Rolling Stones members post tributes to late drummer Charlie Watts

Watts died Tuesday at the age of 80.

August 25, 2021, 10:39 AM

Following the death of Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts on Tuesday, the group's three surviving current members -- singer Mick Jagger and guitarists Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood -- all posted online tributes to their longtime bandmate.

Jagger took to his social media pages to post a fairly recent photo of Watts laughing while sitting behind his drums.

Richards posted a heart-wrenching picture on his social media sites of Charlie's empty drum kit with a sign hanging off a nearby mic stand that reads, "Closed -- Please Call Again."

As for Wood, he posted a black-and-white photo on his official website of Watts and him smiling while sitting in chairs positioned back-to-back.

Meanwhile, The Rolling Stones' official website appears to have taken all of its content offline, simply featuring a pic of Watts looking into the camera with a slight smile and folded arms.

According to a statement from his spokesperson, Watts died peacefully Tuesday morning "in a London hospital…surrounded by his family."

Watts' passing follows an announcement from The Stones earlier this month that he'd undergone an unspecified medical procedure and likely wouldn't be able to join the band on its "No Filter Tour" of North America.

PHOTO: From left, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts, Mick Jagger and Ronnie Wood of The Rolling Stones pose backstage before their headlining performance at the 2013 Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm, June 29, 2013, in Glastonbury, England.
From left, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts, Mick Jagger and Ronnie Wood of The Rolling Stones pose backstage before their headlining performance at the 2013 Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm, June 29, 2013, in Glastonbury, England.
Dave J. Hogan/Getty Images

The announcement also revealed that Watts had asked Steve Jordan to "stand in" for him on the trek. Jordan has played drums on all of Richards' solo albums.

The Stones' tour is scheduled to kick off on Sept. 26 in St. Louis.