Text written by Luiz Pimentel
Rolling Stones ' drummer is the longest-serving active rock musician without interruption as a hook for this text, but some friends spoiled my fun by citing Bob Dylan , Neil Young , John Mayall, Jerry Lee Lewis, Sonny Curtis, Duane Eddie , and Buddy Guy. But to hell with the facts. The truth is that reaching 80 years old on the drum stool of one of the 10 greatest rock bands on the planet is a mission for a superman like Charlie Watts.
His economical manner, gestures, and style underestimate him.
I heard (or saw in documentaries? I don't even remember anymore) that he's the decision-maker in the band, hidden behind the competing egos of Mick Jagger and Keith Richards . I heard that he can no longer present himself as he sees fit, in a suit and tie. I heard that he's not a good drummer. Or at least he's not up to the creative profusion of the Stones (but let's face it, that's trademark nonsense, right?).
But my favorite story is about when he received a call from a drunk Mick Jagger in his hotel room. Upon hearing, "Where's my drummer?", Watts didn't answer and went to his bandmate's room.
Mick opened the door and didn't even see where the punch to the face came from. On the floor, he heard: "Never call me 'your drummer' again. You're my vocalist, you piece of shit." I like to imagine that he then straightened his tie, turned around, and returned to his room, where he finished listening to John Coltrane's "A Love Supreme" before it thawed and watered down his glass of scotch on the arm of the armchair.
