Photographing Charlie Watts Charlie was a real English Gentleman who brought class to the Rolling Stones as the adult in the gang. And he gave them a solid foundation to play on! As fast as rock and roll can be, Charlie made it look easy and didn’t break a sweat. You can’t make any drummer jokes about Charlie. He was above it all. Many people probably don’t know about his first love—jazz music. I saw Charlie playing the saxophone with his jazz band during the Stones solo-album years in the 1980s. Charlie Watts is the definition of “Cool.” Charlie Watts at the Blue Note, New York City, June 3, 1991. Watts onstage at Madison Square Garden, July 24, 1972. Watts walking out of Trax, New York City, September 23, 1977. The Charlie Watts Orchestra on stage at the Ritz, New York City, December 1986. Keith Richards and Watts backstage during […]

October 2021 Issue