“Contrary to a fabricated story that ran this morning on a small music web site in Australia, drummer Charlie Watts has not left The Rolling Stones,” the group said in a statement provided to Brit music mag NME.

Undercover magazine reported early Sept. 2 that “a source within the Stones inner-circle” confirmed Watts –the oldest of the original members – has quit the Stones.

Watts was allegedly persuaded by Keith Richards to do the Bigger Bang tour, but that was the end of his commitment to the band.

“The Stones are looking to Keith’s Expensive Winos drummer, Charlie Drayton, to fill the void in all future Stones’ callings,” the alleged source told the magazine.

Click here for the complete NME article.