The Rolling Stones.Photo: Samir Hussein/WireImage
TheRolling Stonesare honoring their late bandmateCharlie Watts.
On Tuesday, frontmanMick Jaggershared a clip on Twitter of the first unofficial performance in the band’sNo Filtertour showing that before they started, the band dedicated the show to their fellow member, whodied last month.
“At this point, it’s a bit of a poignant night for us because this is our first tour in 59 years that we’ve done without our lovely Charlie Watts,” said Jagger, 78. “And we all miss Charlie so much — we miss him as a band, we miss him as a friend — on and off the stage and we’ve got so many memories of Charlie. I’m sure that some of you who have seen us before miss Charlie as well and I hope you’ll remember him like we do. "
“We’d like to dedicate this show to Charlie,” he continued. Jagger then walked to pick up a beer and raised his bottle in honor of Watts before taking a drink and saying, “Let’s have a drink to Charlie!”
“Charlie, we’re playing for you man, we’re playing for you,” said Ronnie Wood, the Rolling Stones' bassist.
The Rolling Stones will officially set off on their tour on Sept. 26 in St. Louis, Missouri. However, a small crowd of guests were invited to see the band play a 14-song warmup show on Monday night in Foxboro, Massachusetts.
The show was also the unofficial debut of touring drummer Steve Jordan.
Charlie Watts.David Wolff - Patrick/Redferns
PEOPLE confirmed Watts' death at 80 years old on Aug. 24.
“Charlie was a cherished husband, father and grandfather and also as a member of The Rolling Stones one of the greatest drummers of his generation,” the statement continued. “We kindly request that the privacy of his family, band members and close friends is respected at this difficult time.”
The Rolling Stones in 2019.MICHELE EVE SANDBERG/AFP via Getty Images
RELATED VIDEO: Rolling Stones' Charlie Watts Dies at 80: ‘One of the Greatest Drummers of His Generation’
Watts had undergone anunspecified medical procedureearlier that month, which a spokesperson said was “completely successful.” However, he was unlikely to join the band on their tour.
“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,” the spokesperson added at the time.
In a statement of his own, Watts joked that for once, his timing was “a little off,” and that he was “working hard to get fully fit” before stepping behind his drum kit once more.
The No Filter tour will end on Nov. 20 in Austin.
source: people.com
