Rolling Stones’ Charlie Watts, iconic drummer who kept his band in line

Charlie Watts has died, aged 80 (Picture: AP)

The Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts was often at odds with his flamboyant band, but quickly established himself as the quiet, considered and skilful force that kept his group in time.

The drummer, who has died aged 80, was known for his sophisticated and inventive playing on classic tracks including Satisfaction, Gimme Shelter and Brown Sugar, alongside bandmates Sir Mick Jagger, Ronnie Wood and Keith Richards.

However, he was also known for his deadpan wit, understated conversational style, love of tailored suits and passion with jazz music.

Charles Robert Watts was born on June 2 1941 and grew up in Wembley, north West London.

Watts attended Tyler Croft Secondary Modern School from 1952 to 1956 and as a schoolboy enjoyed art, cricket and football.

His parents, Charles and Lillian Watts, gave him his first drum kit in 1955, allowing him to play along to his favourite jazz records, which included those by Duke Ellington and Charlie Parker.

Charlie made a name for himself as part of the Rolling Stones (Picture: PA)

By the age of 16, he was drumming in jazz groups and a regular on the London club scene, which was then focused on the parallel worlds of jazz and blues rock.

Alexis Korner, sometimes referred to as ‘the founding father of British blues’, invited Watts to join his band Blues Incorporated, which featured a number of future stars.

It was then that he met Sir Mick Jagger, who would guest as a vocalist occasionally, with the star lacking a regular drummer for his own group consisting of himself, Keith Richards and Brian Jones.

Watts joined the group in 1963 (Picture: Getty)

Watts initially turned down their invitation to join them to instead work as a graphic designer for an advertising agency, but eventually joined the group the following year, making his first appearance with the Rolling Stones in January, 1963, performing at the Flamingo club in London’s Soho.

However, even then he refused to give up his day job, only doing so once the band had signed to Decca Records.

The group hit the big time with some of the biggest songs in music history, and became household names around the world.

The group were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989 (Picture: PA)

In 1989 , they were inducted into the Rock on Roll Hall of Fame, with a spotlight shone on Watts’ drumming talents in 2006, when he was voted in the Modern Drummer Hall, joining a roll call of famous names including Sir Ringo Starr and Keith Moon.

He married his girlfriend, Shirley Shepherd, a sculpture student at the Royal College of Art who he met before finding fame, in 1964.

Watts is survived by wife Shirley (Picture: Getty)

The couple went on to welcome their only child, daughter Seraphina, four years after tying the knot.

In June, 2004, Watts was diagnosed with throat cancer after discovering a lump on the side of his neck.

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He battled the condition for four months, including undergoing gruelling intensive radiotherapy, before doctors finally gave him the all clear.

Speaking of his illness at the time, he shared how ‘very lucky’ he felt that they had managed to catch the cancer early.

He leaves behind his wife Shirley, daughter Seraphina and granddaughter Charlotte.

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