Charlie Watts, one year after his death: what the Rolling Stones did this time without him

The rolling stones continues against all odds and what seemed to be a somewhat premature end of the band after the death of Charlie Watts, which occurred on August 24 of last year, it was almost a selling point for the Sixty Tour, just ended in Europe, Mick Jagger (79), Keith Richards (78), Ron Wood (75) and company .

It could be the last, even if his closing concert in Berlin didn’t give that feeling, but Jeven agger did not say goodbye with a see you soon.

The band sounded great, the work of Watts’ replacement Steve Jordan is simply flawless, but it’s clear the Rolling Stones are still dealing with the loss of their legendary and unflappable drummer.

party and sadness

It was a tour that celebrated the group’s sixty years, but with a strong shadow of sadness. It doesn’t seem easy to deal with that absence so particular on stage, especially at the end of the shows. They no longer have to wait for Charlie Watts to finish arranging his wands and come off his stage to hug each other in the final bow. The stone age weighs on at this hour.

The Sixty Tour started on June 1st and ended on August 3rd with 14 shows in twelve countries and a sale of 750,000 tickets. They have performed again in Madrid, Berlin, Liverpool, Milan, Hyde Park, London (twice), Amsterdam, Brussels, Lyon, Paris, Gelsenkirchen, Stockholm and Berlin.

As a prologue to each concert, an excellent video by Charlie Watts recalled his time in the band and then came the show with a comfortable opening like Street fighting man and close with Satisfaction. Something like the Stones in their utmost purity and with a pearl in their repertoire taken by time like out of timefrom his wonderful album consequences (1966).

Besides Jagger, Richard and Wood are Daryl Jones down, Steve Giordano battery operated, Chuck Leavel to keyboards and choir, Matt Clifford on keyboards and horn, Tim Pries and Karl Denson on saxophones and Sasha Allen and Bernard Fowler in the choirs

a bit of history

The decision was unanimous; both Charlie Watts and the Rolling Stones have decided that drummer Steve Jordan should be his replacement for missed concerts on No Filter’s unsuccessful tour, which began on September 9, 2017 and which suspended some dates due to Mick Jagger’s heart operation, in April 2019, and then the arrival of the 2020 pandemic.

The announcement was made on August 5, 2021 he did not suppose the sad outcome with Watts’ death, on 24 August of the same year. The uncertainty and pain of the first moments were absolute. The Stones were not even able to attend the funeral of their old traveling companion due to pandemic restrictions.

They decided to go ahead and on September 20, 2021, at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, the Rolling Stones performed for the first time since January 1963 without Watts on drums.

A heartfelt tribute with pictures and a heartfelt speech by Jagger They remembered their deceased friend. A show that was dominated by an evident farewell atmosphere and which left doubts about the possible dissolution of the band. Five days later, the last leg of the tour began at The Dome At America’s Center in Saint Louis, Missouri.

It is known that the Stones always remained reluctant to change; Ron Wood, andlast to join the band, he is already 47 years old in the group and Daryl Jones replaced Bill Wyman 29 years ago. Now, can the Stones emotionally overcome the loss of Watts?