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chriseganstar
[www.bbc.co.uk]
I lived in Dolton for 10 years from 1985 to 95 and met Charlie many times there. Always very supportive to the village, as is Shirley now.
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MisterDDDD
Dalton pays tribute to Stones' drummer Watts
Friday, August 27th, 2021 3:58pm
By Joe Ives, local democracy reporter
Famous resident opened village hall
Tributes poured from around the world this week following the death of Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts at 80. But a small Devon village is remembering the Stones' drummer too.
As owner of Halsdon Manor, a 600-acre sixteenth-century estate, famed for Polish Arab thoroughbreds and run by his wife Shirely, Mr Watts was Dalton's most famous resident.
A popular though rarely seen presence in the local community, by donating to local fundraising causes, the Watts were known with affection.
And this month marks the tenth anniversary of Charlie making a surprise showing to lend a hand to re-open the village hall.
Susan Jury, who was a Dalton Parish councillor at the time and is still chair Dalton Village Hall fondly, remembers the day with the “lovely” couple.
Although as prime donor only Shirley Watts had been invited as VIP guest, husband Charlie came along as support act and drummed up more publicity. “We had a bonus!” recalls Susan.
“They were the last to leave the hall on that day” she added.
But this hadn’t always been Mr Watt’s intention. According to Susan, the star sticks man had a car standing by outside because the cricket was on TV back at the manor. He’d decided that “if he wasn’t enjoying himself he was going home!”, Susan recalls.
He clearly got some satisfaction, staying on to chat to villagers.
Susan says that Mr and Mrs Watts were always “very generous” to the local community, and would be eager to support the attractive village. Their money helped pay for the village hall refurbishment.
“You’d write to them and you’d get a very nice cheque", says Susan. "They always started us off with a very nice sum.
“It got to the extent that we tried not to ask them because it gets embarrassing - you can’t keep on asking people for money!”
Martin Lock, village hall caretaker at the time, said “They never forced themselves on the village. They were always there if you needed that extra bit of help with charity or fundraising.”
As much as she was a fan of the couple personally, Susan is not quite so keen on Mr Watt’s music: “I can’t tell you what I think of The Rolling Stones! I’m not a Stones fan. I do like my Elvis.”
Dalton Village Hall is “a very big part of the community” says Susan, hosting everything from mother and toddlers events, cub scouts, coffee mornings, Sunday lunches and yoga sessions.
Charlies Watts, Rolling Stones drummer and Dalton resident who died this week, is remembered as a gentleman and good neighbour. No one ever complained about the drumming.
[www.radioexe.co.uk]
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JadedFaded
Can somebody please post or point me to a really good photograph of Keith and Charlie together? Something that shows their affection for one another. Thanks!
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JadedFaded
Can somebody please post or point me to a really good photograph of Keith and Charlie together? Something that shows their affection for one another. Thanks!
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bye bye johnny
Charlie Watts was the always classy, constant anchor of The Rolling Stones
Jay Powell | The Daily Herald
August 29, 2021
Victoria Will/AP
Any time there was a band photo, video or presentation of The Rolling Stones, drummer Charlie Watts was always the most humble, soft-spoken and last to present himself as a "famous rocker."
Yet, it was always heartwarming whenever the other band members would grab him by the arms, and pretty much throw him out to the front, whether it was during a concert or one of the thousands of interviews the band has conducted during its nearly 60-year run.
Watts always seemed to give the same response — usually dressed in a proper suit, giving his polite and subdued, English gentlemanly mannerisms. He was a man of few words, but every time, smiling at the fact he was loved the world over, even if he didn't want to relish in fame like the other guys.
This often occurring "Get out there, Charlie, people love you" incident happened the last time The Stones made their way to Music City as part of their 2015 Zip Code Tour, performing to a packed Nissan Stadium (then LP Field) for a hot, sweaty and unforgettable concert.
Looking back on that night, there were many moments that stood out, such as the band's performance of classics like "Sympathy for the Devil," "You Can't Always Get What You Want," (featuring The Belmont University Chorale), as well as guitarist and scientific specimen Keith Richards taking the vocals for "Before They Make Me Run" and, my favorite of his from 1972's "Exile on Main Street", the song "Happy."
However, my favorite moment of the show was when it came time to introduce the band (as if that was really necessary). Mick Jagger took a few moments to introduce the backing members, at first the crew on bass (shoutout to longtime touring bassist Darryl Jones), the keyboards, the backup singers, percussionists and other on-hand crew members.
By the time he got to the "real members" of the gang, such as guitarists Ron Wood and Keith Richards, the most endearing moment was when Watts was recognized.
At first, his name was mentioned and Watts gave the crowd a wave from behind his drumkit. Never being one for the limelight, Watts politely sat down and took his seat behind the skins ready to resume the show.
That is, until Mick ran back and grabbed Watts by the arm, bringing him to the front of the stage, where Watts received an outpouring of applause, even if he might have seemed a little embarrassed by his fellow bandmate's encouragement.
A moment like that shows why Charlie Watts was the anchor, the "straight man" and constant humble guy he always was, not wishing for immense adulation, but always grateful for the life he's been a part.
In reading about Watt's, following his death earlier this week at 80, one of the most fascinating aspects of his career was that, despite being a member of arguably the greatest rock n' roll bands of all time, he always considered his role in The Rolling Stones as nothing more than a "day job," something that allowed him to pursue things he was really passionate about, like his lifelong love of jazz.
That's the makings of a true artist, because it wasn't about fame, but merely a catalyst for his creativity.
For a good example of Watts in his truest element, look up his group, The A & B & C & D of Boogie Woogie, particularly the song "More Sympathy for The Drummer" recorded live in Paris in 2011. It's a real swinger that definitely lives up to the band's namesake.
Also, if you are a SiriusSM subscriber, "The Bennington Show" on Faction Talk 103 posted a really great interview with Watts from 2012. I recommend you look it up and give it a listen.
Watts' success as a member of The Stones simply allowed him to freely pursue other opportunities as an artist, while being a devoted husband to his wife, Shirley Ann Shepherd, for nearly 60 years. He wasn't the partier, the self-indulgent rock star partaking in all the sex, drugs and other amenities that come from being famous. He was a consummate professional, which considering the band's reputation, really says a lot.
If anything, he was the antithesis of how the band had been molded in the public eye, and it made him all the more interesting as a human being.
It's also interesting to think of Watts in the same context with other drummers of the time, many of which were considered the "wild card" of the group. Just think of people like Keith Moon from The Who, or John Bonham from Led Zeppelin.
These guys are often described as the crazy and unpredictable drunkards always on the search for a little fun or trouble, the ones who drove cars into hotel pools or launched a television set out of a four-story window.
Watts refrained from doing any of that, instead focusing on his craft and using fame to his advantage by being a devoted husband and respectful Englishman, while pursuing his true interests.
He is probably the only rock star that didn't really have an ego. He just did his job and made time for his hobbies.
That really says something, considering your band is one of the biggest of all time next to The Beatles.
Charlie Watts was the man, an inspiration, someone many young artists can learn a thing or two from, and may he rest in peace.
[www.columbiadailyherald.com]
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Lady Jayne
The photo of Ringo and Charlie reaching in for a hug is wonderful.
The cause of death: It's private and not our business.Quote
ribbelchips
Tomorrow it has been a week since the sad news.. Isn't it a bit strange that we haven't gotten ANY information or news at all since then? Nothing about the cause of death, the (date of the) funeral