In The 1970s Rolling Stones

update August 2021

Charles Robert Watts (born 2 June 1941 - 24 August 2021) was an English drummer, best known as a member of the Rolling Stones since 1963. Originally trained as a graphic artist, he started playing drums in London's rhythm and blues clubs, where he met Brian Jones, Mick Jagger, and Keith Richards. In January 1963, he joined their fledgling group, the Rolling Stones, as drummer, while doubling as designer of their record sleeves and tour stages. Watts has been the only Rolling Stones member other than Jagger or Richards to have been featured on all of their studio albums. He cites jazz as a major influence on his drumming style. He has toured with his own group, the Charlie Watts Quintet, and appeared in London at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club with the Charlie Watts Tentet.

Watts died on 24 August 2021, aged 80.

The Rolling Stones formed back in 1962 and at the time of writing are still touring as a mega group. Brian Jones founded the group but was forced to leave in 1969 because of his drug habit that also killed him the same year. Mick Jagger was another founder member of the group and is now a "SIR". Ian Stewart died in 1985 aged only 47 and also worked with Led Zeppelin.

Kieth Richards started writing songs with Mick in 1963 and is still in the group today. Bill Wyman even had solo success in 1981 with Ju Suie Une Rock Star. Along with Charlie Watts and and Ronnie Wood the group has become bigger year after year.

The groups first UK single hit in the 1970s was Brown Sugar in 1971 from the Sticky Fingers LP and inspired by Claudia Lennear an American Soul Singer.This was followed by Tumblin Dice in 1972 a song about a cheating gambler.

1973 and the beautiful Angie became a top 5 hit and written by Jagger and Richards

 

1974 and the guys got into a large plastic bubble for Its Only Rock And Roll (But I Like It). The meaning of the lyrics was summed up by Jagger in the liner notes to the 1993 compilation Jump Back; "The idea of the song has to do with our public persona at the time. I was getting a bit tired of people having a go, all that, 'oh, it's not as good as their last one' business. The single sleeve had a picture of me with a pen digging into me as if it were a sword. It was a lighthearted, anti-journalistic sort of thing."

“

If I could stick my pen in my heart, And spill it all over the stage; Would it satisfy ya, would it slide on by ya, Would you think the boy is strange? Ain't he strange?

”

“

If I could win ya, if I could sing ya, a love song so divine, Would it be enough for your cheating heart, If I broke down and cried? If I cried? I said I know it's only rock 'n roll but I like it

”

“

Suicide right on the stage...

”

1976 and Fool To Cry hit the charts and the last top twenty hit of the 1970s was Miss You.

Respectable got to no. 23 in 1978.

Rolling Stones. Behind the scenes before concert in 1970. Film 90970

Mick Jagger Interview