The full story of the time Charlie Watts punched Mick Jagger, excerpted fromSympathy for the Drummer.
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Do you remember where you were when Elvis died?
When John Lennon was murdered?
When you got the news about Prince?
I was in my car when I got the news yesterday thatCharlie Watts had died.
That was in 1963.
The Rolling Stoneswere smart to hire a cat who would always put the roll in front of the rock.
Any dunce can rock.
He mattered, especially so when it didnt seem that way.
Is it because it speaks truth to power?
But no one seems to ever remember the punch line, so wait for it.
And then maybe come over to my house and watchLadies and Gentlemen: The Rolling Stoneswith me.
Bring some Jack Daniels and a handkerchief.
Im going to need one.
This is the most famous Charlie Watts story.
It is a very good story, and true you cannot beat the Charlie Watts right hook.
Its like being hit by a freight train.
These were bad times for the Rolling Stones.
Blues, reggae, rocknroll, whatever, just no tricks.
He doesnt care what the kids are listening to he cares about what the Rolling Stones do best.
The situation only gets worse when Mick decides he needs a solo career.
Keith sees this as something far beyond sedition.
It is mendacious, dishonest, and disrespectful, a knife in the fucking back.
No one is bigger than the band.
This according to Keith, who is on a homicidal rampage.
It was a hardcore crush, the Jagger/Bowie thing.
Where do you think Mick got the idea for all that gender-bending in the early 1970s?
Keith was never one to pull punches.
According to Keith, Twenty minutes later, there was a knock at the door.
I could smell the cologne!
Then he hauled him up by the lapels of my jacket and gave him a right hook.
Keith calls it the drummers punch and says its lethal; it carries a lot of balance and timing.
So far, so good.
Its a real leave the gun, take the cannoli moment.
Keith grabs Mick and hauls him back into the room.
Charlie is incensed he was happy to see Mick go flying out the window.
Saving Micks life, oddly, does not improve things.
Its a low moment for the Stones, but you couldnt say it didnt make for good copy.
Someone asked Keith, When are you two going to stop bitching at each other?
and Keiths response was, Ask the bitch.
Another wise man, namely Keith, said, Its likeMein Kampf.
Everybody had a copy, but nobody listened to it.
But back to our hero.
He might as well be doing the record of lullabies with Liberace thats the genius of Charlie Watts.
There is no agenda.Ars gratia artis hes doing it because he loves it.
It is pure of spirit in every possible way.
It came from his heart, not from his hands.
And no drum solos!
Excerpted from the bookSympathy for the Drummer: Why Charlie Watts Mattersby Mike Edison.
Copyright 2019 by Mike Edison.
From Backbeat Books, an imprint of the Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group, Inc. Reprinted by permission.
