Charlie Watts' Life in Photos
The Rolling Stones drummer—an iconic figure in music and an architect of rock 'n roll—has died at the age of 80.
Rock 'n roll has lost one of its most unassuming giants. Charlie Watts, longtime drummer of the Rolling Stones who infused their stadium-size sound with a jazzy swing, has died at the age of 80. A cause of death has not been revealed. Watts manned the drum kit for the legendary act for more than 50 years, building with his beats rock music itself. In an era defined by the flamboyance of his lead man, Mick Jagger, Watts projected a cool and calm; refinement. "I loved playing with Keith and the band—I still do—but I wasn’t interested in being a pop idol sitting there with girls screaming," he famously wrote in his 2003 book, According to the Stones. "It’s not the world I come from. It’s not what I wanted to be, and I still think it’s silly." Watts joined the group in 1963, once the founding members could finally afford the then-established session player. "We starved ourselves to pay for him!" Keith Richards wrote in his own book, Life (2010). "Literally. We went shoplifting to get Charlie Watts." Decades later, as the Stones continue their reign as rock's most influential, and long-lasting outfit, it was worth it. Here, a look back at his seminal career.
Charlie Watts of the Rolling Stones, circa 1965.
"The Rolling Stones" pose for a very early portrait circa 1962 in London, England.
From left to right: Keith Richards, Charlie Watts, Mick Jagger, Brian Jones, and Bill Wyman from The Rolling Stones pose on the set of the Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus at Intertel TV Studio in Wembley, London on 11th December 1968.
From left, British musicians Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, and Charlie Watts, all of the group the Rolling Stones, sit together at a roulette table, Isle of Man, September 13, 1965.
1968: Rock and roll band 'The Rolling Stones' pose for a portrait.
(L-R) Charlie Watts, Keith Richards and Mick Jagger of The Rolling Stones spend a night at Ronnie Scott's in London, 18th November 1985.
Charlie Watts and his wife Shirley Ann Shepherd, attend Georgia May Jagger's christening at Saint Andrew's church, Richmond in 1992.
Keith Richards and Charlie Watts of rock band The Rolling Stones at Heathrow Airport upon their return from the States, London, UK, 8th December 1969.
Promotional portrait of British musician Charlie Watts of the Rolling Stones in support of the band's 'Steel Wheels' tour, late 1989.
Charlie Watts of the Rolling Stones, at a British concert in London in 1973.
Keith Richards (left) and Charlie Watts from The Rolling Stones pose on the set of the Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus at Intertel TV Studio in Wembley, London on 11th December 1968.
The Rolling Stones, Charlie Watts and Bill Wyman being interviewed while recording 'Goats Head Soup' album in Kingston, Jamaica, 9th December 1973.
Charles Robert Watts aged 2 with his mother Lillian and father Charles in Piccadilly Circus in 1943.
Charlie Watts of rock group the Rolling Stones at Heathrow Airport in London with his wife Shirley (left) and their daughter Seraphina, UK, 5th December 1972.
Charlie Watts of the Rolling Stones during rehearsal in New York in May 1978.
Charlie Watts, on drums, of the group the Rolling Stones, performs onstage during 'The Rolling Stones American Tour 1981' (in support of their album 'Tattoo You'), at Madison Square Garden, New York, New York, November 13, 1981.
Charlie Watts performs with The A,B,C,D of Boogie Woogie at Le New Morning on October 2, 2011 in Paris, France.
The Rolling Stones perform at Oakland Stadium in Oakland, California - July 26, 1978.
Left to right: Ron Wood, Mick Jagger, Charlie Watts, Keith Richards and Bill Wyman of the Rolling Stones wave to the crowd at the Historic Atlantic City Convention Hall (now Boardwalk Hall) in Atlantic City, N.J., during the Steel Wheels Tour, December 1989. The group played three nights at the venue from 17th - 20th December 1989.
The Rolling Stones, London, 11th May 1964.
Madison Vain is the Digital Director at Esquire; a writer and editor living in New York, she previously worked at Entertainment Weekly and Sports Illustrated.
Kelly Sherin is the Visuals Editor at Esquire. He was previously the Digital Photo Editor of Allure.com and Photo Researcher at Glamour.
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