and familiar with the likes of Howlin’ Wolf and Muddy Waters. It was great to hear the Stones doing such great covers of stuff like I Just Want to Make Love To You, I Can’t Be Satisfied and Little Red Rooster.
As the Stones progressed they went through a number of style changes – from Pop, Soul, Tamla and Reggae to Rock – but the Blues underpinned it all.
Live they were one of the best bands around. Jagger was, and is, amazing – athletic and a fantastic showman, Charlie keeps a superb rhythm and base with that jazz-inspired economy and Keith is the ultimate poser – nobody makes better shapes and riffs.
I’ve seen them a number of times, including Hyde Park with the genius of Mick Taylor.
I guess Exile is my favourite album but it’s a tough call!
Anyway – today is Stones day!