Memorable Moments Of The Life And Career Of Charlie Watts

By Aynslee Darmon. 24 Aug 2021 3:45 PM

Legendary Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts had passed away at the age of 80. We’re taking a look back at his extraordinary life and career.

Photo: Getty Images

Photo: Getty Images

Photo: Shutterstock

Photo: Getty Images

Photo: Getty Images

Photo: Getty Images

Photo: Shutterstock

START OVER

Next Gallery: 2023 Monaco Grand Prix: Kylie Minogue, Orlando Bloom, Tom Holland & More Spend A Day At The Races

More Galleries

1 of 10

A Star In Born
Photo: Getty Images
In 1941, on June 2, Charlie Watts was born to Charles Watts, a truck driver for the English rail system, and Lilian Watts.
At just 14 or 15, Watts found a love for music and began playing drums.

In The True Adventures of the Rolling Stones, Watts told Stanley Booth, “Fortunately my parents were perceptive enough to buy me a drum kit. I’d bought a banjo myself and taken the neck off and started playing it as a drum…[I] played newspaper with wire brushes. My parents bought me one of those first drum kits every drummer knows too well.”
The Rolling Stones
Photo: Getty Images
Just over 20 years later, Watts met his future Rolling Stones band mates at London’s Ealing Club, in 1962.

At the time, Stones’ Mick Jagger was in the process of establishing his own blues-based band, originally called the Rollin’ Stones, with Keith Richards, guitarist Brian Jones, bassist Bill Wyman and pianist Ian Stewart. But after noticing a weak link in drummer Tony Chapman, the singer brought in Watts as his replacement.
Number One
Photo: Getty Images
In 1965, the Rolling Stones got their first of many number one singles in the United States with their iconic track, “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction”.
Family Man
Photo: Shutterstock
In 1964, Watts wed his wife Shirley Ann Shepherd and later welcomed daughter Serafina in 1968.
On A Roll
Photo: Getty Images
Between 1971 and 1981, the Watts and Rolling Stones put out eight consecutive number one studio albums and embarked on three of the biggest-grossing tours of the era.

For the tours, Watts, who studied graphic design at Harrow Art School before becoming a rock star, and Jagger teamed up to design the elaborate stage sets that became a hallmark of the act’s later tours.
Hall Of Fame
Photo: Getty Images
In 1989, Watts and the Stones were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
The Charlie Watts Quintet
Photo: Getty Images
In 1993, Watts formed the Charlie Watts Quintet, as a tribute to jazz legend Charlie Parker, and released their debut album Warm And Tender.

Bernard Fowler provided the vocals.
Cancer Diagnosis
Photo: Getty Images
In 2004, Watts was diagnosed with throat cancer despite having quit smoking in the late 1980s. After undergoing a course of radiotherapy, he successfully recovered.
Super Bowl XL
Photo: Getty Images
In 2006, Watts and the Rollings Stones took on the world’s biggest stage for Super Bowl XL at Detroit's Ford Field.

The Stones only played three songs, but as fans agreed, that’s all they needed.

The group performed “Start Me Up," "Rough Justice" and "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction."
Coachella
Photo: Shutterstock
In 2016, 54 years after the Stones formed, the iconic band headlined Coachella music festival.

As part of the festival’s three-day “Desert Trip”, the fest featured ‘60s classic rock acts, including Bob Dylan.

Their headlining gig helped kick off a new round of tours for the band, continuing until 2020 before the COVID-19 pandemic postponed their shows. The Stones’ were about to set off for their rescheduled dates before Watts’ death.

Memorable Moments Of The Life And Career Of Charlie Watts

More Galleries

Latest Galleries