Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts died in a London hospital “surrounded by his family,” his publicist Bernard Doherty said Tuesday.
“It is with immense sadness that we announce the death of our beloved Charlie Watts,” Doherty wrote in a statement posted on the group’s Twitter page.
Watts, 80, died just weeks after officially retiring from the group’s upcoming tour.
“He passed away peacefully in a London hospital earlier today surrounded by his family,” the publicist wrote.
“Charlie was a cherished husband, father and grandfather and also as a member of The Rolling Stones, one of the greatest drummers of his generation,” he added.
The famous band’s drummer last appeared publicly in April 2020 during Global Citizen’s “One World: Together at Home” concert, which raised funds for the global fight against the pandemic.
Watts and his bandmates -Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, and Ronnie Wood- participated in the event, which was broadcast on major television networks across the United States.
Earlier this year, the Rolling Stones announced that the drummer would be missing the group’s next tour.
They said Watts needed to recover from an undisclosed medical procedure. Back then, a representative for the artist stated the procedure had been completely successful.
In a statement released on August 4, announcing that he would be leaving the tour, Watts wrote: “For once my timing has been a little off. I am working hard to get fully fit but I have today accepted on the advice of the experts that this will take a while.”
The “No Filter” tour was postponed due to the health crisis and rescheduled for September 26 in St. Louis.
Celebrities and music industry representatives have paid tribute to Watts and sent their condolences to his family.
Music icon Elton John posted a black and white picture of the two with a message that read: “A very sad day. Charlie Watts was the ultimate drummer. The most stylish of men, and such brilliant company.”
Paul McCartney also shared a video tribute to Watts, whom he called “a fantastic drummer” and a “lovely guy.”
“Charlie was a rock and a fantastic drummer, steady as a rock. Anyway, so love, love you Charlie, I’ve always loved you, beautiful man and great condolences and sympathies to his family,” McCartney added.
Charles Robert Watts was born in 1941 and raised in London’s Wembley neighborhood, where he played in local jazz groups.
He met Jagger after hooking up with Alexis Korner’s Blues Incorporated.
Later, Watts joined Jagger’s new band, the Rolling Stones, as the drummer. His work was prominent in several of the group’s classics, such as “Satisfaction,” “Paint It Black,” “Jumpin ‘Jack Flash,” and “Ruby Tuesday.”
