Remembering Legendary Rolling Stones Drummer Charlie Watts

Photo: Getty Images

On Tuesday (August 24), a publicist for the legendary Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts confirmed he had passed away. Watts was 80-years-old.

Watts first joined the Stones back in 1963, appearing on every one of the band’s albums over the past 58 years. He’s widely regarded as one of the greatest drummers in rock music history. He was elected into the Modern Drummer Hall of Fame in 2006 and was ranked 12th on the 100 Greatest Drummers of All Time list.

Also a talented graphic artist, Watts contributed to the design of the Stones’ record sleeves and tour stages over the course of his tenure with the band.

Watts leaves behind his wife, Shirley Ann Sheperd, their daughter Seraphina, and a granddaughter, Charlotte. The iconic drummer once credited his long lasting marriage, especially through long stints on the road, to the fact that he’s “not really a Rockstar.”

Here’s a look back at Watts’ incredible life and music career.

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The Rolling Stones, in a vintage car 1964. From left to right Brian Jones, Mick Jagger, Bill Wyman, Charlie Watts and Keith Richards.
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Watts and the rest of the the group at the studio to appear on the TV show, 'Ready Steady Go!' in 1964.
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Keith Richards (left) and Charlie Watts from The Rolling Stones pose on the set of the Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus at Intertel TV Studio in Wembley, London on 11th December 1968.
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Sporting a new David Bowie style feather cut.
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Posing at a New York video shoot in 1978.
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Mick Jagger and Charlie Watts on stage in Dallas, Texas, Halloween Night, 1981.
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Charlie performs onstage during 'The Rolling Stones American Tour 1981' at Madison Square Garden.
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Diana, Princess of Wales meets Charlie and Stones' guitarist, Bill Wyman after a rock concert at the Albert Hall, London in 1983.
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1986 studio portrait.
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USA 1989: The Rolling Stones on the Steel Wheels Tour in 1989
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The Stones on stage in 1989
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Charlie Watts and his wife Shirley Ann Shepherd, attend Georgia May Jagger's christening at Saint Andrew's church, Richmond in 1992.
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With daughter, Seraphina and granddaughter, Charlotte, on Madison avenue, NYC in 1997. (Photo by Lawrence Schwartzwald)
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At 02 Arena on November 25, 2012 in London, England.
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Charlie Watts ( (the "C" in ABC&D) performs with The ABC&D of Boogie Woogie in 2012.
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The Rolling Stones perform at day 3 of the 2013 Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm in 2013.
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With wife, Shirley Ann Shepherd at the King George VI Weekend at Ascot Racecourse on July 23, 2016.
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2019: Mick Jagger, Ronnie Wood, Charlie Watts and Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones perform onstage at Rose Bowl in California.
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