This may be a little "inside baseball" but since the 2002 tour, it seems that Charlie uses his crash cymbal as a ride rather than his actual ride cymbal on a lot of songs.

Any idea why that is? I always loved how smooth and melodic his ride cymbal sounded, but he seems to prefer the clangy wash of the crash nowadays.

A crash cymbal is thinner than a typical ride cymbal. I can imagine that In an Arena setting, a crash cymbal might cut through the murk and sound more prominent.

His drumming style has changed over the years in general. Who knows why. It may get boring playing the same songs the same way, and since he's stuck playing the same songs, he tries out something different from time to time.

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marianna
His drumming style has changed over the years in general. Who knows why. It may get boring playing the same songs the same way, and since he's stuck playing the same songs, he tries out something different from time to time.

We need mick Taylor to play drums on a couple songs to challenge Charlie to do his best!

All his cymbals do sound like shit in my opinion. He uses china cymbals as a crash, thin ride cymbals (which are usually used in jazz combos) while he plays rock, and now he doesn't even play a proper ride cymbal anymore but uses a crash cymbal for that matter. All these odd choices doesn't make him sound better. Watching him play makes me sick. He's stiff, there is no swing or groove in his playing, and his odd hi-hat technique doesn't make any sense, let alone that it looks stupid.

To me Charlie is one of the most overrated drummers of all time.

Just for the record: I'm a semi professional drummer since 1984.

Now kill me.

Nah.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2013-05-10 09:55 by GravityBoy.

I know nothing about drumming, but I was kinda irked by what seemed to me to be a busy style of playing throughout "Love in Vain" at the Echoplex. I'm not even sure if that song requires much drumming at all. It felt like he was about to break into "Theme from 'Shaft'" ...



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2013-05-10 10:02 by DeanGoodman.

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sonomastone

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marianna
His drumming style has changed over the years in general. Who knows why. It may get boring playing the same songs the same way, and since he's stuck playing the same songs, he tries out something different from time to time.

We need mick Taylor to play drums on a couple songs to challenge Charlie to do his best!

I'm not sure why anyone would take offense to a simple observation of Charlie's stylistic changes, which have also been observed by others, obviously. But whatever.

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Glammy
All his cymbals do sound like shit in my opinion. He uses china cymbals as a crash, thin ride cymbals (which are usually used in jazz combos) while he plays rock, and now he doesn't even play a proper ride cymbal anymore but uses a crash cymbal for that matter. All these odd choices doesn't make him sound better. Watching him play makes me sick. He's stiff, there is no swing or groove in his playing, and his odd hi-hat technique doesn't make any sense, let alone that it looks stupid.

To me Charlie is one of the most overrated drummers of all time.

Just for the record: I'm a semi professional drummer since 1984.

Now kill me.

His technique is very limited and at times he seems to be less thrilled about playing since 2002. I heard him with his Boogie friends in 2009, and that was good. He is the perfect drummer for the Stones in my opinion. His groove fits into the band perfectly. That is why it is hard to "rate" him. There would not have been a better drummer for the Stones.

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windmelody

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Glammy
All his cymbals do sound like shit in my opinion. He uses china cymbals as a crash, thin ride cymbals (which are usually used in jazz combos) while he plays rock, and now he doesn't even play a proper ride cymbal anymore but uses a crash cymbal for that matter. All these odd choices doesn't make him sound better. Watching him play makes me sick. He's stiff, there is no swing or groove in his playing, and his odd hi-hat technique doesn't make any sense, let alone that it looks stupid.

To me Charlie is one of the most overrated drummers of all time.

Just for the record: I'm a semi professional drummer since 1984.

Now kill me.

His technique is very limited and at times he seems to be less thrilled about playing since 2002. I heard him with his Boogie friends in 2009, and that was good. He is the perfect drummer for the Stones in my opinion. His groove fits into the band perfectly. That is why it is hard to "rate" him. There would not have been a better drummer for the Stones.

we need mick taylor to help him drum better!

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Glammy
All his cymbals do sound like shit in my opinion. He uses china cymbals as a crash, thin ride cymbals (which are usually used in jazz combos) while he plays rock, and now he doesn't even play a proper ride cymbal anymore but uses a crash cymbal for that matter. All these odd choices doesn't make him sound better. Watching him play makes me sick. He's stiff, there is no swing or groove in his playing, and his odd hi-hat technique doesn't make any sense, let alone that it looks stupid.

To me Charlie is one of the most overrated drummers of all time.

Just for the record: I'm a semi professional drummer since 1984.

Now kill me.

Mnnn...something about Charlie...let's read...

All the Stones are the perfect fit for the Stones thats why we love them. Charlie may not be the most flashy drummer, but when he hit that stride with Bill & Keith it was magical.

I reckon Charlie & Darryl are a great rhythm section but to my ears Charlie doesn't lock as much with Darryl as he did with Bill.

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Glammy
All his cymbals do sound like shit in my opinion. He uses china cymbals as a crash, thin ride cymbals (which are usually used in jazz combos) while he plays rock, and now he doesn't even play a proper ride cymbal anymore but uses a crash cymbal for that matter. All these odd choices doesn't make him sound better. Watching him play makes me sick. He's stiff, there is no swing or groove in his playing, and his odd hi-hat technique doesn't make any sense, let alone that it looks stupid.

To me Charlie is one of the most overrated drummers of all time.

Just for the record: I'm a semi professional drummer since 1984.

Now kill me.

You don't know what you're talking about.

He started to lose his distinctive 60's groove when they started messing with punk and disco. It changed him and not for the better IMO.

"White drummers dont swing except Charlie Watts" - very true!

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1962
"White drummers dont swing except Charlie Watts" - very true!

Not really.

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Carnaby

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Glammy
All his cymbals do sound like shit in my opinion. He uses china cymbals as a crash, thin ride cymbals (which are usually used in jazz combos) while he plays rock, and now he doesn't even play a proper ride cymbal anymore but uses a crash cymbal for that matter. All these odd choices doesn't make him sound better. Watching him play makes me sick. He's stiff, there is no swing or groove in his playing, and his odd hi-hat technique doesn't make any sense, let alone that it looks stupid.

To me Charlie is one of the most overrated drummers of all time.

Just for the record: I'm a semi professional drummer since 1984.

Now kill me.

You don't know what you're talking about.

actually, he does. have you heard charlie try and play the blues? it is VERY stiff.

I love the high hat lift. Go put on She's So Cold and checkout that groove..

His style has changed as of 2002 but also the mixing has gotten worse on recordings. His snare sounds terrible at most shows. There is almost always a ringy tone where there should be a crack of thunder! Dip 350 Hz already!

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Glammy
All his cymbals do sound like shit in my opinion. He uses china cymbals as a crash, thin ride cymbals (which are usually used in jazz combos) while he plays rock, and now he doesn't even play a proper ride cymbal anymore but uses a crash cymbal for that matter. All these odd choices doesn't make him sound better. Watching him play makes me sick. He's stiff, there is no swing or groove in his playing, and his odd hi-hat technique doesn't make any sense, let alone that it looks stupid.

To me Charlie is one of the most overrated drummers of all time.

Just for the record: I'm a semi professional drummer since 1984.

Now kill me.

Where can I find you?

he's a lazy bastard and just in it for the money like the rest of them. his cymbal playing is just cymbalic now....

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GRNRBITW
he's a lazy bastard and just in it for the money like the rest of them. his cymbal playing is just cymbalic now....

you won't tolerate Chuck-bashing on your board...but you join in the Charlie-bashing..oh my..

there really needs to be no Charlie-bashing...he is the great glue and secret of the Stones' sound.

Well Mick T hardly uses his guitar anymore soooo....he can use Charlies ride cymbal! You irriot.

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duke richardson

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GRNRBITW
he's a lazy bastard and just in it for the money like the rest of them. his cymbal playing is just cymbalic now....

you won't tolerate Chuck-bashing on your board...but you join in the Charlie-bashing..oh my..

there really needs to be no Charlie-bashing...he is the great glue and secret of the Stones' sound.

can only bash one charles and charlie's been there the longest, so he gets the nod.

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GRNRBITW

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duke richardson

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GRNRBITW
he's a lazy bastard and just in it for the money like the rest of them. his cymbal playing is just cymbalic now....

you won't tolerate Chuck-bashing on your board...but you join in the Charlie-bashing..oh my..

there really needs to be no Charlie-bashing...he is the great glue and secret of the Stones' sound.

can only bash one charles and charlie's been there the longest, so he gets the nod.

well he's been known to bash back

His style he plays in concert now, is nothing at ALL like what he played on the original records or used to play in concert. Nowadays he just bashes out the beat in a very metronomic and insistent fashion, very stiff and ridid and hitting too hard, always at the same loud volume. The drums in concert sound terrible, flat, ringy, badly tuned and poorly equalized. He hardly ever plays interesting or creative fills any more -- if you listen to him recently it's just 1-2-3-4 keeping the beat. And if you think I'm a hater, this is coming from someone who is a huge lifetime fan of Charlie Watts, not a basher. What he plays now is nothing at all like what he used to do. Something has changed during the Vegas period, whether it's because of Daryl or how Mick likes the songs (straight beat) or boredom or what, I can't say.

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Turning To Gold
His style he plays in concert now, is nothing at ALL like what he played on the original records or used to play in concert. Nowadays he just bashes out the beat in a very metronomic and insistent fashion, very stiff and ridid and hitting too hard, always at the same loud volume. The drums in concert sound terrible, flat, ringy, badly tuned and poorly equalized. He hardly ever plays interesting or creative fills any more -- if you listen to him recently it's just 1-2-3-4 keeping the beat. And if you think I'm a hater, this is coming from someone who is a huge lifetime fan of Charlie Watts, not a basher. What he plays now is nothing at all like what he used to do. Something has changed during the Vegas period, whether it's because of Daryl or how Mick likes the songs (straight beat) or boredom or what, I can't say.

still the best-dressed stone, though. that counts.

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Glammy
All his cymbals do sound like shit in my opinion. He uses china cymbals as a crash, thin ride cymbals (which are usually used in jazz combos) while he plays rock, and now he doesn't even play a proper ride cymbal anymore but uses a crash cymbal for that matter. All these odd choices doesn't make him sound better. Watching him play makes me sick. He's stiff, there is no swing or groove in his playing, and his odd hi-hat technique doesn't make any sense, let alone that it looks stupid.

To me Charlie is one of the most overrated drummers of all time.

Just for the record: I'm a semi professional drummer since 1984.

Now kill me.

I really dont wanna hear you play the drums ever.

Here's the difference between stiff and loose playing:



I'm not saying Charlie is a horrible drummer, he's not. It's quite obvious that his skills have diminished. In his younger days he had feel. In this video, no feel. Stiffness. He plays it too straight. You can hear it when he goes to the hi-hat. Not good. But he is who he is. Bless him.
And then there's this:



No stiffness. This has a sexy feel to it. It swings as opposed to Charlie's version which does not.
To the Charlie Watts apologists: learn to accept criticism.

Interesting comparison, thanks. Mind you, I almost nodded off watching the second video.