Mick Jagger Breaks Down As He Admits He Still Struggles With Going On Tour After Charlie Watts’ Death

Although it’s been three years since the tragic death of Rolling Stone drummer Charlie Watts in August 2021 following complications from emergency heart surgery, his absence has left a profound void in the group’s dynamic.

Recently, Mick Jagger, the group’s frontman, took a moment to reflect on the enduring impact of the late musician while paying homage to his profound contribution to the band’s storied journey. He also once admitted that losing him has been hard on him as he struggles to perform on tour without him.

Mick Jagger says touring has been hard without Charlie Watts

Shortly after Watts’s passing, Jagger was questioned about his touring experience without his dear friend and his response was very emotional. “Of course, it’s hard. I mean, it’s all my life ever since I was 19 or whatever, it’s always been Charlie,” he revealed. “Of course, it’s emotional, but you have to get past that in life. I love Charlie and all the things, but I still want to carry on making music.”

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The 80-year-old emphasized that despite experiencing significant grief, the band persevered with their musical career and continued performing. This dedication stemmed largely from a request made by Watt before his passing, which served as a guiding motivation for the band members to honor his memory and legacy through their continued artistic endeavors.

In a previous interview with The Guardian, Jagger opened up about the devastating loss and told how he often thinks of Charlie and misses his carefree attitude in the rock band. “It’s a couple of years now, and I still think about Charlie a lot,” he told the news outlet. “I miss his laconic humour, his taste in music, his elegance, his don’t-care attitude – he didn’t get intense. Keith and I get a bit intense.”

When discussing the process of accepting the loss of his bandmate, the singer candidly disclosed that coping with people’s deaths does not get easier with age. “No, [loss] doesn’t get easier at all, there’s a lot of people around your age, they’re dying all the time,” Jagger confessed. “I don’t have any friends older than me, only one, apart from the band, all my friends are much younger.”