Charlie Watts: why is Rolling Stones drummer likely to miss US tour - and who is his substitute Steve Jordan?

Sir Mick Jagger revealed that Steve Jordan will fill in for Watts for the remaining dates of the US tour
Charlie Watts of The Rolling Stones  (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)Charlie Watts of The Rolling Stones  (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Charlie Watts of The Rolling Stones (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watt has announced he is stepping back from the band to recover from a medical procedure.

Sir Mick Jagger said the band will welcome back drummer Steve Jordan to fill his seat for the remaining dates of their US tour.

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Watts has been a part of the Rolling Stones since 1963, and played a part on all of the bands studio albums.

Here’s all you need to know about why Charlie Watts is stepping back, and who Steve Jordan is.

Why has Charlie Watts stepped back?

Charlie Watts announced he will step back from his Rolling Stones drumming duties to recover from a medical procedure.

A spokesman for Watts, 80, confirmed he is "unlikely to be available for the resumption of the Rolling Stones USA No Filter Tour this fall" as he recovers from an unspecified medical procedure.

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Lead singer, Sir Mick Jagger, has said the band are look forward to welcoming Watts back “as soon he is fully recovered”.

The Rolling Stones are due to resume the tour in the US in September, following its postponement last year.

Watts' spokesman said: "Charlie has had a procedure which was completely successful, but I gather his doctors this week concluded that he now needs proper rest and recuperation.

"With rehearsals starting in a couple of weeks it's very disappointing to say the least, but it's also fair to say no-one saw this coming."

Who will replace Charlie Watts?

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Sir Mick announced that drummer Steve Jordan will substitute in for Watts for the remaining US tour dates.

He tweeted: He tweeted: "We really look forward to welcoming Charlie back as soon as he is fully recovered. Thank you to our friend Steve Jordan for stepping in, so we can still play all the shows for you this fall."

Jordan is a Grammy-award winning drummer and producer. He was a member of X-Pensive Winos, the side project of guitarist Keith Richards. He was also a member of the John Mayer Trio in the 2000’s and has played in the house bands for Saturday Night Live and Late Night with David Letterman.

Jordan said it was an "absolute honour and privilege" to be Watts' understudy.

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He added: "I am looking forward to rehearsing with Mick, Keith and Ronnie. No-one will be happier than me to give up my seat on the drum-riser as soon as Charlie tells me he is good to go."

In a statement Watts said: "For once my timing has been a little off. I am working hard to get fully fit but I have today accepted on the advice of the experts that this will take a while.

"After all the fans' suffering caused by Covid I really do not want the many RS fans who have been holding tickets for this Tour to be disappointed by another postponement or cancellation.

"I have therefore asked my great friend Steve Jordan to stand in for me."

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