Bill Wyman has shared a heartfelt tribute to his former Rolling Stones bandmate Charlie Watts after the drummer died yesterday aged 80.
Wyman was the Stones’ bassist from their formation in 1962 up to his announced departure in 1993, although he had already quit the band after the 1989–90 ‘Steel Wheels/Urban Jungle’ tours.
Watts’ London publicist Bernard Doherty confirmed the news of the drummer’s death in a statement provided to the PA news agency yesterday (August 24).
Posting on Instagram, Wyman shared a picture of Watts with the caption: “Charlie, you were like a brother to me. In the band and in life. Rest in peace.”
Remaining current band members Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood all shared tributes on social media yesterday, with the latter simply writing: “I love you my fellow Gemini ~ I will dearly miss you ~ you are the best”.
Paul McCartney was one of countless other musicians who shared their sadness at the news, posting a video on social media hailing Watts as “a rock and a fantastic drummer – steady as a rock”.
