Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts exits tour following medical procedure

Charlie Watts has dropped out of the Rolling Stones’ No Filter tour of the US this autumn after undergoing a successful medical procedure.

A spokesperson for the band has revealed that doctors recommended “rest and recuperation” for the drummer after the operation. Emmy award winning musical director and Grammy award winning producer, Steve Jordan, will fill in for Watts.

“For once my timing has been a little off. I am working hard to get fully fit but I have today accepted on the advice of the experts that this will take a while,” said the 80-year-old in a statement

“After all the fans’ suffering caused by COVID I really do not want the many RS fans who have been holding tickets for this Tour to be disappointed by another postponement or cancellation. I have therefore asked my great friend Steve Jordan to stand in for me,” he added.

Steve Jordan is the drummer for Keith Richards side-project, the X-Pensive winos. The American musician also helped Richards write and produce much of his solo work. He worked in bands on Saturday Night Live and Late Night With David Letterman.

“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. 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,” said Jordan.

The Rolling Stones dropped their latest EP, Playing With Fire, in July. They also released a live album titled A Bigger Bang in the same month. The 22 track record feature classic hits 'Brown Sugar,' 'Wild Horses,' '(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction,' and 'Honkey Tonk Women.'