Charlie Watts performs at Wembley Arena (PA)
PA Archive
Pa Reporters24 August 2021
The Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts has died at the age of 80, his publicist has said.
The musician, who marked his 80th birthday in June, had been a member of the rock group since 1963.
The Rolling Stones during their gig at the Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh (Jane Barlow/PA)
PA Wire
The Rolling Stones drummer at LWT studios in 1968 (PA)
PA Wire
His parents gave him his first drum kit in 1955, allowing him to play along to his favourite jazz records, which included those by Duke Ellington and Charlie Parker.
By the age of 16, he was drumming in jazz groups and a regular on the London club scene, which was then focused on the parallel worlds of jazz and blues rock.
The Rolling Stones during a rehearsal (PA)
PA Archive
Charlie Watts in 1964 (PA)
PA Wire
A Stonehenge setting for the group (PA)
PA Archive
In 2016, Watts was ranked 12th in Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the 100 greatest drummers of all time.
Charlie Watts attending a One Day International between Scotland v England (Jane Barlow/PA)
PA Wire
The Rolling Stones during a press conference for their World Tour 2002/2003 (PA)
PA Wire
The Rolling Stones performing on the Pyramid Stage during the Glastonbury 2013 Festival (Anthony Delvin/PA)
PA Wire
