A Stone Like a Rock

Charlie Watts, the Rolling Stones' drummer, always stood out among his bandmates by blending in the background.  Watts, who died last week at the age of 80, was not the sort of rock and roll musician to partake in hedonism or play the role of a bad boy. He was a professional who showed up for sessions and concerts and provided the precise, steady backbeat propelling the Stones' greatest records . . . as well as records they did that were not so great.  Even slight Stones song such as "Emotional Rescue" or "You Got Me Rocking" crackle with bit because of Watts reliable backing.

A quiet and reserved Everyman in appearance, Watts was the same way on record.  He didn't aim for heroic solos like Carl Palmer, nor did he try to overwhelm everyone else in his ban the way Keith Moon did in the Who (though Moon's style of playing made him an indispensable legend in his own right).  He kept time and kept everyone on time doing it.  He provided the shotgun beat for Mick Jagger to dance over while singing to the guitar riffs provided by Keith Richards and a succession of additional guitarists - Brian Jones to Mick Taylor to Ron Wood - supported by that same drumming precision, with a seductive bass style from Bill Wyman for good measure..  Watts would later adapt his beat to the bass stylings of Darryl Jones, who replaced Wyman in a sideman capacity, showing just how, in the group's rhythm section, he carried more than his fair share of the backing - but never failed to deliver.

Now that Watts has died, the Rolling Stones seem less likely to continue for much longer, if at all.  What's really depressing is that when the Stones are gone, rock and roll itself - which has had a rough time in the past twenty years providing new blood while hip-hop continues to flourish more than rock ever seemed to - may follow them into history,  Nothing lasts forever - expect the Stones' records, of course.  And Charlie Watts is a big reason for that. RIP.