The Rolling Stones post video tribute to Charlie Watts
The Rolling Stones have posted a video montage on their social media sites paying tribute to their longtime drummer, Charlie Watts, who died Aug. 24 at age 80.
The two-minute clip, with the 1973 Stones song "If You Can't Rock Me" playing in the background, features a variety of archival photos and film and video segments from throughout Watts' long career with the band.
The homage also includes a clip of an interview with Watts in which he recalls his initial reaction to joining The Stones.
"[T]hey talked in terms of a band, a commitment in other words," Watts said. "[I thought,] 'Oh, this will go on for a year, and next year fold up.'"
The video also features a clip of Mick Jagger introducing Watts to the audience as "the Wembley whammer" during a show at London's Wembley Stadium. The tribute ends with a photo that Keith Richards posted on his own social media pages after Charlie's death, showing a photo of Watts' drum kit and a sign hanging from it that reads, "Closed -- Please Call Again."
All three surviving current Stones members -- Jagger, Richards and Ronnie Wood -- posted photographic tributes to Watts following his death.
Ex-Stones bassist Bill Wyman posted his own homage to his former bandmate on his official website that reads, "Charlie, you were like a brother to me. In the band and in life. Rest in peace."
The Stones are planning to move forward with their 2021 U.S. tour with veteran session drummer Steve Jordan standing in for Watts, which was arranged prior to Watts' death.
The trek kicks off Sept. 26 in St. Louis.
