The fully authorized and official biography of legendary Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts, one of the most respected and celebrated musicians of the last half century.
Forewords by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards.
Charlie Watts was one of the most respected musicians in the world who joined the Rolling Stones a few months after their formation in early 1963.
A student of jazz drumming, he got into the band after regularly bumping into it in London's rhythm and blues clubs. Once he sat down behind the drums, he never missed a concert, album or tour during his 60 years in the band. He was there during the swinging sixties, when the Stones became a star and conquered the world, and during the debauched seventies, typified by the album Exile on Main St. from 1972, considered one of the best albums of the century. In the 1980s, Charlie battled his own demons but emerged unscathed to further cement his unique reputation in the decades to come.
Watts went through band break-ups, break-ups and changes in personnel, managers, guitarists and rhythm sections, but for nearly 60 years he remained the heart of the Rolling Stones - a brooding, intellectual but no less compelling counterpoint to his raucous bandmates Keith Richards, Mick Jagger and Ronnie Wood. And this is his story.

If we were looking for the most unlikely rock and roll star, Charlie Watts' name would be one of the first to come to mind!
And yet the inconspicuous drummer - a lover of jazz, classical music and classic suits, hand-sewn shoes and luxury cars - which he could not drive - "covered the back" of stars like Mick Jagger and Keith Richards for half a century. And not only that! With his jazz feeling, he influenced the sound of "the most rock and roll band of all time" - the Rolling Stones - so much that he became unmistakable.
Equally valuable was his calmness, willingness to help and ability to smooth even the sharpest edges within the group with dry humor.
Because… Charlie was always cool!