The music world is mourning the
death of one of the greatest
rock and roll drummers of all time.
Yeah, Rolling Stones drummer Charlie
Watts died in London today at
the age of 80 for half a century.
He helped anchor one of rock's
greatest rhythm sections.
This video is from The Rolling
Stones show at the then Jack
Murphy Stadium back in 1981.
Watts had announced he would
not tour with the Stones this
year because of health problems.
He joined the band all the way back in 1963.
Condolences are coming in from all
over the music world. Condolences
to the stones with huge blow to
them because Charlie was a rock.
Fantastic drummer, steady as a rock
anyway so love love you Charlie.
I always loved You Beautiful man and.
Great condolences and
sympathies to his family.
That was Paul McCartney,
but also Elton John called it a
very sad day saying watts was the
ultimate drummer and the most
stylish of men and brilliant company
Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys said
that Charlie was a great drummer.
He loved the stones,
music and that they made great records,
and Joan Jett called Watts the
most elegant and dignified drummer
in rock and roll.
He played exactly what was needed,
no more, no less.
Here to talk
more about Watts and his impact
on rock and roll and the stones
is George Varga. He's the
pop music critic for the San Diego Union.
Review and first of all, George.
Thank you so much for joining us.
We appreciate your time.
Thank you for having me.
Let's talk about the time that you
interviewed Charlie Watts back in 1991.
I went through this and you called
it one of the most difficult
interviews as a reporter. Or
why was that?
Well, the 1991 interview went great.
The prior interview where I
attempted to interview him.
Could not have been more of a debacle.
He was a very soft spoken guy and
he wanted to do the interview in
a room with about 40 other people
having a party and he didn't really
want to do the interview and I
gave up within a minute or two,
but in 1991 I got to interview
him again and we talked for
over an hour and night and day.
He couldn't have been a better
interview at that point.
George, you're a
drummer yourself.
I think Joan Jett said it so well when
she said he was elegant and dignified.
It and he wasn't a showman.
He played what was needed.
Can you talk about the big
influence he had on drummers?
You're a drummer yourself. As
I mentioned. Yeah, if you're a drummer,
you you want to have a groove,
you want to keep it in the pocket and
he kept it in the pocket perfectly.
He would play a little bit
right behind the beach.
If you think of like hockey
tonk women and that allowed it,
it propelled the music,
but it kept it from from going off the rail.
And to do that and to to not.
Bring attention to you as a drummer and to
play to make the band that you're in better.
Lot of drummers like to to throw in
things that you really don't need to
let people know how good they are.
He was great by not doing that.
Yeah, it's certainly a
legend in his own right now.
The Rolling Stones obviously
were planning to tour without
him as he had been in failing
health in the recent months.
But who are The Rolling Stones
now without Charlie Watts? Yeah,
you know, for me and I think for
a lot of people he you know you've
taken the heartbeat of the band
the way they can go on there.
They plan to with that for a tour.
Any help with Steve Jordan,
a great drummer but not not the same.
It would be like if The Beatles
were together now and you took
Ringo out of the equation.
You might have a really great band
but you don't have The Beatles
if you don't have Charlie Watts
for me you have, you know.
Part of The Rolling Stones, you don't
have the whole thing when
you listen to the stones.
Do you have a favorite track of his?
As far as his drumming
and what he brought to?
You mentioned ***** Tonk
woman favorite of mine
is hang fire.
I don't know what sticks with you.
Yeah, hang fire was great.
Start me up and a ballad
like waiting on a friend.
You know you may not notice him
but but he's really integral
and I think that quality kind
of permeated everything he did
with the band that he made.
Some better and you can
have a really good band,
and if you don't have a really good
drummer of the band will go down in quality.
You can have an OK band and a
great drummer can elevate them.
And when you have a great
band and a great drummer then
you know you can go anywhere
and they certainly did.
George Varga the Union Tribune,
pop music critic.
We appreciate your take on
the legendary Charlie Watts.