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Charlie Watts Rumored to Be Leaving the Rolling Stones

Has Charlie Watts quit the Rolling Stones? According to a new report by Australian website Undercover the legendary drummer -- who has had a waning interest in the group in recent years -- has left the band after nearly 47 years of service.

"Charlie Watts has quit the band," a source within the Stones inner-circle reveals. "He will never record or tour with the band." It's little secret that Keith Richards had to coax Watts into participating in the band's 2005 album 'A Bigger Bang' and its subsequent global tour. But now the aforementioned source insists Watts is gone for good.

"The Stones are looking to Keith's Expensive Winos drummer Charlie Drayton to fill the void in all future callings." Often considered by many the backbone of the Rolling Stones, the 68-year old drummer -- who joined the group in January 1963 -- could be ready to enjoy his retirement.

If it's true, it makes perfect sense. After the success of the band's last tour, which ran from August 2005 to August 2007 and was the highest grossing trek of all time, it's hard to imagine Watts is in short supply of cash.

UPDATE: The Rolling Stones' spokesperson has denied that Watts has left the band.

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KEN

YEP....CHARLIE CALLED WHEN I WAS AT BILL WYMAN'S HOME AND SAID HE IS RETIRING NOW....

February 24 2010 at 7:52 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Arbroath Smokie

If Carlsberg made Rock and Roll Bands .............

January 29 2010 at 12:57 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
tom carr

yes the stones are a great band but are they the best in the world? no there where bands that i thought where better then the stone's queen/humble pie/kiss/the beatles/foghat/ccr my list could go on for awhile.but charlie watts is one of the best drummers in the rock-n-roll world he will be missed 47 years touring and putting out some great rock-n-roll the whole band should call it quit's and just relax and enjoy the large pile of money they have made over the last 47 years they are just to old to be doing this anymore!

October 10 2009 at 12:41 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Will

The Beatles made wonderful children's music.
I prefer good blues based rock and roll.
Long live the Stones

October 04 2009 at 11:57 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
denny crane

Dude, the Stones can't touch Bananarama!!! B-rama was the greatest band ever!! Oh and Ween!! Hi Rhonda!!! YOU ROCK!!

September 06 2009 at 3:48 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
john

please dont do it Charlie you and Keef are the stones!!!
Rock Forever

September 03 2009 at 6:55 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
bhamdaniel

Those of you who think that perhaps The Stones are just too old to Rock-n-Roll, I'm guessing that you did NOT catch either the 40 Licks Tour or A Bigger Bang world tour. The Stones sounded as good as ever and the songs all remain classics. Would you say the same things about a Tina Turner or an Eric Clapton? I had considered that A Bigger Bang would likely be the band's farewell tour. But one never knows for certain where The Stones are concerned. Mick said he'd never being doing this 20 years from now and that was in 1972. I know that Charlie is just a bit like Bill Wyman who retired for good prior to A Bigger Bang and Charlie had to really be coaxed to take on that tour. But even with the up-front, "stars," like Mick & Keith it was ALWAYS THE ROLLING STONES - THE Band! Now find me a better song than say PAINT IT BLACK, SYMPATHY FOR THE DEVIL, BLINDED BY RAINBOWS, et.al. Wild Horses could [never] drag me away from the best Rock-n-Roll band ever!

September 03 2009 at 6:37 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
GUNZ

Hey it's been fun but go ahead Charlie time ain't on your side anymore. enjoy your family play with the grand kids, and tool around in the garden,it is after all a young mans game thanks for the years of great music!!!

September 03 2009 at 8:38 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Ron

Good for you Charlie. Enjoy the rest of your life, you deserve it.

September 03 2009 at 5:59 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
oh oh

Hey I went to the bridges of babylon concert in Miami and this is what happpend.....OOH yeah talk about freedom to be and it was cool to be there and some offered soom good naturals...lol....what is sad is that theres was a man kinda sad and yet so so happy for he followed the group on the tous all over the world WOW like suck and can be so cruel I thouhgt for I on y saw one show and cant afford to get lost in a perfect world of joy(that only appplies to us) I know there are people today thats even have opionion to tell me what is whnt to do with MY time Aan MY moNEY,,,ITS STIILLL THE usa YOU KNOW,,,ANYWAYS THE GUY WAS SOA FOR HE DIDNT KNOW WHAT HIM AND HIS FREIENDS WOULD DO WEHNT THE TOUR WAS OVE....i SAI...HEY DUDE YOU DOING THINGS RIGHT KNOW THAT ONLY IS BETTER THAN ANYTHING FOR I MISSED THE DOORS AND NIRVANA AND JPLIN AND HENDRRIX AND ON AN D ON BUT i SAW THIS ONE BAY AND THAT IS MY MEMORY OF SOME OF THE GOOD TIMES THIS LIFE HAD TO FFER SO uck THERES NO TIME TO BE SAD....THE FELLOW SMILED BACK SAID HE WISHED I COULD COME ALONG AMD MEET HIS FRIENDS AND OUT OF THE STADIEUM ALONE AGAIN BUT THANKS FOR THE TUNES....I WOULD RATHER HAVE DIED A MILLION TIEMS THATN TO HAVE NEVER PAYED THE DREMS OR HAVE ISTED TO THE BEAT,,YOU KNOW THERE WAS A TIME WHEN WE DANCE ROUND THE FIRE AND ALL WE HAD WERE DRUMS BUT KNOW THEY SAY WE WENT TO THE MOON....SO...WHATS THAT GOONA DO TOO MY SOUL HUH....WELLL KEEP ON ROCKING IN THERE FREE WORLDS...DID I DSAY WORLDS...YEAH ITS A DIMENSIONAL THINGS SO NICE IN THERE ...

September 03 2009 at 5:53 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply