Full Name: Charles Robert Watts
Profession: Drummer
Biography: Best known as the drummer of British rock group The Rolling Stones, his first musical love was jazz. While still a teenager, he moved from playing jazz to the more lucrative genres of blues and rock, and joined the then newly formed group in 1963.
He contributed not only a solid beat, but offered subtle balance to the flamboyance of singer Mick Jagger and guitarists Keith Richard and Brian Jones. He also used his training in graphic design to the visual presentation of the band's albums, advertising and stage sets.
Outside of the group, he lived a decidedly non-rock star life with his one and only wife, Shirley, whom he quietly married in 1964. They lived in the country and bred Arabian horses. During breaks from touring from the late 80s onward, he returned to jazz, leading various sized groups in concert and in the studio.
He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of The Rolling Stones in 1989, but did not attend the ceremony.
Health issues prevented him from participating in The Rolling Stones world tour 2021, and he selected Steve Jordan as his replacement. He played on two tracks that were included in the group's 2023 album "Hackney Diamonds".
Born: June 2, 1941
Birthplace: London, England
Generation: Silent Generation
Chinese Zodiac: Snake
Star Sign: Gemini
Married Life
- 1964-10-14 English "Rolling Stones" drummer Charlie Watts (23) weds English sculptor Shirley Shepherd (26) in Bradford, England, until his death in 2021
Historical Events
- 1963-04-21 Beatles meet the Rolling Stones for the 1st time
- 1963-05-10 Decca Records sign The Rolling Stones on advice of Beatle George Harrison
- 1963-09-15 The Beatles headline The Great Prop Prom at Royal Albert Hall, London; The Rolling Stones are one of the opening acts
- 1963-10-07 The Rolling Stones record the Lennon-McCartney song "I Wanna Be Your Man" at Kingsway Sound Studio in London
- 1964-01-01 "Top of the Pops", British pop music television program premieres; acts performing include Dusty Springfield; The Rolling Stones; Dave Clark Five: The Hollies; Swinging Blue; and The Beatles
- 1964-10-25 The Rolling Stones make their 1st appearance on "The Ed Sullivan Show"; they perform a cover of Chuck Berry's “Around & Around,” and their own hit "Time Is On My Side"
- 1965-05-12 The Rolling Stones record their smash hit single "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction"
- 1965-06-06 The Rolling Stones release music single "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction"
- 1965-10-25 The Rolling Stones release music single "Get Off of My Cloud"
- 1966-04-15 The Rolling Stones release "Aftermath", their fourth studio album in UK (6th in US)
- 1966-05-06 The Rolling Stones release the single "Paint It Black", featuring prominent sitar played by Brian Jones, in the US
- 1966-05-13 The Rolling Stones release "Paint it Black" in the UK
- 1966-06-11 "Paint It Black" by The Rolling Stones peaks at #1 in the US
- 1967-08-18 The Rolling Stones release music single "We Love You", written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richard as a message of thanks to fans for their support after the duo's recent drug arrests; recording features backing vocals by John Lennon and Paul McCartney
- 1969-06-08 Guitarist Brian Jones is asked to leave the Rolling Stones, replaced by Mick Taylor
- 1969-06-13 Mick Taylor leaves John Mayall Band and joins The Rolling Stones
- 1969-12-06 300,000 attend free concert featuring The Rolling Stones in Altamont, California; the event is marred by violence and four deaths
- 1971-03-14 The Rolling Stones leave England for France in an attempt to escape taxes
- 1975-12-19 British guitarist Ron Wood joins the Rolling Stones
- 1976-04-06 1st quadrophonic movie track: "Ladies & Gentlemen the Rolling Stones"
- 1979-04-22 The Rolling Stones play two benefit concerts for the Canadian National Institute for the Blind, in Oshawa, Ontario; performance part of guitarist Keith Richards’ heroin conviction sentence
- 1981-10-11 Then unknown musician Prince Rogers Nelson opens for The Rolling Stones at the Los Angeles Coliseum
- 1989-01-18 4th Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees: Dion; Otis Redding; The Rolling Stones; The Temptations; Stevie Wonder; The Ink Spots; Bessie Smith; The Soul Stirrers; and Phil Spector
- 1994-08-01 The Rolling Stones begin Voodoo Lounge world tour
- 2002-05-06 The Rolling Stones fly a yellow blimp emblazoned with their logo at Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx, NYC to announce forthcoming international tour
- 2007-08-26 The Rolling Stones close their two-year, 147 concert "A Bigger Bang" tour at O2 Arena in London, England; box office gross of tour exceeds $558M, a record at the time
- 2013-06-26 Glastonbury Festival in Pilton, England opens: Arctic Monkeys, The Rolling Stones, and Mumford and Sons headline; other performers include Elvis Costello, Vampire Weekend, The Lumineers, Billy Bragg, Kenny Rogers, and Rufus Wainwright
- 2016-03-25 The Rolling Stones perform a free outdoor concert at the Ciudad Deportiva de la Habana sports complex, in Havana, Cuba, before an estimated crowd of 500,000
- 2021-08-05 Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts (80) announces he will be unable to accompany the band on its 2021 U.S. tour, based on medical advice; American Steve Jordan tapped to fill in
- 2023-10-20 Polydor releases "Hackney Diamonds", the 24th studio album by British rock band the Rolling Stones (26th album in US); record is their first of original music since 2005, and features appearances by Lady Gaga, Stevie Wonder, and Paul McCartney
Biographies and Sources
- Floral jackets, the Fab Four and a mini-riot: The Rolling Stones at the Royal Albert Hall - Royal Albert Hall
- The Day the Rolling Stones Signed to Decca Records - Ultimate Classic Rock
- The Rolling Stones - Ed Sullivan Show
Buddy Rich
Dave Grohl
John Bonham
Lars Ulrich
Ringo Starr
Travis Barker