Features
Watts: In Or Out?
Undercover magazine is sticking with its story that Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts has left the band, despite a band spokeswoman refuting its coverage.
Undercover 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.
Photo: AP Photo
Mick Jagger, Charlie Watts and the rest of The Rolling Stones as they kick off their world tour.
“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.
“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,” band spokeswoman Fran Curtis responded.
But Undercover is not backing down.
“It looks like only time will tell until we really know if Charlie Watts has hung up his drumsticks in the Rolling Stones,” Undercover’s Paul Cashmere wrote Sept. 3. He also made note of Curtis’ characterization of the story as “fabricated.”
“Not quite,” Undercover said. “The story did not come from an anonymous e-mail or from someone unconnected to the band. It was a reliable source.”
Click here for the complete Undercover article.