“An affectionate portrait, one that recognizes Watts as musician, colleague, family man, obsessive collector and immaculate dresser.”—Sunday Times
“Sexton, a longtime Stones chronicler, tells Watts’s story with warmth and diligence.”—Observer
The fully authorized and official music biography of legendary Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts, one of the world’s most revered and celebrated musicians of the last half century.
Forewords by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards
Charlie Watts was one of the most decorated musicians in the world, having joined the Rolling Stones, a few months after their formation, early in 1963.
A student of jazz drumming, he was headhunted by the band after bumping into them regularly in London’s rhythm and blues clubs. Once installed at the drum seat, he didn’t miss a gig, album or tour in his 60 years in the band. He was there throughout the swinging sixties, the early shot at superstardom and the Stones' world conquest; and throughout the debauchery of the 1970s, typified by 1972's Exile on Main St., considered one of the great albums of the century. By the 1980s, Charlie was battling his own demons, but emerged unscathed to enhance his unparalleled reputation even further over the ensuing decades.
Watts went through band bust-ups, bereavements and changes in personnel, managers, guitarists and rhythm sections, but remained the rock at the heart of the Rolling Stones for nearly 60 years—the thoughtful, intellectual but no less compelling counterpoint to the raucousness of his bandmates Keith Richards, Mick Jagger and Ronnie Wood. And this official biography is his story.
This intimate and official biography reveals the man behind the beat:
- A Jazzman in a Rock Band: Discover how Charlie’s lifelong passion for jazz drumming shaped the unique rhythm of one of the world’s biggest rock and roll bands.
- The Band’s Anchor: Learn how Watts remained the steady, thoughtful counterpoint to the raucous energy of Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, and Ronnie Wood for nearly 60 years.
- Surviving the Seventies: Go behind the scenes of the band’s most infamous era, from the debauchery of 1972's Exile on Main St. to Charlie’s personal battles in the 1980s.
- Exclusive Forewords: Read intimate, firsthand accounts from his legendary bandmates, with personal forewords by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards.
Paul Sexton started writing about music as a teenager in 1977. His work has appeared in The Times (London), the Daily Telegraph, the Guardian, Billboard, and numerous other publications. He has made many documentaries and shows as a presenter and producer for BBC Radio 2, and is also the author of Prince: A Portrait of the Artist in Memories and Memorabilia. He lives in South London.
