Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts dies at age 80 just weeks after emergency heart operation

August 25, 2021

Charlie Watts, drummer for The Rolling Stones, has died at age 80 in a London hospital just weeks after emergency heart surgery forced him to pull out of the band’s U.S. tour, No Filter, reports The U.S. Sun.

His publicist said in a statement: “It is with immense sadness that we announce the death of our beloved Charlie Watts. He passed away peacefully in a London hospital earlier today surrounded by his family.

“Charlie was a cherished husband, father, and grandfather; and also, as a member of The Rolling Stones, one of the greatest drummers of his generation. We kindly request that the privacy of his family, band members, and close friends is respected at this difficult time.”

Watts, regarded as one of rock’s greatest drummers, had a “successful procedure” in London after a problem was found during a routine check-up.

Doctors deemed him unfit to join the rescheduled 13-date No Filter tour which starts in September; and prescribed him weeks of “rest and recuperation”, The Sun revealed.

Watts joked at the time: “For once, my timing has been a little off.”

He added: “I am working hard to get fully fit but I have today accepted on the advice of the experts that this will take a while.

“After all the disappointment with delays to the tour caused by Covid, I really don’t want the many Stones fans in the States who have been holding tickets to have another postponement or cancellation.”

The Stones aimed to have him back fighting fit for the band’s big 60th anniversary celebrations in 2022, when they will release their first album of ­original songs in 17 years.

But sadly Watts died before he could rejoin his bandmates, his London publicist Bernard Doherty confirmed on August 24.

Alongside frontman Sir Mick Jagger and guitarist Keith Richards, Watts was among the longest-standing members of the Stones, which has seen a shifting line-up of musicians including Mick Taylor, Ronnie Wood and Bill Wyman.

Session and touring musician Steve Jordan was previously announced as Watts’ temporary replacement on drums. Sir Mick welcomed Jordan, who will join the band when the tour starts in St Louis on September 26, with dates also scheduled for Pittsburgh, Nashville, Minneapolis, Dallas, and more.

Research contact: @TheSun

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