RIP. Charlie Watts
Having been a fan of Rock and Roll for over 50 years, like everyone, I have experienced the loss of artists I truly loved. I remember the day a friend of mine, who was the lead singer in a band, interrupted his set to announce the passing of Keith Moon, and how it struck me. At the time I was a huge Who fan and I felt that he was the heart and soul of the band. I left that night and went home and played Quadrophenia into the wee hours of the morning.
There have been so many losses but none has struck me like the passing of Charlie Watts earlier this week.
Watts was as understated a drummer as there ever was in Rock and Roll. He had the good sense to be the backbone of an outfit that acted like it was going to come off the rails at any time and it never fazed him He knew from the beginning that his playing was going to be the glue that kept all those moving parts together. He also understood that Mick and Keith were the stars(sometimes Brian Jones or Ron Wood as well) and never wanted to step on anyones toes either on stage or off.
Critics never gave him the credit he deserved until later on and I don’t think he really cared. He knew that the band depended on him and he was solid on every song they ever recorded. I can’t speak to technicals because I am not a musician but to me, he was always the steady hand. Never flashy but I am pretty sure he was technically perfect.
A lot of critics dismissed him because of that. He never did a 15 minute drum solo, smashed his drum kit or downed 2 bottles of vodka before going on stage. He just did his job, perfectly and looked great doing it. He was always behind the drums with a sly smile, like he knew something nobody else knew. I am guessing that he was just smiling because he was the drummer in The Greatest Rock and Roll Band in the World.
There are probably hundreds of examples of Watts’ ability to feel when to be the backbeat and when to become the true sound of any given song. Keith Moon, John Bonham were not subtle when taking over a song but Charlie Watts was. For example, re-listen to Sister Morphine on Sticky Fingers. Even though, Keith Richards guitar riffs are off the charts, it’s Charlie Watts drumming you hear. Forget the fact that the song is one of the best the Stones have ever done, from lyrics to vocals all I hear is Charlie Watts and Keith Richards playing off each other.
Speaking of Stick Fingers, give it another listen with Charlie Watts in mind. Maybe I am wrong but his playing on this particular album is so good it has to be one of his best performances from beginning to end.
It really is next to impossible to say why his passing has affected me so much. Maybe I am getting older and the building blocks of my past are slowly passing away. I expect the next ten years will not be any easier as all of the icons I have enjoyed over the years reach advanced age. Thankfully, their music and their message will live on but it still hurts.