Levis Posted January 29, 2010 Report Share Posted January 29, 2010 Too good to not share! [big]Charlie Watts Blasts Beatles and Elvis[/big] What's up with the Rolling Stones? As they fast approach the anniversary of their half century of playing together, guitarist Keith Richards recently hopped on the wagon after decades of pummeling his body and now drummer Charlie Watts has told an Austrian newspaper that he's always hated the music of Elvis Presley and 60s rival the Beatles. The drummer, who is currently playing a series of concerts in Austria with blues-jazz ensemble The ABC&D of Boogie Woogie (named after the musicians in the band - pianists Axel Zwingenberger and Ben Waters, drummer Charlie Watts and bassist Dave Green), said, "I've never been a big Beatles fan. "Of Ringo, yes, but not of the music. And I've always hated Elvis. He was the last one I wanted to use as a guide. Miles Davis and Fats Domino, yes, but Elvis, no." The legendarily non-plussed Watts also said the he wouldn't be bothered if the Stones stopped rolling. "Honestly, I couldn't care less if it were over." He added, "Jazz is my passion. This is the music that I really want to do. The Stones are merely an annoying pastime." However, the Austrian tour's promoter, Willi Turk, was adamant that the Rolling Stones would be back in action soon. He said, "The ABC & D concerts are only possible because the Stones are just taking a break. But when Mick Jagger calls, Charlie is ready. " Spinner Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucky Posted January 29, 2010 Report Share Posted January 29, 2010 This is nothing new. Charlie has always considered his jazz playing to be his passion (with the Stones ranking far down the list). The Rolling Stones pay the bills, that support his life. I've been reading this same bit for years and years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steel2Velvet Posted January 29, 2010 Report Share Posted January 29, 2010 I can only hope to speculate that perhaps the interviewer asked Charlie specifically about his musical taste as it relates to the Beatles and Elvis. Otherwise, I find it curious that one as normally restrained as Watts would volunteer - or even find it necessary - to demean the two acts that would seem to have done the most to have opened the doors to a particular marketplace, through which his band strutted and conquered. There remains the possibility that without those two acts' pioneering forages into that market, we could find a good argument that the snarling, sneering, the-joke's-on-you Stones may have only found limited success playing to a much smaller niche of record buyers. I don't feel that any of the Stones would find it difficult to answer in the affirmative, if the question were framed properly, that their band owes much to these two acts. I did find it curious that a drummer who does not sing would think to clarify that a vocalist who does not drum (Presley) "was the last one I wanted to use as a guide." Well, duh. I am pretty sure Charlie was simply telling the interviewer about the music he liked/likes to listen to and was baited, by specific questions, into those comments which were then recorded as if he formulated a rant during the interview. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steel2Velvet Posted January 30, 2010 Report Share Posted January 30, 2010 Hey, dude! Shouldn't that be "forays" instead of "forages?" Why yes, it should. Thank you for mentioning it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edna Posted January 30, 2010 Report Share Posted January 30, 2010 Cool Charlie and his grand-daughter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chutzpah Posted January 30, 2010 Report Share Posted January 30, 2010 this could be true...Charlie Watts has always been a jazz drummer,loves jazz (who doesn't?) and he might have been baited into some sort of stupid question or answer...Remember...this is the "Stones"...always some kind of problems... but still a good rock band Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phil Posted January 30, 2010 Report Share Posted January 30, 2010 I'm sure Charlie loves playing Jazz, but he also knows where the $$$ is, too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MindCrime Posted January 31, 2010 Report Share Posted January 31, 2010 (edited) I've always thought of him as the nerd of the Stones. He's lucky to be part of that particular band. There are several drummers that are more talented and are in lesser known bands that dont get the same type of credit. The Stones would've been just as great with somebody else behind the drums. Edited January 31, 2010 by Guest Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheLizard Posted January 31, 2010 Report Share Posted January 31, 2010 I don't know about that. Charlie Watts is a fantastic drummer, and part of their distinctive sound is the jazz-influenced backbeat behind the Berry-esque rock and roll guitar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edna Posted January 31, 2010 Report Share Posted January 31, 2010 Charlie Watts is a very good drummer and perfectly fits in the band. The Stones always make funny comments about everything. Yet it' s true he leads a regular life while I'm sure he's moe than proud and happy to be a Rolling Stone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edna Posted January 31, 2010 Report Share Posted January 31, 2010 By the way, Radhi, the headline...that's your thoughts about Beatles. He didn't say the Beatles "suck". He just isn't a "big fan"... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Levis Posted January 31, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 31, 2010 ^that's your thoughts about my thoughts about the Beatles. I like them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucky Posted January 31, 2010 Report Share Posted January 31, 2010 Since Charlie was inducted into the Hall of Fame (Drummer) with Buddy Rich and Keith Moon I guess somebody thinks he's a pretty good drummer. The thing is the Stone's songs are guitar driven, so when you think of their music the drumming certainly isn't your first thought. Plus, he's an integral part of the band, people absolutely love him. At every concert I've been to, he gets the biggest reaction from the audience. He's always very much the gentleman though in public, and very savvy with the press etc (the man ain't no dummy). I can't see him dismissing the importance of others so very important to his industry. It's easy to twist words to make them sound shocking when they may have been entirely innocent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edna Posted January 31, 2010 Report Share Posted January 31, 2010 ^that's your thoughts about my thoughts about the Beatles. I like them. Really? Oh, you're right, it's the Stones you don't like Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Levis Posted February 1, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 1, 2010 wut are you talking about? Why do I have to 'not like' bands just because they're not what I listen to? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Posted February 1, 2010 Report Share Posted February 1, 2010 *Pssst ! * Edna's HIGH again - just carry on like you don't notice ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edna Posted February 1, 2010 Report Share Posted February 1, 2010 Radhi, i was sure youy didn't like Beatles or Stones or Jeffersons or Cohen or such... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Posted February 1, 2010 Report Share Posted February 1, 2010 ^ * Stoned * Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edna Posted February 1, 2010 Report Share Posted February 1, 2010 ...sometimes at nights, or at a party... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Posted February 1, 2010 Report Share Posted February 1, 2010 or... whatever, man ! YOU voted for Nixon ! Who are YoU to judge, you judgedy judge! Jeez , I'm glad this isn't someone's PTT or I'd be WAYYYY out of line ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edna Posted February 1, 2010 Report Share Posted February 1, 2010 or... whatever, man ! YOU voted for Nixon ! Me, Nixon? Jamais!I voted Mitterrand once, and then Jospin, and then Chirac to prevent LePen to become the French president... ...I didn't even vote for Sarko... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farin Posted February 1, 2010 Report Share Posted February 1, 2010 Radhi, i was sure youy didn't like Beatles or Stones or Jeffersons or Cohen or such... Radhi even nominated a Beatles song in the TTs once, you know? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Levis Posted February 2, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 2, 2010 twice, even Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farin Posted February 2, 2010 Report Share Posted February 2, 2010 ...twice, even! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Levis Posted February 2, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 2, 2010 ^ jes, wot he said! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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