R.I.P.
Posted on 08/24/2021 9:42:43 AM PDT by Levy78
LONDON (AP) — A publicist says Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts has died at age 80.
Yes even Mick Jagger indirectly said as much about Mick Taylor.
I suspect the Stones will continue without Charlie. Charlie was a great drummer that worked well for the Stones. But when you get down to it the core of the Stones has always been Mick Jagger + Keith Richards.
That's almost 10 albums away. I think their best material is yet to come.
“.......don’t forget to put roses on his grave”
I certainly hope so and wish them well. Jagger has had some heart issues but he also has maintained an intense workout regime. That guy is a ball of energy. Richards seems to be too stubborn to die - thus far.
Eventually aging catches up with all of us.
I think he got plenty of kudos from people who really know music. Not so much from casual listeners. I've read and listened to a few interviews of him about the subject of his leaving. He said he mostly left because it was boring. He viewed the Stones as little more than a garage band. He wasn't being challenged enough for it to be interesting to him. Good for him to move on instead of just hanging out to get a paycheck.
That's the reason they sounded like a garage band and proud of it. While Keith plays on the down beat as does the bass player, Charlie would play just behind and Mick sang just ahead of it. Listen to Charlie's crash symbols - they are micro-seconds later, along with his snare. This is what makes them unique in rock while most bands had all on same down beat, some instruments would get loss in the mix, which the producer would turn those up. Of course all Stones kept the same tempo (speed) and didn't do that off-beat thing on all their songs.
I could have the above off beat reversed for Charlie and Mick, but don't think so since I've played my drums to Stones classics. Run Honky Tonk Women through your mind from Charlie's intro of snare, tom, floor bass (crack..tum,bump - then his regular hi-hat, snare, bass pattern) and listen to when Keith comes in. Mick's singing is obviously ahead of Charlie and Keith.
Gimme Shelter is another good example. Keith and the female vocalist do the haunting into and Charlie comes in with his snare chha, chha, chha, ccha...chacrack/crash behind Keith. It continues throughout the song.
However, I have never been impressed with gigantor kit drummers like Keith Moon and big hair bands. While that gives the drummer more notes to hit, they often don't work with the band while going crazy all over trying to stand out from the front players. I believe that less is more and those drummers have to really try harder and devise new beats in whatever time signature. Copeland of the Police was the last I knew of such a drummer. But then, I don't keep up...pun intended.
My current Roland E-drums consist of the basics. Hi-hat, 2 crash cymbals in different notes, ride cymbal, snare, 2 toms in different notes and the bass drum. Being electronic, I can adjust the volume and the pitch of each. Love it!
I was out and about on my errands today when I heard the news, and I’ve been listening to Charlie Watts and the Stones every song since then. I am so sad and yet, Charlie entertained us all. Along with the others, but tonight, Charlie is my focus. I am a long time Stones fan, and I’m so grateful that I’ve been able to see them play live twice.
God bless Charlie Watts, the finest most humble drummer. God bless The Rolling Stones, too. He is sorely missed.
RIP, Charlie.
I don't recall a Fender Blues Junior amp. I had a Twin Reverb for my last bar gig...waaaay back - no PA system. That thing was heavy for its size. I also remember the Fender Bassman and Fender Deluxe. What guitars do you have, if I may ask?
Only a rhythm player here, but know of many classic guitars. After selling my Fender Strat (pre-CBS) I only have an Ovation acoustic that I rarely pickup. I'm a drummer and some times lead singer on the drums back when. That's a tough gig, from basic beat to melody. Yes, I'm that bitchen.
Yes, Wild Horses is up there in pitch and one of the Stones best slow songs. Also had a connected melody interlude to the rest of the song.
I’ll have to consider that. The best I’ve seen live Stones video is Bridges to Babylon, but standard resolution and in 4.3 aspect ratio. If they remastered that video into 16.9 or wider and cleaned up from the master tapes, I’d buy in a heart beat.
You’re joking, right? I think their song-writing careers are behind them now. I have their recent recordings and they are mostly a re-hash of early stuff. The last album I can remember them having some hits was Bridges to Babylon. I may be forgetting others.
I’m with you on a less is more approach. Roger Hawkins who passed away recently was another one who played with relative simplicity and of course great, great feel.
I love Charlie Watts.
No one impressed him.
Not even the Rolling Stones.
*** I love Charlie Watts.
No one impressed him.
Not even the Rolling Stones.***
Perfect! I love this more than you know!
(You do know that is tag line worthy, don’t you?)
Miss Dusty and ZZ. Another of my favorite bands.
Lol, after he matured some, I think he avoided most of these. Did he ever give up weed? I don’t know the answer.
Gotta look into getting that.
Mick Taylor has said in a couple of interviews that if he hadn’t left the Stones he wouldn’t be alive.
R.I.P.
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