The Rolling Stones’ Charlie Watts has been forced to pull out of an upcoming tour of the after needing emergency surgery.
The 80-year-old was due to go on tour with his band next month, but had to undergo an emergency operation in London after a routine check-up found a health issue.
While the surgery is said to have been successful, the world-famous drummer now must face several weeks of recovery meaning he is unable to take part in the reschedules No Filter tour.
Charlie joked to The Sun: “For once, my timing has been a little off.”
(Image: Getty Images)
The tour will still go ahead without Charlie, with hot session drummer and friend of the band Steve Jordan filling in as his replacement.
Charlie said he was disappointed to be missing out on the tour, but that he had to take the advice of experts in order to get fully fit and it “may take a while” to get there.
(Image: WireImage)
He said: “After all the disappointment with delays to the tour caused by Covid, I really don’t want the many Stones fans in the States who have been holding tickets to have another postponement or cancellation.
“I have therefore asked my great friend Steve Jordan to stand in for me.”
Steve was thrilled to be chosen and said it would be an “absolute honour”.
(Image: AFP/Getty Images)
He said: “It is an absolute honour and a privilege to be Charlie’s understudy and I am looking forward to rehearsing with Mick, Keith and Ronnie.”
However, he added: “No one will be happier than me to give up my seat on the drum-riser as soon as Charlie tells me he is good to go.”
Charlie hopes to rejoin Mick Jagger, 78, Keith Richards, 77, and Ronnie Wood, 74, later in the year once he has recovered.
A spokesperson for the band said Charlie needs weeks of “rest and recuperation” following the surgery.
They added: “With rehearsals starting in a couple of weeks it’s very disappointing to be without Charlie.”
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
