Charlie Watts’s Widow, Shirley, Dies at 84
Shirley Watts, the widow of Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts, has died. She was 84. Shirley’s death was confirmed in a statement from her family to the media. The statement…
Charlie Watts of rock group the Rolling Stones at Heathrow Airport in London with his wife Shirley (left) and their daughter Seraphina, UK, 5th December 1972.
Evening Standard/Hulton Archive/Getty ImagesShirley Watts, the widow of Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts, has died. She was 84.
Shirley's death was confirmed in a statement from her family to the media. The statement is as follows:
"It is with great sadness that Seraphina, Charlotte and Barry announce the death of their much-loved mother, grandmother and mother-in law Shirley Watts. Shirley died peacefully on Friday December 16 in Devon after a short illness surrounded by her family. She will be also sadly missed by her sisters Jackie and Jill, and her brother Stephen. Reunited now forever with her beloved Charlie."
Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood shared a brief statement saying, "Sally Wood and I are very sad to hear about the death of our friend Shirley Watts. We will miss you so much, but take comfort that you are reunited with your beloved Charlie. Our thoughts and prayers are with their daughter, Seraphina, granddaughter, Charlotte, & son-in-law Barry."
Shirley and Charlie married in October 1964 and remained married until Charlie's death in August 2021. The two met in 1961 while both were attending the Royal College of Art. According to the 2022 Charlie Watts biography Charlie's Good Tonight (h/t Variety), Shirley "always kept him in line," according to family friend Tony King. He said in the book, "I remember she wrote me this brilliant letter in the early days when they were touring America, around Altamont time. She said, ‘Charlie came home at the weekend, full of conceit about being a member of the Rolling Stones. So I made him clean the oven.'"
We send our thoughts to the Watts family during this difficult time.
Charlie Watts had one of the most incredible careers in rock history serving as the drummer from the Rolling Stones from January 1963 up until his death on August 24, 2021 at the age of 80.
In honor of his life and career, scroll through our gallery below of images of Watts through the years.
Two Year-Old Charlie Watts
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - CIRCA 1943: A stylish Charles Robert Watts aged 2 with his mother Lillian and father Charles in Piccadilly Circus in 1943. Charlie was known as Charlie Boy- while his dad was called Charlie. This previously unseen image will form part of The Rolling Stones - 'Exhibitionism' at London's Saatchi Gallery. Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts and Ronnie Wood have opened their personal archives and found never before seen photographs of themselves as youngsters. These along with hundreds more rare and unseen images will create the first ever international Rolling Stones exhibition which will open at the Saatchi Gallery in April 2016. (Photo by Linda Roots/Getty Images)
Rolling Stones
1964: British rhythm and blues pop group the Rolling Stones, from left to right, back row; Mick Jagger, Bill Wyman, Charlie Watts, front; Keith Richards and Brian Jones (1942 - 1969). (Photo by Evening Standard/Getty Images)
Charlie Watts
English drummer Charlie Watts of the Rolling Stones, circa 1965. (Photo by Keystone Features/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Charlie Watts And Family
English drummer Charlie Watts of rock group the Rolling Stones at Heathrow Airport in London with his wife Shirley (left) and their daughter Seraphina, UK, 5th December 1972. (Photo by Evening Standard/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Mick And Charlie
Singer Mick Jagger (left) and drummer Charlie Watts of rock group the Rolling Stones at Heathrow Airport in London, UK, April 1967. (Photo by Evening Standard/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Richards and Watts
British musicians Keith Richards and Charlie Watts of rock band The Rolling Stones at Heathrow Airport upon their return from the States, London, UK, 8th December 1969. (Photo by Evening Standard/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
The Rolling Stones
British rock band The Rolling Stones in Hyde Park, London, UK, 13th June 1969; (L-R) Charlie Watts, Mick Taylor, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards. (Photo by Evening Standard/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Diana meets the Rolling Stones
Diana, Princess of Wales (1961 -1997) meets Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts and guitarist Bill Wyman after a rock concert at the Albert Hall, London, 22nd September 1983; also Steve Winwood and Eric Clapton. The princess is wearing a total silver outfit. (Photo by Terry Disney/Daily Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
The Rolling Stones - Exhibitionism Opening Night
NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 15: (L-R) Ronnie Wood, Keith Richards, Mick Jagger, and Charlie Watts of The Rolling Stones attend The Rolling Stones celebrate the North American debut of Exhibitionism at Industria in the West Village on November 15, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)
Desert Trip - Weekend 2 - Day 1
INDIO, CA - OCTOBER 14: Musician Charlie Watts of The Rolling Stones performs during Desert Trip at the Empire Polo Field on October 14, 2016 in Indio, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
'The Rolling Stones: Exhibitionism' - Private View - Red carpet Arrivals
LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 04: Charlie Watts, Ronnie Wood and Mick Jagger arrive for the private view of 'The Rolling Stones: Exhibitionism' at the Saatchi Gallery on April 4, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images)
'The Rolling Stones: Exhibitionism' - Private View - Red carpet Arrivals
LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 04: Charlie Watts, Ronnie Wood, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards arrive for the private view of 'The Rolling Stones: Exhibitionism' at the Saatchi Gallery on April 4, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images)
Havana Prepares For Rolling Stones Concert
HAVANA, CUBA - MARCH 24: Mick Jagger, Charlie Watts, Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood of the Rolling Stones wave as they exit their plane after landing at the Jose Marti International Airport on March 24, 2016 in Havana, Cuba. The Rolling Stones are in Havana to play a free concert for the first time, after the music was once banned by the Cuban government. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
The Rolling Stones Perform Live In Adelaide
ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 25: Charlie Watts of The Rolling Stones perform live at Adelaide Oval on October 25, 2014 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Morne de Klerk/Getty Images)
The Rolling Stones Arrive In Adelaide
ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 23: Charlie Watts, Keith Richards, Mick Jagger and Ronnie Wood pose for the media ahead of their Australian tour at Adelaide Oval on October 23, 2014 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Morne de Klerk/Getty Images)
Rolling Stones In Concert - Boston, MA
BOSTON, MA - JUNE 12: Charlie Watts of the Rolling Stones performs at TD Garden on June 12, 2013 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Paul Marotta/Getty Images)
The Rolling Stones Arrive In Adelaide
ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 23: Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones hugs fellow band member Charlie Watts during a photo call for the media ahead of their Australian tour at Adelaide Oval on October 23, 2014 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Morne de Klerk/Getty Images)
"The Rolling Stones Crossfire Hurricane" Premiere - Arrivals
NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 13: Charlie Watts and Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones attend "The Rolling Stones Crossfire Hurricane" Premiere at Ziegfeld Theater on November 13, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images)
Global Citizen Together At Home
UNSPECIFIED LOCATION - APRIL 18: In this screengrab, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood and Charlie Watts of musical group "The Rolling Stones" perform during "One World: Together At Home" presented by Global Citizen on April, 18, 2020. The global broadcast and digital special was held to support frontline healthcare workers and the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund for the World Health Organization, powered by the UN Foundation. (Photo by Getty Images/Getty Images for Global Citizen )
