A new authorised biography of The Rolling Stones’ late drummer Charlie Watts is on the way. According to reports, the biography has the full support of Watts’ family. Prolific journalist Paul Sexton is writing the book, which is set for release on Tuesday, 11th October.
The title of the book is Charlie’s Good Tonight: The Life, the Times, and the Rolling Stones: The Authorised Biography of Charlie Watts. The late drummer’s bandmates, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, have both written forewords for the book.
Charlie Watts was “the heart” of the Rolling Stones
— The Rolling Stones (@RollingStones) August 27, 2021
According to publishers HarperCollins, the book aims to encompass the entirety of Watts’ life. It sheds light on his time as a young musician and the process of being “headhunted by [the Rolling Stones] band after bumping into them regularly in London’s rhythm and blues clubs”. What follows is 60 years’ worth of never missing a “gig, album or tour” as Watts proved his worth as the “heart” of the band.
The book description explains, “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 is his story.”
Watts passed away in August 2021 at the age of 80, having revealed just weeks earlier he would be sitting out part of the band’s No Filter tour due to heart surgery. The Rolling Stones have since returned to the stage, with Steve Jordan (also a member of Richards’ X-Pensive Winos side-project) sitting in on drums.
Further Reading
Nick Cave Recalls First Meeting With Charlie Watts Whilst Wearing A “Child’s Size” Tracksuit
The Rolling Stones Detail Multi-Part Documentary For 60th Anniversary
Rolling Stones Postpone Tour After Mick Jagger Tests Positive For COVID
