roxy54, I don’t so much think of Charlie Watts as a drummer as much as I think of him as a musician. Too many drummers believe that a flashy technique is required but typically the opposite is true. Studio drummer Gary Chester, who was also a great pedagogue, would tell his students that if they planned to make a career from playing drum solos, that they needed to find a good job to fall back on.
To me, drummers who can support the musical strengths of those around them, are extremely valuable and difficult to find. Some drummers can do this and solo too. Some drummers are strictly ensemble players. There is no doubt that The Rolling Stones are one of the greatest pop/rock bands of all time and Charlie Watts helped to make that happen. I don’t believe any other drummer in the world could have done as much for the Stones as what Charlie Watts did.
