Well then, just QUIT the band already.

[Heel n Toe]

Charlie Watts Blasts Beatles and Elvis

What's up with the Rolling Stones? As they fast approach the anniversary of their half century of playing together, guitarist Keith Richards recently hopped on the wagon after decades of pummeling his body and now drummer Charlie Watts has told an Austrian newspaper that he's always hated the music of Elvis Presley and 60s rival the Beatles.



The drummer, who is currently playing a series of concerts in Austria with blues-jazz ensemble The ABC&D of Boogie Woogie (named after the musicians in the band - pianists Axel Zwingenberger and Ben Waters, drummer Charlie Watts and bassist Dave Green), said, "I've never been a big Beatles fan.

"Of Ringo, yes, but not of the music. And I've always hated Elvis. He was the last one I wanted to use as a guide. Miles Davis and Fats Domino, yes, but Elvis, no."

The legendarily non-plussed Watts also said the he wouldn't be bothered if the Stones stopped rolling. "Honestly, I couldn't care less if it were over."

He added, "Jazz is my passion. This is the music that I really want to do. The Stones are merely an annoying pastime."

However, the Austrian tour's promoter, Willi Turk, was adamant that the Rolling Stones would be back in action soon.

He said, "The ABC & D concerts are only possible because the Stones are just taking a break. But when Mick Jagger calls, Charlie is ready. "

Charlie Watts Blasts Beatles and Elvis - Spinner

[herr_oberst]

That's old news. CW has always been a jazz drummer at heart. (And he is really eccentric, doesn't drive, for instance, but has a huge car collection, and he dresses in custom suits and just sits in the drivers seat ) Just Charlie!

But I like him!

[GH85Carrera]

If you have his sort of money you are eccentric. If he had just an average amount money he would be called crazy.

[Langers]

Old news.

[m21sniper]

The Stones have sucked balls for so long i can barely blame him for calling their music annoying.

[arcsine]

Best Watts story I have heard went something like this:

After a show, the band goes back to the hotel and some hit the bar to keep the party going. Charlie, has long since gone to bed yet Mick is drunkenly blabbering about Watts and asking "Where is my drummer? Where is my f*cking drummer?". Mick decides to rouse Watts so calls him and wakes him up. Watts get dressed in full tailored suit, goes down to the bar, finds Mick and smacks him in the mouth. As Mick is picking himself off the floor Watts clarifies things by saying "I'm not your f*cking drummer. You're MY singer!" and heads back to bed.

Not sure if it is true, but really want it to be. And all the drummers I know think of Watts as a demi-god. I can well imagine he would be annoyed with the Stones music.

[Tobra]

I always liked Charlie Watts, this is old news though, he's a jazz guy.

[pete3799]

Can't fault him on the Elvis thing.
I never much cared for him either.

[msk1986911]

At the risk of being a heretic, I never saw much in Charlie's Watt's drumming; what am I missing?

[javadog]

Originally Posted by msk1986911

At the risk of being a heretic, I never saw much in Charlie's Watt's drumming; what am I missing?

+1. I have played drums off and on my whole life and he wouldn't even make my top 100.

JR

[Oh Haha]

His timing is impeccable. Seriously, he's like a freakin' human metronome.

That being said,I'm not a fan of his drumming in The Stones. Lackluster, at the very best.

I don't care for Ringo, either.

[Crowbob]

Watts nor Ringo are noteworthy drummers. They are drummers in noteworthy bands.

[Rick Lee]

He's a phenomonal drummer. I got to watch him do a sound check on the Steel Wheels tour from a few feet away. Just amazing. And co-incidentally, the first time I ever heard his jazz band was on the car radio while driving through Austria.

[azasadny]

I met Charlie Watts at a NAMM show back in '80. He was very nice and a "regular" guy...

[Looking_for_911]

Originally Posted by Crowbob

Watts nor Ringo are noteworthy drummers. They are drummers in noteworthy bands.

Ringo has just always been cool.... and had the good sense to be in the right place at the right time and not complain about the working conditions.
A friend of mine was in the Jamaica or the Bahamas or some danged island once several years ago playing roulette in a casino/club and he looked down the table and thought, "Man, that guy looks just like...." Well, he finally let the curiosity get the better of him and when he checked it out it was Ringo. He thought he'd just met God. Said he was very personable and quite friendly for a living legend.

[teenerted1]

this is all i have to say about drummers
YouTube - Rush-Neil Pert drum solo LIVE!

[stomachmonkey]

Neil was "better" when he did not know how to drum properly. More of a Keith Moon type of drummer. Not a lot of substance between the flash.

Trying to find the right words but his drumming always felt disjointed, like little bits of stuff that he'd string together rather than a complete piece.

Back in the 90's he relearned how to play and now is overall a much better drummer but the general masses will miss it completely and will say he has become boring.

Same thing happened with Elton John. Technically he sang "wrong". Around the 90's he took vocal lessons and learned how to sing properly. But the result was he lost some of what made him unique.

I guess my point is that style and technical prowess are sometimes at odds.

[Dottore]

Originally Posted by arcsine

Best Watts story I have heard went something like this:

After a show, the band goes back to the hotel and some hit the bar to keep the party going. Charlie, has long since gone to bed yet Mick is drunkenly blabbering about Watts and asking "Where is my drummer? Where is my f*cking drummer?". Mick decides to rouse Watts so calls him and wakes him up. Watts get dressed in full tailored suit, goes down to the bar, finds Mick and smacks him in the mouth. As Mick is picking himself off the floor Watts clarifies things by saying "I'm not your f*cking drummer. You're MY singer!" and heads back to bed.

.

Great story. But I don't think Charlie would paste anyone—let alone Mick. Not that kind of guy.

[Oh Haha]

SM--that is EXACTLY what I have thought about Mr. Peart for a while now. I figured I was the only one that sensed a change in his playing.

He has certainly had somepersonal issues that just had to have some effect on his mentality.

[Rick Lee]

I've also gotten to see Neil do a soundcheck from a few feet away, been to a good 50 Rush shows and used to play in a Rush tribute band. He is as good as they get, whether you like that kind of music or not.

Here he doing something a little different.

YouTube - NEIL PEART - Cotton Tail (Studio Performance Live) HQ