The wife just texted me, on my way home, and I found myself all of a wobble. Shocked: despite the tour without him through what was clearly more than said at the time. No Stones without Charlie was then and remains my view, but I guess it all boils down to insurance.
Always thought of him as a local Lewes lad, down to the years he spent living there, in the 1970s.
R.I.P.
I always loved that little smirk of his which seemed to express a thought along the lines of ‘this is all ridiculous isn’t it? How do we get away with it?’ Loved his laconic style and effortless cool. He was also something of an expert on the US Civil War apparently. His drumming style was unique. Probably down to the fact that, as we know, jazz was his first love. The Stones aren’t really the Stones now. They can survive Wyman leaving. They clearly even survived Brian’s sad departure. But this is surely the end?
A great musician in his own right but sadly will be remembered as “the Stones drummer” by many.
The band should call it quits now but I suspect that while there are bucks to be made, they’ll keep going.
They’d already replaced him for some US dates, so I guess it all depends upon how they go and whether Keith wants to go on, as I suspect Mick would keep going, as you say, whilst ever there is money to be made.
I’m a little taken aback by this sad news, as I just presumed the Stones would go on forever.
Nothing lasts forever. Apparently the contract they have requires only Mick and Keith for a tour to go ahead. But they really should stop, I doubt they will though.
Smart drummers use both, switching from matched grip to military grip and back (or vice versa) as the music dictates. Sometimes in the course of a single song.
How sad. His rhythms have run through most of my life. I always thought that a couple of lines from Dylan’s ‘Hurricane’ were relevant to Charlie’s life; ‘ It’s my work’ he’d say ‘and I do it for pay. And when it’s over, I’d just as soon go on my way.’
I’m not sure what all the fuss is about! I’ve just seen the order of play on the BBC evening news and apparently this is not as noteworthy as the fact that MacDonalds has run out of milkshake!
When I saw them play last 3 years ago he was really struggling on some of the faster songs.
Keith was equally not really doing anything.
Basically Mick & Ronnie are doing the work live along with the no name sidemen. I would bet anything they carry on…even if they shouldn’t really. Maybe there’s only 1 more big tour in them anyway
A little surprised about the presumed mercenary attitude people believe Mick and Keith will take in response to this. From the Express site, we have Mick and Keith’s ‘heartbreaking’ posts welcoming Charlie back into the band just a couple of days ago:
Mick: “We really look forward to welcoming Charlie back as soon as he is fully recovered. Thank you to our friend Steve Jordan for stepping in, so we can still play all the shows for you this fall.”
Keith: “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 and to see him as soon as possible. Thank you to Steve Jordan for joining us in the meantime.”
Moving words that have taken on extra poignancy following today’s news.
Presumably written by the same publicist who wrote that tin-eared ‘For once my timing is a little off!’ statement a couple of weeks ago, which it’s hard to imagine Charlie even saw let alone read, and gave warning signs that he was even more ill than was being let on.
One way of explaining how important he was musically and personally, from the obituary in Rolling Stone: ‘The Charlie mystique is all there in his five-second drum intro from “Let It Bleed.” It’s one of the Stones’ best tunes, yet it’s nothing but the band listening to Charlie play. Mick just tries to keep up with him, while the guitars try to keep up with Mick, but Charlie is the guy everybody else is working hard to impress. He made the Stones great by conceding nothing to them.’
I remember being shocked by Ginger Baker’s death, and the realisation that he died not of drugs (although years of abuse didnt help), but of being old – you know – like normal people do. The war-babies of the 40’s who helped revolutionise music in the 60’s will begin to drop of the perch at an increasing rate as they hit their 80’s. It’s all very sobering and depressing. Old age does indeed suck.
* Puts hand up and waves vigorously”. Sir, Sir I have a question. if Charlie was so dismissive of all the Stones carry on, how come CW was so involved in so much of the the staging which, presumably included things like the inflatable penis?
Well, he wasn’t totally dismissive. Just gave off a serious, let me get down to business, manner. He would wear Stones tour jackets and he loved his time on stage, hated all other aspects of touring though.
He always got the biggest cheers and chants (“Charlie, Charlie …”)when Mick introduced the band and would come to the front of the stage almost shyly to acknowledge the applause. Think he and Mick were the best friends within the band too.
Didn’t Heppo say that *he* said that but attributed it to him in order to get something, anything, quotable because he was only getting shrugs and one word answers?
Very, very sad news.
This wasn’t here when I just posted! It is very, very sad news.
Everyone Dies Twice On The Afterword
… apart from Gerry Rafferty.
Won’t be many that hit Afterword parishioners harder than this.
“Charlie’s good tonight, isn’t he”.
And pretty much every night.
The wife just texted me, on my way home, and I found myself all of a wobble. Shocked: despite the tour without him through what was clearly more than said at the time. No Stones without Charlie was then and remains my view, but I guess it all boils down to insurance.
Always thought of him as a local Lewes lad, down to the years he spent living there, in the 1970s.
R.I.P.
This: “No Stones without Charlie…”
Very sad news – RIP, Charlie…
Afterword T-shirt, if ever there was one, right there.
End of an era.
I always loved that little smirk of his which seemed to express a thought along the lines of ‘this is all ridiculous isn’t it? How do we get away with it?’ Loved his laconic style and effortless cool. He was also something of an expert on the US Civil War apparently. His drumming style was unique. Probably down to the fact that, as we know, jazz was his first love. The Stones aren’t really the Stones now. They can survive Wyman leaving. They clearly even survived Brian’s sad departure. But this is surely the end?
Got to be the end of the Stones. Charlie’s singer is never anywhere near as good without him.
RIP Charlie.
Incredibly good drummer and effortlessly cool bloke.
Surely time for the Stones to knock it on the head now.
A great musician in his own right but sadly will be remembered as “the Stones drummer” by many.
The band should call it quits now but I suspect that while there are bucks to be made, they’ll keep going.
They’d already replaced him for some US dates, so I guess it all depends upon how they go and whether Keith wants to go on, as I suspect Mick would keep going, as you say, whilst ever there is money to be made.
I’m a little taken aback by this sad news, as I just presumed the Stones would go on forever.
Nothing lasts forever. Apparently the contract they have requires only Mick and Keith for a tour to go ahead. But they really should stop, I doubt they will though.
Perhaps he left some wishes as to what he would like the band to do after his passing?
I also loved he fact that he used the military grip like ‘proper’ drummers should. God knows how he got the volume. But he did.
Smart drummers use both, switching from matched grip to military grip and back (or vice versa) as the music dictates. Sometimes in the course of a single song.
How sad. His rhythms have run through most of my life. I always thought that a couple of lines from Dylan’s ‘Hurricane’ were relevant to Charlie’s life; ‘ It’s my work’ he’d say ‘and I do it for pay. And when it’s over, I’d just as soon go on my way.’
I’m not sure what all the fuss is about! I’ve just seen the order of play on the BBC evening news and apparently this is not as noteworthy as the fact that MacDonalds has run out of milkshake!
Very sad news. This was the first place I thought of coming to for consolatory thoughts.
Very sad news indeed. I for one had to have a medium coke instead of a Chocolate milkshake.
*Rolling Stones fans, I apologise. Charlie was cool.
Such sad news.
RIP – I loved his Gromit-like contribution to this little sketch done for the Monty Python shows.
Ace! I’d not seen that before; Charlie floats through it like a thin line of amused reason.
When I saw them play last 3 years ago he was really struggling on some of the faster songs.
Keith was equally not really doing anything.
Basically Mick & Ronnie are doing the work live along with the no name sidemen. I would bet anything they carry on…even if they shouldn’t really. Maybe there’s only 1 more big tour in them anyway
God bless him. An utterly essential part of what made the Stones great and an ineffably cool counterpoint to the strutting peacocks in front of him.
Priceless exchange of chuckles at about 2:25 between Charlie and Bill.
A little surprised about the presumed mercenary attitude people believe Mick and Keith will take in response to this. From the Express site, we have Mick and Keith’s ‘heartbreaking’ posts welcoming Charlie back into the band just a couple of days ago:
Mick: “We really look forward to welcoming Charlie back as soon as he is fully recovered. Thank you to our friend Steve Jordan for stepping in, so we can still play all the shows for you this fall.”
Keith: “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 and to see him as soon as possible. Thank you to Steve Jordan for joining us in the meantime.”
Moving words that have taken on extra poignancy following today’s news.
Presumably written by the same publicist who wrote that tin-eared ‘For once my timing is a little off!’ statement a couple of weeks ago, which it’s hard to imagine Charlie even saw let alone read, and gave warning signs that he was even more ill than was being let on.
One way of explaining how important he was musically and personally, from the obituary in Rolling Stone: ‘The Charlie mystique is all there in his five-second drum intro from “Let It Bleed.” It’s one of the Stones’ best tunes, yet it’s nothing but the band listening to Charlie play. Mick just tries to keep up with him, while the guitars try to keep up with Mick, but Charlie is the guy everybody else is working hard to impress. He made the Stones great by conceding nothing to them.’
15 comments and 26 comments for these duelling threads. Can the mods “merge files” ?
I remember being shocked by Ginger Baker’s death, and the realisation that he died not of drugs (although years of abuse didnt help), but of being old – you know – like normal people do. The war-babies of the 40’s who helped revolutionise music in the 60’s will begin to drop of the perch at an increasing rate as they hit their 80’s. It’s all very sobering and depressing. Old age does indeed suck.
Right In The Guts. Thanks Charlie!
Another member of the 80 Club – it’s a bit of a worry.
* Puts hand up and waves vigorously”. Sir, Sir I have a question. if Charlie was so dismissive of all the Stones carry on, how come CW was so involved in so much of the the staging which, presumably included things like the inflatable penis?
Well, he wasn’t totally dismissive. Just gave off a serious, let me get down to business, manner. He would wear Stones tour jackets and he loved his time on stage, hated all other aspects of touring though.
He always got the biggest cheers and chants (“Charlie, Charlie …”)when Mick introduced the band and would come to the front of the stage almost shyly to acknowledge the applause. Think he and Mick were the best friends within the band too.
As the man said himself, ‘5 years of playing and 20 years of hanging around’.
Didn’t Heppo say that *he* said that but attributed it to him in order to get something, anything, quotable because he was only getting shrugs and one word answers?