Rock legend Mick Jagger has opened up about his “close” friendship with the late, great drummer of The Rolling Stones, Charlie Watts, offering fans a glimpse into the enduring bond the two music powerhouses shared.
Watts, renowned for his steady rhythm, understated style, and quiet charm, was the backbone of The Rolling Stones for over five decades. His drumming laid the foundation for countless timeless classics, while his humility and genuine demeanor made him a beloved figure both within and outside the music industry.
Sadly, Watts passed away in August 2021 at the age of 80.
Jagger recently sat down for an interview with SiriusXM, where he reflected on his friendship with his longtime bandmate.
“I knew him since I was 19, and I hung out a lot with Charlie. He was one of my close friends,” Jagger said.
“Charlie and I had a lot of interests outside of just playing in a band. We loved football and cricket. Charlie and I used to go to cricket together a lot.
“Charlie’s very knowledgeable about [football]. He used to play football when he was a kid. He was pretty good. Much better than me. Charlie loved beautiful objects. He liked antiques, he liked furniture. So we talked a lot about things like that.”
Jagger’s comments about his late friend come after the Stones announced the release of their latest album Hackney Diamonds, marking their first original, full-length release since 2005’s A Bigger Bang.
Hackney Diamonds represents a major change for the band with the album serving as their first since Watts’ passing.
Hackney Diamonds features contributions from both Elton John and the former Stones bassist Bill Wyman. There was also speculation that surviving Beatles members Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr would be featured on the album.
McCartney was later confirmed to have recorded bass parts for new Rolling Stones music in 2022 and early 2023 but Starr’s representatives quashed rumours that Starr had taken part in recording sessions.
The album’s name is a reference to both the London borough of Hackney and the old East London slang phrase that describes the shards of shattered glass left after a robbery, Hackney is also where the album was first announced.