Just heard Charlie Watts of the Rolling Stones has died. No cause of death announced yet. He was 80. He joined the group in 1963.

RIP Charlie, you were my favorite member of the Stones, thanks for all the great music!

He was the best in the pocket drummer I've ever heard. Could beat a drum kit into the stage while his movements looked like he was just having tea. Glad to have seem them live 9-10 times. Great memories.

Mike

And to imagine that Keith Richards outlived him.....RIP Charlie.

One thing I read in an interview way back was that they let Keith set the tempo, so he and Bill would lay back for a few chords and then come on strong and steady. They worked well together no doubt.

Unfortunately I never got to see the Stones live, but I've been a fan since around 1964-65.

Charlie, together with Bill Wyman and Ian Stewart, made up one of the best rhythm sections in rock music.

He'll be missed.

Jeff

Thanks for mentioning Ian Stewart, it's only fair we include him.
I've seen the 'Stones twice, at Shea and Atlantic City.

I saw the Stones once, my first concert ever, in 1981 at Brenden Byrne arena in Secaucus. I thought they were old then I was barely 17.
I then saw the Who at Shea Stadium in 1982. It was the first concert at Shea since the Beatles played there in '64. Crazy night with people jumping out of the stands and onto the field. They had to keep telling people to back up because the people at the front of the field were getting crushed.

When I saw them at Shea, for some reason I decided to take my motorcycle to NYC. Fortunately it worked out ok, especially since I had never been there. The weirdest feeling was on the way back, NY was like a ghost own, because it was about midnight. I somehow made it from The Queens Midtown Tunnel back to the NJTP in 20 minutes if that, and I wasn't speeding either. Great concert.

I saw the Stones at the Kingdome in Seattle in 1981. Ian Stewart was on the keyboards / piano. It was a great show. J Geils Band was also very good (Greg Kihn Band opened), with Magic Dick doing a terrific harmonica solo.

I think Grand Funk Railroad played Shea Stadium in 1971. Looking back, it's hard to believe they were that huge, being that only two of their tracks (I'm Your Captain and We're An American Band, with maybe Loco-Motion now and then) get airplay now on classic rock radio. But they were indeed that big during that time period, at least here in the US.