CHARLIE WATTS is an institution. For 50 years, this self-taught, jazz, blues, and big-band enthusiast has been the heartbeat of the legendary Rolling Stones. While it's Mick & Keith who generate the bulk of attention and whip the masses into mayhem with their posturing and headline-grabbing decadent behavior, Charlie chooses to ignore pages from The Art of Building Spectacle playbook. The classy, super chill, sharp-dressed gentleman, groovy cat isn't a role for Charlie; it's a genuine approach for life.
Forever humble, Charlie at once operates at the Parthenon of rock n' roll, while simultaneously urning for a simpler life, devoid of the chaos that comes with playing the world's largest stages every show, every tour. Introduced at the early age of 10 to jazz & blues legends such as Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, and John Coltrane, Charlie cultivated an appreciation of swinging music that nourishes the soul on an elevated, communal level. Much of the foundation of his current playing style was modeled after the London jazz-club gigs he attended, and was inspired by, in his youth. When not drumming for the world's most iconic rock n' roll band, Charlie pursues passion-projects (such as sitting in on jazz ensembles), breeding horses with his wife, and living the life of an old-soul, throw-back artist. How many drummers keep a collection of hand drawn sketches of every hotel room they've ever stayed in while touring? Imagine the Stones had Charlie not decided to leave his graphic designer position at that ad agency a half century ago. One thing's for certain: Charlie would be creating acts-of-love art on some level...and probably experience an equal level of contentment, if not riches & spoils.
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