Mick Jagger gets emotional dedicating Rolling Stones concert to Charlie Watts
The band played in Foxboro, Massachusetts
Last updated 22nd Sep 2021
Mick Jagger paid a poignant and emotional tribute to Charlie Watts at The Rolling Stones’ first concert since the legendary drummer’s untimely death in August.
The Rolling Stones played an intimate warm-up show for their North American No Filter Tour at the Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts on Monday night (20th September) and Mick Jagger dedicated the performance to Charlie Watts.
In a video shared on Mick Jagger’s Twitter account, the frontman tells the audience at the private event: “It’s the first show of our 2021 tour, this is it, this is a try out.”
Standing arm-in-arm with Ronnie Wood and Keith Richards, Mick continued: “I must say though at this point, it’s a bit of a poignant night for us and it’s our first tour we’ve done in 59 years that we’ve done without our lovely Charlie Watts, and we all miss Charlie so much.
“We miss him as a band, we miss him as friends on and off the stage and we’ve got so many memories of Charlie and I’m sure some of you that have seen us before have got memories of Charlie as well and I hope you will remember him as we do.”
Taking a swig from a bottle of beer, Mick added: “We’d like to dedicate this show to Charlie. Let’s have a drink to Charlie.”
Guitarist Ronnie Wood then said: “Charlie we’re playing for you, man. We’re playing for you.”
Before launching into opener ‘Let's Spend the Night Together’, Mick asked: “What are we going to do now? Now I’m all emotional.”
The concert was the first time The Rolling Stones have performed without Charlie Watts since 1963. Charlie died aged 80 on 24th August.
Touring drummer Steve Jordan is behind the kit on The Rolling Stones’ North American tour, which officially kicks off at The Dome at America's Center in St Louis on Sunday 26th September.
The private show in Foxboro featured the live debuts of ‘Living in a Ghost Town’ and The Chi‐Lites cover ‘Troubles A-Comin'’ plus the first live performance of ‘19th Nervous Breakdown’ in 16 years.
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