The Rolling Stones landed in Spain to start their first European tour since Charlie Watts died at the age of 80 last August. Ronnie Wood said, will be amazing thanks to the late drummer’s spirit and insisted that Watts would have wanted the band to continue, so they brought in Steve Jordan on drums.
“We were lucky enough to have his blessing to start rehearsals without him, with Steve Jordan, and we did it with a very strange feeling. What was going to happen when Charlie left? But despite the uncertainty and sadness we kept going“.
“It’s what he would have wanted, the Rolling Stones don’t stop. And curiously, although it’s almost magical, I can say that the band now has an extra boost. It’s Charlie’s energy“, said Ronnie.
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Wood, 74, said he hopes the tour with Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, 78, will allow fans to forget about the world’s problems for one night. He said:
“Sometimes not even the Stones themselves believe that they have been fighting for 60 years. It is incredible that all this continues with such energy, and that the public continues to fill the stadiums, screaming, dancing and asking for more from this band of almost octogenarians“.
“This world sucks sometimes with everything that’s going on… I’d like to think we started this tour so people can forget about the problems that weigh us down for a couple of hours“, added Ronnie.
The band’s European tour kicks off next week in Madrid before heading to Munich. The Stones will play several concerts across the UK this summer, including one at Liverpool FC’s Anfield Stadium on June 9th.
They will also appear at the BST Hyde Park festival on June 26th and July 3rd, 60 years after their first gig at London’s legendary Marquee Club.