Wow, I didn't know he was a graphic artist!
Charlie Watts
Drummer: Charles Robert Watts
Style: Rock
Main Bands: Rolling Stones
Brief Summary: After attending the University of Westminster as a graphic art student, Watts joined Alexis Korner’s Blues Incorporated in 1961 while traveling back and forth from Denmark as a graphic artist. He later met Brian Jones, Ian Stewart, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards in 1962 but didn’t join the Rolling Stones until January 1963.
Other Facts: Watt’s is an accomplished graphic artist and is said to have sketched every hotel room he stayed in while on tour with the Rolling Stones. In July 2006, Watts was inducted into the Modern Drummer Hall of Fame with Ringo Starr, Keith Moon, Steve Gadd, Buddy Rich and other famous drummers.
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Last edited by late8; 09-01-2011 at 03:05 PM.
Wow, I didn't know he was a graphic artist!
Yeah he was. Plus I think he also had an apprenticeship with a tailor in Saville Row. And here's a lil' trivia....in London at that time, Charlie Watts' house was just up the road from where Mum and Dad were living, way before the days of the Rolling Stones. I think they were six doors away or something, because Mum will tell me about all the arguements and fights that used to be heard all the way down the street, lol.
"...it's the Paradigm Of The Cosmos!" Stewart Copeland on Youtube
668: The Number Of The Guy Next Door To The Beast.
"A random act of kindness; it keeps my heart in shape!" - Late8
Very relaxed drummer,love the Stones
One of my all time drum heros. Just so laid back and un-rock star-ish, while being the back bone of arguably the greatest rock n roll band ever!
all the best...
Best dressed drummer on the planet. Loves ya Charlie!
"...it's the Paradigm Of The Cosmos!" Stewart Copeland on Youtube
668: The Number Of The Guy Next Door To The Beast.
"A random act of kindness; it keeps my heart in shape!" - Late8
Love his style, it really works for him. One of the drummers I played along to the most.
ZildjianLeague/LP/Aquarian/Mapex/Pearl
Snares: 4
RIP- Frank, Wolvie, Les Paul
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DrumBum
No metronome?
The Rudiments
classic druimmer; love the way he misses the 4th on the HH; it's his signature and i think it sounds great. Honky Tonk Woman is my favourite Stones track to play.
If you are going through hell...keep going!
missing the 4th on the HH was taught him by Jim Keltner...a recording trick so you can hear the snare clearer on mic. its fun to fool around with that little trick, while drumming. it screws me up sometimes, but once you get it going its kinda fun.
i love charlie, a great groove drummer to play along to. he's also such a soft spoken, genuine, modest guy in interviews....a really cool cat.
Fine recording group but live they're terrible! Saw them on the first tour here before their fame came around and they were boo'ed mightly at the old New Haven Arena. They were playing Chuck Berry's music and it was horrible the drummer was playing it straight and the only musician I heard was the bassists who was solid and had a heavy bass sound. The drummer has played the same 2 beats in every song altering them slightly. The most boring welknown drummer ever, I know hes a great guy and is stuck working in a very loose rythmn section but hes not a great drummer by any means and hes barely good. He happens to fit what the group does about 50% of the time and theres no way he fits into any other group where the drummer comes out of the pocket. Can you imagine that guy playing with Jimi Hendrix or the Beatles?? A stiffer drummer I've never seen!!! Zero swing in his playing and totally one dimentional. No offense to the gentlman and hes certainly made a mark in the recording industry but hes not a talented player, hes a controled pocket guy who is limited in options as to methods and techniques.
Doc.
Always love his style and sound of his drums. Charlie is one of the best out there and for his age he still plays mean drums.
Ha, I think you may be goading us. Stiff, sure, he's no stick twirler (thank god for that).
Umm, Charlie has had a jazz/orchestral band in his off time with the Stones, for years. He started in jazz before the Stones. I think he knows "swing" and how to swing. Check in at the 5 min mark.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lg1uo...eature=related
Your kidding right? Anyone can play what he played just because a person becomes famous doesn't mean their talents are at a high level.
hes close to dropping a beat when he tries to hit the down on the cymbal to the far right. He recovers because its the same thing hes done for 45 years.
Why can't someone have a different opinion then the general group? I'm not saying the guys a child molestor I'm stating hes an ordinary drummer with limited skills and he doesn't swing from within. He can have big bands because hes a millionaire hahahaha!!! Not sure if McCoy Tinner or Herbie Han**** has called on him for sessions or tours yet, ya think? I saw him play live 3 times and they were about 10 years apart, I thought they sounded like a kids garage band and other than Jagger using Tina Turners act they had no appeal to me. I'm not implying anyone should feel as I do, if someone likes them and him alot thats fine. I'm just stating my opinion based on what I've seen and heard. I like alot of the bands songs but their playing live isn't good to me. I've been a full time player for 50 years, I have a pretty good repitiore and people who know me personally respect my opinions. I'm NOT saying anyone has to but I am entitled to mine as you are to yours. Fare! Doc
Charlie was on this too.....
"...it's the Paradigm Of The Cosmos!" Stewart Copeland on Youtube
668: The Number Of The Guy Next Door To The Beast.
"A random act of kindness; it keeps my heart in shape!" - Late8
Everyone is entitled to an opinion.
I don't think that Charlie's playing will ever be mistaken for Buddy's Neil's or Vinnie's, but I think that is missing the point. A drummer has to "play for the song" and Mr Watts does that time and time again. His loose style fits Mick and Keith's writing. Estimated sales of Rolling Stones albums is over two hundred million. I've been a fan since I was a kid and I appreciate what he does.
-Mike
"We don't stop playing because we grow old.
We grow old because we stop playing."
"I wish that my playing reminded people of Steve Gadd. But they seem to confuse me with his little known cousin... E."
"Snare drums happen."
I'm also a non Charlie Watts fan. My opinion, he was in the right place at the right time.
Last edited by NPYYZ; 06-04-2012 at 06:51 AM.
Charlie Watts is certainly a pocket player, but can you really imagine something better for most of the Stones' songs?
I'd certainly take his money and fame, I don't think I could have lasted a quarter of the time he has with a band like the Stones though. I'd go crazy playing that simplistically all the time. Still there's something to be said for his longevity, He's a legend for sure. Just not my thing.
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