I used to play the drums, and in some ways Charlie Watts plays drums the way Keith Richards plays guitar: Not flashy, It is always in service to the song. He had a jazz background. Think about the drums at the beginning of "Honkytonk Women". He sets in all up with 4 strokes of the sticks. But I'd bet dollars to donuts that 40 years ago, the idea of Keith, Mick and Charlie just being ALIVE, let alone playing together, would have seemed impossible. A longer and stranger trip than the Grateful Dead.
Well, Keith at least, should have crashed and burned decades ago.
You are exactly right about Charlie Watts. No drum solos. Ever. Like you said, he played in service to the song. I believe he addressed the approach that he took to the work, his philosophy, in more than one interview.
LIGHT HAS A NAME
We only get stronger when we are lifting something that is heavier than what we are used to. ~ KF
I used to play the drums, and in some ways Charlie Watts plays drums the way Keith Richards plays guitar: Not flashy, It is always in service to the song. He had a jazz background. Think about the drums at the beginning of "Honkytonk Women". He sets in all up with 4 strokes of the sticks. But I'd bet dollars to donuts that 40 years ago, the idea of Keith, Mick and Charlie just being ALIVE, let alone playing together, would have seemed impossible. A longer and stranger trip than the Grateful Dead.
That was a really smart observation. Thanks for taking the time to educate us on the nuances of a professional’s approach to his craft.
What MeDot says is exactly true and he can describe the technicalities of the band far better than I can. I probably spend too much time drunk on Keith Richards. But that's who I am.
All I can say is that I've never once seen Charlie Watts perform a drum solo. It's usually Charlie or Keith starts first, facing each other and making eye contact with each other, and that's what lays down the groove. Charlie NEVER stands out from the band. Keith intermittently plays directly to Charlie and they signal each other throughout a song. Keith is almost always the one who signals the band when to wrap it up.
Sorry, there I go with Keith again. And yet, I am not ashamed.
The only standout is Jagger but he's the front man. That's his job.
LIGHT HAS A NAME
We only get stronger when we are lifting something that is heavier than what we are used to. ~ KF
Let me just post a couple of links for contrast if anyone would like to see him play without the Stones. Charlie Watts was first and foremost, a jazz drummer. The Stones nicked him from Blues Incorporated. Here you get a taste of that with a little Boogie Woogie swing on the side.
