Charlie Watts

[gevermil]

YouTube - Monkey Man with Charlie Watts
Great on tape and a great live drummer

[bitman]

One thing that always wigged me out about Charlie is the fact that he never hits the hat when the snare hits. It has a unique sound. I often wondered what the stones would sound like if he played a 4/4 like all other drummers I've seen where 8ths or quarters are just counted out on the hat without gap. I know Charlie was a jazz drummer when the stones found him.

He looks kinda tense and stiff playing. Solid nevertheless.
And he still remembers how to play monkey man.

[velvetgeorge]

My favorite drummer! I love the lift on the snare hit. So odd to watch and yet his groove is second to none.

Great clip.

Gerge

[Chunkaway]

Love Charlie Watts! Such a great feel and groove.

[drumzealot]

Originally Posted by bitman

One thing that always wigged me out about Charlie is the fact that he never hits the hat when the snare hits. It has a unique sound.

I became enamored with CW after seeing a Rolling Stones documentary (forget which one right now) where they are in the studio and Jagger asks him to play “a snakey, greasy groove” or something to that effect. And CW nailed it right away. So, I embarked on some research to better understand his playing and sought out live video footage. I was under the impression he never plays the hi hat with the snare, but found that he does quite a bit.
Definitely one of the best rock “feel” drummers.
Although, based on the big band album he did, not a great jazz drummer.

[kafka]

Charlie Watts is a great drummer. Just solid, not tricky, gets the right feel, keeps the song moving. He's just one of those musicians that everyone playing music needs to understand, whether they're a drummer or not.

[j2dafo]

nice rack tom mic....

[Bob Olhsson]

I've long said that the best sounding kick drum mike in the world is the one in front of Charlie Watts right now!

[HeavyG]

Thanks for sharing...a birds eye view of the MASTER laying it down. I was a "musician ****" growing up...so I HATED Charlie, Ringo, Keith Moon, etc...cuz their technique sucked. Yeah right...what did I know. Charlie, Ringo, Moonie, etc. are now among my most inpirational heroes. I see "virtuosos" as self indulgent, narcissists...who play for themselves...and not for the SONG or the melody.

Charlie is a true pro...and one of the greatest feel players of all time...in one of the greatest bands of all time. I am humbled when I watch him...PERFECT.

[drumzealot]

Originally Posted by HeavyG

Thanks for sharing...a birds eye view of the MASTER laying it down. I was a "musician ****" growing up...so I HATED Charlie, Ringo, Keith Moon, etc...cuz their technique sucked. Yeah right...what did I know. Charlie, Ringo, Moonie, etc. are now among my most inpirational heroes. I see "virtuosos" as self indulgent, narcissists...who play for themselves...and not for the SONG or the melody.

Charlie is a true pro...and one of the greatest feel players of all time...in one of the greatest bands of all time. I am humbled when I watch him...PERFECT.

OMG I was the same way. What a dumb ass I was. This guy is a classic rock genius.

When ever I play a Stones tune its hard not to stick out my bottom lip and not play the hi hat with the snare.

[G.TheDuke]

Originally Posted by HeavyG

Thanks for sharing...a birds eye view of the MASTER laying it down. I was a "musician ****" growing up...so I HATED Charlie, Ringo, Keith Moon, etc...cuz their technique sucked. Yeah right...what did I know. Charlie, Ringo, Moonie, etc. are now among my most inpirational heroes. I see "virtuosos" as self indulgent, narcissists...who play for themselves...and not for the SONG or the melody.

Charlie is a true pro...and one of the greatest feel players of all time...in one of the greatest bands of all time. I am humbled when I watch him...PERFECT.

I feel I'm the same way, when it comes to being a "musician ****", though I do understand where all of these drummers fit in time and place, and of course I do value their contribution to rock drumming. I don't, however (in the case of the Stones) enjoy listening to their music. The Who and the Beatles I really enjoy because they were landmark bands in their days; the Stones just don't do it for me.

[bitman]

And... The start of "Street fighting man" where it would be easy to start the music on a different down beat than it starts at in the studio with editing is truly mastery when done live. And Chucky does it.

[gevermil]

Oh lord , Honky Tonk .
cant ya hear me knocking .
I have to pull over when Im driving .

[olmanbenny]

Honky Tonk Women and Can't You Hear Me Knockin' groove hard.
Love the entirety of Exile, slop and all. And yes, there is some slop. I spent years trying to covet Charlie's and Ringo's slop. I gave up and now am stuck with my own.

[keap]

Most of the rock drummers should learn how to play as quiet and at the same time tight as him. I've heard they had problems during performances, cause his drumming was too quiet! Something that is now even hard to imagine...

[gevermil]

Originally Posted by olmanbenny

Honky Tonk Women and Can't You Hear Me Knockin' groove hard.
Love the entirety of Exile, slop and all. And yes, there is some slop. I spent years trying to covet Charlie's and Ringo's slop. I gave up and now am stuck with my own.

absolutely ! I actually have to pull over when cant ya hear me knocking / honky tonk comes on .

[Bob Olhsson]

Honky Tonk was our reference single of the week for about a year at Motown!

I put it on tape in the mastering room and listened to that tape in virtually every major west coast control room of the early '70s.

If it didn't completely bowl everybody in the room over, I knew for sure that the monitors were screwed.

[beef]

sloppy playing done right

charlie Is one of my top5 drummers!

[boomstick]

I really dig Charlie's playing. Great drummer, always laying down a groove that's just perfect for the song.

[cgarges]

Originally Posted by bitman

One thing that always wigged me out about Charlie is the fact that he never hits the hat when the snare hits.

Sorry, but that's just NOT true. People talk about that all the time because they see him do it live, but there's CLEARLY hi hat happening during the backbeats on most of those records we all love. Sometimes he does it, sometimes he doesn't, but he definitely doesn't do it all the time.

Chris Garges
Charlotte, NC

[rdc333]

Originally Posted by Bob Olhsson

Honky Tonk was our reference single of the week for about a year at Motown!

I put it on tape in the mastering room and listened to that tape in virtually every major west coast control room of the early '70s.

If it didn't completely bowl everybody in the room over, I knew for sure that the monitors were screwed.

True Test ! !

If that song doesn't get you going, something must be wrong !

[creegstor]

Originally Posted by HeavyG

I was a "musician ****" growing up...so I HATED Charlie, Ringo, Keith Moon, etc...cuz their technique sucked. Yeah right...what did I know.

You're still kinda wrong getting the wrong end of the stick coz none of these guys' technique sucks.

Parachute Woman is one of the sickest grooves I've ever heard on a rock record. They're playing that slow "flat-tire" shuffle thang and the tension between the bass/kick and that huge late snare is just... sh*t I'm gonna go listen to it right now!!!

[chetatkinsdiet]

He's perfect for this band. It's not like the rest of the guys are super tight and play like a prog band. With the guitars all over the place like they typically are on a Stones song, the drums need to be simple and solid. Charlie does that. Can you imagine the chaos if Moonie was their drummer? Hahah.....or even Bonham?

later,

m

[e33]

He is incredible, l ve seen him live in 96' one of the greatest groov this dayz

[AllAboutTone]

Originally Posted by Chunkaway

Love Charlie Watts! Such a great feel and groove.

One of the best to take the stage by far

[HeavyG]

Originally Posted by creegstor

You're still kinda wrong getting the wrong end of the stick coz none of these guys' technique sucks.

Parachute Woman is one of the sickest grooves I've ever heard on a rock record. They're playing that slow "flat-tire" shuffle thang and the tension between the bass/kick and that huge late snare is just... sh*t I'm gonna go listen to it right now!!!

Perhaps I was not as accurate in painting the picture...when I was young, my definition of a good drummer was based on their chops and I thought that self indulgent "virtuosos" playing complex compositions were the epitomy of musicianship. I was biased against groove players...if that makes more sense. I now define a great drummer very differently...and Charlie, Ringo, Bonham, Porcaro and Chamberlain have now supplanted Peart, Cobham, etc as my most influential players.