There is a 1993 interview of Charlie Watts on the American talk show called ‘Later’ in which he is sitting in an impeccable suit and talking with his hands squeezed beneath his legs. The host Bob Costas asks about it and Charlie replies, “I don’t know what to do with them, if I am not drumming, I become fidgety and perhaps nervous and start touching my face all the time, especially in an interview…so my wife told me to use this strategy.” That pretty much defines late Charlie Watts, the drummer of The Rolling Stones. He was a reluctant rock star. Instead, he was just a man doing his job of being a drummer in the world’s greatest and biggest rock and roll band. And what a job he did.

Drumming is an integral part of Jazz because the genre plays a lot with various kinds of timings. And it doesn’t scream and shout, but just plays along with the shifting melodies and is an equal part of the full package. Charlie Watts got into jazz at an early age, listening to the 78 rpm records of Jelly Roll Morton, Charlie Parker and Thelonious Monk. When he turned 14, his parents got him a drum kit and he would practise endlessly with these records. And that gave him his sound. Later he joined the Alexis Korners band, Blues Incorporated, as the drummer and that’s when Brian Jones, the founder of (Rolling) Stones spotted him and convinced him to join the newly formed band and rest, as they say, is history. Charlie Watts brought in the jazz sensibility to the band.

Now, what did that jazz sensibility do to the music of the band? It made it the biggest band in the world. How? Well, it gave a certain foot-tapping quality to their music. It doesn’t matter, whether you are a Stones fan or not, but the moment their music plays, there is a something in your system that makes your feet tap to the rhythm. And that universal quality that came via jazz fundamentals made the band so popular. Just try listening to songs like 19^th Nervous Breakdown, Start Me Up, Under My Thumb, Let It Bleed and pay attention to the drums. Keith’s guitar riffs are brilliant, and Mick’s vocals are screaming for attention, but if you listen carefully, you will realize that it’s the drums that keep you going back to the band. Charlie Watts was the magic behind tying The Rolling Stones together.

Now coming back to the reluctant part. He always remained the quintessential gentleman in the world’s wildest band. No late nights, faithful to one partner all his life, never going beyond a drink or two, always maintained that he is most comfortable at his home. Well, in between he did get into drugs, but soon got out of it on the request of none other than Keith Richards himself.

In his rare interviews, he always maintained that he is just another regular guy trying to do his job well. He continued to love jazz and formed Charlie Watts Quintet in 1991 to pay tribute to his hero Charlie Parker, along with an illustrated book on the great saxophonist 'Ode to a High-Flying Bird'. Watts did start his career as an illustrator in an advertising agency.

Once he said, with the typical English humour, “I made a career out of watching Mick Jaggers ass”. Well, I can say that had the good fortune of watching him do that when they performed at Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai in 2003. He was so nonchalant, just gracefully drumming away. The Party ended with an encore of Jumpin’ Jack Flash and next time you hear it, just pay attention to the drumming. You will bless Charlie Watts for being the drummer of The Rolling Stones. Travel well good sir and thank you for the beats.

By Meraj Hasan

Meraj Hasan is a Mumbai based communication professional (and an amateur poet/musician) with a passion for listening to music the vinyl way. His 32-year-old Technics turntable along with a humble collection of LPs across genres like Classic rock, Classical, Blues and Jazz (amongst others) are his prized possessions. He's also the author of the book 'Khyaalon ki Tapri', a collection of poems. This bestseller book is available on Amazon.  

He can be reached at +91 9833410791 or email: meraj.hasan@gmail.com