Why Charlie Watts Mattered: Our Podcast Tribute to the Rolling Stones’ Late Drummer

Charlie Watts, who died August 24th at age 80, combined the tastefulness of a jazz accompanist with an unearthly gift for groove and funk, driving the Rolling Stones for six decades straight, getting stadium-sized audiences all around the world out of their seats.

In the new episode of our Rolling Stone Music Now podcast, we dig deep into what made the late Stones drummer great, from his jazz roots to his disco-infused evolution. Hank Shteamer and Rob Sheffield join host Brian Hiatt for the discussion, and the episode also includes tributes to Watts from the Black Keys’ Patrick Carney (interviewed by David Browne) and the E Street band’s Max Weinberg.

To hear the entire episode, press play above, or download and subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

Download and subscribe to our weekly podcast, Rolling Stone Music Now, hosted by Brian Hiatt, on Apple Podcasts or Spotify (or wherever you get your podcasts), and check out three years’ worth of episodes in the archive, including in-depth, career-spanning interviews with Bruce Springsteen, Halsey, Neil Young, Alicia Keys, Phoebe Bridgers, the National, Ice Cube, Dua Lipa, Questlove, Killer Mike, Julian Casablancas, Sheryl Crow, Johnny Marr, Scott Weiland, Liam Gallagher, Alice Cooper, Fleetwood Mac, Elvis Costello, John Legend, Donald Fagen, Phil Collins, Justin Townes Earle,  Stephen Malkmus, Sebastian Bach, Tom Petty, Eddie Van Halen, Kelly Clarkson, Pete Townshend, Bob Seger, the Zombies, Gary Clark Jr., and many more — plus dozens of episodes featuring genre-spanning discussions, debates, and explainers with Rolling Stone’s critics and reporters. Tune in every Friday at 1 p.m. ET to hear Rolling Stone Music Now broadcast on SiriusXM’s Volume, channel 106.