It's Only Rock'n Roll - No. 26 - June 1996

Dear friends! Welcome to yet another issue of IORR, the magazine for the true lovers of The Rolling Stones! As there is so much to tell this time, and even Charlie is knocking on the door, I simply have to make this short. Sorry if I have kept you waiting for a letter or whatever; too busy! Please hang in there, and dont forget to write - without the fans, and your continous contributions ... no IORR... -- Bjørnulf (ed.)

Charlie Watts is around!

Sure Charlie Watts is all over these days. Virgin is doing a great job promoting his new and 4th CD album "LONG AGO & FAR AWAY".

First I stumbled across a TV station in London called GMTV, who showed Charlie visiting his favorite jazz record store with Ray Smith in London (Carnaby St. I believe). This was on Wednesday June 5. They did an interview with Charlie, saying he used to visit the store frequently, actually for decades. Also, they showed pieces of a video with Charlie and his band, including Bernard Fowler. The entire video should be out soon.

Then on Friday June 7, The Times, one of the more serious papers in UK , had a great interview on half of page 35, plus a b/w photo of Charlie. Talking about his great love for jazz music, Charlie mentions his first Charlie Parker record at age 14, and that he never ever listen to any of the Stones records once they are made. He rather fancy ballet music on Radio 3 (!).

Then at the day of the release of his album, equivalent of The Times in Norway, serious paper Aftenposten has got a review of his CD on Monday June 11 on page 36, and then most of page 53 dedicated to an interview done in London recently. Great color photo, and Charlie is really in the mood of talking. Good journalists really makes a big difference...

In the Aftenposten interview, Charlie makes reference to Gerry Mulligan, whom he loved to listen to on saxophone, and to his first record, "Walking Shoes" by Mulligan. When he heard Chico Hamilton playing drums, he decided he would become a drummer. Also, Kenny Clarke was his favorite, as he still tries to duplicate his way of playing.

Asked about The Rolling Stones, and if he still wants to play with them, and finds inspiration in it, he states, quite clearly: "The Rolling Stones has always been, and will always be my main occupation. That's my life. If any of the guys called and said we would do a job with the Stones next week, I would of course skip the Quintet", Charlie said.

Like he said in another interview recently: "I play the drums for Keith, that's what I do". Then there was this "Rolling Stone" US magazine interview out in the late May issue, out in Europe these days, another nice feature. Charlie is getting more publicity now than in 33 years!

Photo credits:

Page 1: Charlie Watts by ScanFoto, Lonon June 7, 1996. Page 4/5: Charlie Watts Quintet 1996, Virgin. Page 8: Keith in Japan, LFI/Sjøberg. Page 9/10: Ed&Adri, Amsterdam. Page 13: The Rolling Stones LFI/Sjøberg. Page 15: Mick Taylor in Finland 1996, Arto Tulima, Page 16/17: Charlie Watts, LFI/Sjøberg. Page 21: Mick at Bottom Line 1996, LFI/Sjøberg, Page 24/25: Mick, Charlie, Keith 1994, LFI/Sjøberg. Page 29: Keith, LFI/Sjøberg, Page 32: Mick and Ronnie at Mexico City, Albert Ferreira/DMI/Sjøberg,

'Front page photo: Charlie Watts, Mayfair Hotel, London, June 7, 1996, by Nina Rangøy, ScanFoto.

It's Only Rock'n Roll is a non-profit Stones magazine published quarterly by editor Bjørnulf Vik, Norway.