Charlie Watts, Halcyon Hotel, London, 1991 by Jill Furmanovsky
Today as the world mourns the sad passing of Charlie Watts, stotic heartbeat of the Rolling Stones for nearly 60 years, we share some of our favourite images featuring the great man.
Undoubtedly, this iconic image above taken by Jill Furmanovsky, is one of the most acclaimed and recognised images of Charlie Watts.
Jill Furmanovsky recalls 'I won first prize in 1992 when I entered the Observer’s (Jane Bown) Portrait award with this picture of Charlie Watts. It was taken on a Hasselblad in his hotel room. To my delight, Charlie wrote a letter to congratulate me. He signed it C.R. Watts (drummer of the Rolling Stones.)' How modest is that?!'
Charlie Watts, Halcyon Hotel, London, 1991 by Jill Furmanovsky
This stunning contact sheet of shots was taken on the same shoot at the Halcyon Hotel, London shows Charlie Watts in various poses, revealing both his playful and sensitive sides.
The Rolling Stones, London, 1963 by Philip Townsend
This shot by the late Philip Townsend was taken in 1963 during the first official photoshoot for the Rolling Stones, just five days after Andrew Loog Odham signed the band.
The Rolling Stones, Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, 1989 by Eugene Adebari
Eugene Adebari captured the Rolling Stones from the back of the stage in Los Angeles in 1989 during their Steel Wheels Tour. Charlie Watts beautifully lights up the foreground.
Charlie Watts, Circo Massimo, Rome, 2014 by Paolo Brillo
Over 70,000 people went to the Circo Massimo in Rome in 2014 for the much anticipated Italian gigs of the Rolling Stones 2014 Tour '14 on Fire'. Paolo Brillo was one of them, where he captured this beautiful image of Charlie Watts.
The Rolling Stones, Mexico City, 1995 by Fernando Aceves
Cover of The Guardian, 25 August 2021 featuring Jill Furmanovsky's iconic image.
The Rolling Stones are an English rock band who were in the vanguard of the British music Invasion that became popular in the US in 1964–65.
Charlie Wats, drummer with The Rolling Stones, captured in his room in the Halcyon Hotel, London in March 1991
Contact sheet of Charlie Watts, Rolling Stones drummer, taken at the Halcyon Hotel in London in March 1991
The Rolling Stones performing Brown Sugar on Top of the Pops in 1971, a few days before they left for France to record 'Exile on Main St'.
This was the second and last time that the Stones wore these check jackets.
Don’t try this now as you would probably drown. Standing on the Thames during the first photo shoot.
