It’s only Tuesday, and it’s already been an awful week for music fans. On Saturday, Don Everly—half of the Everly Brothers passed away, aged 83. And today, around noon, the news broke that Charlie Watts, who drummed for The Rolling Stones for almost 60 years, had died in a London hospital, only weeks after he announced his absence from the Stones’ impending “No Filter” tour.
Despite numerous lineup tweaks—from when Ronnie Wood permanently took on the duties that Brian Jones once did, to when Bill Wyman retired in 1993, The Rolling Stones always felt like the same band. Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, and Charlie Watts (and even Ronnie) were always there, and solid as ever as they aged. Despite Wyman’s absence in recent years, the four of them together still felt very authentic. Going to see them live wasn’t some depressing reiteration of the band, featuring a Jagger-approved frontman, and some bloke that used to open for Keef—and then maaaaybe Ronnie Wood onstage.
Which begs the question: With the heartbeat now gone, what’s next for The Rolling Stones?
This question has been asked far too many times in recent years about far too many musical futures. Tom Petty’s death in 2017 led to the breakup of The Heartbreakers, and when Eddie Van Halen died last year, so did all hopes for Sammy Hagar’s “kitchen sink” tour idea. But a quintessential band member’s death does not always mean that the end is nigh.
Stone Temple Pilots lost Scott Weiland back in 2015, and yet last week, the band—now fronted by The X-Factor contestant Jeff Gutt, announced a co-headlining tour with Bush, set for this fall. And June marked 10 years since Clarence Clemons—right-hand man to Bruce Springsteen, and saxophonist for the Boss’ E-Street Band, passed into the next world. His nephew, Jake came in and took his place, and the mighty brotherhood of a band released Letter To You last year, which is E-Street’s first album together since 2012’s Wrecking Ball. With all due respect to every name mentioned, Charlie and the Stones were undoubtedly far more tight with each other. I mean, when you’ve constantly been playing with the same band since before The Beatles scored a no. 1 hit in the UK (his first gig as a Rolling Stone was in January 1963. “From Me To You” released in April of that year.), it’s inevitable.
A new studio album has seemingly been on the horizon—with presumptuously the first single, “Living In A Ghost Town” having released last April. So, while it’s unlikely that there will be anymore new music beyond this new album-in-progress, the remaining Stones may decide to put this album out, and then call it quits. In April 2019, the Cranberries released their final project with lead singer Dolores O’Riordan, In The End—over a year after her death, and the surviving members broke up immediately after. In the eyes of the rock gods, the original bassist retiring is a far less serious situation than their original drummer dying. For right now, Bill Wyman can come back whenever he wants. But when you’re rapidly approaching your 80s, it’s hard to carry on as a trio.
If you didn’t hear, Watts underwent a procedure that was serious enough for him to pull out of this fall’s rescheduled second US leg of the Stones’ “No Filter” tour, so he could heal up. Nobody, including the drum legend, wanted to postpone the tour for a second time, knowing what everybody has been through since last March. So, solely because of longtime Rolling Stones acquaintance Steve Jordan having already taken Charlie’s position on this tour, the surviving members will probably get through the 13-date, US run, and then quit large scale tours under the current Rolling Stones moniker. Perhaps Mick, Keith, and Ronnie will take on a different name, similarly to how Bob Weir and Mickey Hart put Dead And Company together. It’s impossible to imagine Mick Jagger giving up music cold turkey, so surely, something related to the last 60 years will take up a good chunk of the rest of his life.
I’ve truly felt empty ever since hearing the news via The Rolling Stones’ Instagram account. Generally, it’s hard to mourn a rock legend who made it to 80 years old—even if it was merely two-and-a-half months ago. But behind that iconic jazzy drum kit, there was still so much more for Charlie to do. One more tour. One more album. That’s what they all push for as the clock ticks.
Alas somewhere, Charlie Watts must be fronting a hell of a drum quartet with Keith Moon, Ginger Baker, and Buddy Rich.
Josh Bradley Live 