Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts dies at age 80

The world has lost a member of one of the world's greatest rock bands, with the announcement yesterday of the passing of Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts.

Charlie Watts has died at the age of 80, his spokesman announced announced:

"It is with great sadness that we announce the death of our beloved Charlie Watts. "He died peacefully in a London hospital earlier today with his family at his side," the spokesman said.

"Charlie was a beloved husband, father and grandfather and also as a member of the Rolling Stones one of the greatest drummers of his generation," he added.

The first time the Rolling Stones performed in Greece was in 1967 just months after the military coup that began a 7 year military dictatorship in Greece. During the performance police raided the concert and dragged lead singer Mick Jagger off the stage after he attempted to throw red carnations to the audience.

At the time,  throwing RED carnations was interpreted as  pro-Communist act of support.

ABOUT:

Born Charles Robert Watts on 2 June 1941  he we was best known as a member of the Rolling Stones from 1963.

Originally trained as a graphic artist, he started playing drums in London's rhythm and blues clubs, where he met Brian Jones, Mick Jagger, and Keith Richards.

In January 1963, he joined their fledgling group, the Rolling Stones, as drummer, while doubling as designer of their record sleeves and tour stages. Watts, along with Jagger and Richards, are the only band members to have been featured on all of their studio albums.

He cited jazz as a major influence on his drumming style. He toured with his own group, the Charlie Watts Quintet, and appeared in London at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club with the Charlie Watts Tentet.

In 2006, Watts was elected into the Modern Drummer Hall of Fame; in the same year, Vanity Fair elected him into the International Best Dressed List Hall of Fame. In the estimation of music critic Robert Christgau, Watts was "rock's greatest drummer."

In 2016, he was ranked 12th on Rolling Stone's "100 Greatest Drummers of All Time" list.

Source: Wiki

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