Rolling Stones speak out as Charlie Watts quits tour after surgery: ‘We’ll miss him’

The Rolling Stones will miss Charlie Watts (r) on tour (Picture: Getty Images)

Rolling Stones have showered drummer Charlie Watts with support as he recovers from surgery. 

Watts, 80, was forced to pull out of the band’s upcoming US tour after undergoing a medical procedure. 

His spokesperson confirmed that the surgery was a ‘complete success’ but that Watts would need time for rest and recuperation, so wouldn’t be able to join his bandmates in rehearsals in the coming weeks. 

Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood have now spoken out about the news and can’t wait to welcome Watts back to the stage. 

Wood, 74, told The Mirror: ‘I will miss Charlie on our upcoming tour, but he told me the show must go on.

‘I’m really looking forward to Charlie getting back on stage with us as soon as he’s fully recovered. A huge thank you to the band’s old friend Steve Jordan for rockin’ on in ­Charlie’s place.’ 

Richards, 77, also said: ‘This has been a bit of a blow to all of us, to say the least, and we’re all wishing for Charlie to have a speedy recovery.’ 

Watts is recovering after an unspecified medical procedure (Picture: Getty Images)

Jagger, 78, added that they are looking forward to Watts’ return ‘as soon as he is fully ­recovered’. 

Watts will be replaced by session drummer Steve Jordan, who said it was ‘an absolute honour and a privilege to be Charlie’s understudy’. 

In his statement, Watts quipped: ‘For once my timing has been a little off.

‘I am working hard to get fully fit but I have today accepted on the advice of the experts that this will take a while.

‘After all the fans’ suffering caused by Covid I really do not want the many RS fans who have been holding tickets for this tour to be disappointed by another postponement or cancellation.’ 

More: Mick Jagger

It was not confirmed what medical procedure Watts underwent.

The North American leg of the Rolling Stones’ No Filter tour had been rescheduled from 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and is set to kick off in St Louis, Missouri, on September 26.

Got a story?

If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.

MORE : Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts pulls out of US tour dates after undergoing medical procedure

MORE : Love Island 2021: Kaz Kamwi’s family thank fans for ‘love and support’ after ‘vulgar racist abuse’