In a recent conversation with Classic Rock, Bill Wyman said the Rolling Stones should have split after Charlie Watts’ death.
“When Charlie left, I thought they would close. I really did,” the bassist revealed. “They could replace the bass, but I didn’t think they could replace Charlie, and his charisma, and what a great guy he was, but they went on, which surprised me. I wouldn’t say it disappointed me, but it surprised me.”
He added, “I think it would’ve been a good time for them to… But I don’t think they’ve got anything else to do, otherwise they’d do it, wouldn’t they?”
Watts died in a London hospital on August 24, 2021, at 80. The cause of death was never officially announced, but Keith Richards said in March 2022 that Watts had cancer.
Before Watts’ death in 2021, the Rolling Stones last released a new album in 2016, followed by a covers album, ‘Blue & Lonesome,’ in 2016. In 2023, they released ‘Hackney Diamonds,’ their first new album in nearly 20 years.
Watts’ drumming can still be heard on two tracks, ‘Mess It Up’ and ‘Live by the Sword.’ Wyman also played bass on ‘Live by the Sword,’ his first time recording with the band since 1989.
Last year, Richards shared Watts’ last wish for the Rolling Stones during a press conference for ‘Hackney Diamonds.’ While discussing the album, Jimmy Fallon asked what it was like to record without Watts. Richards replied, “Ever since Charlie’s gone, it’s different… I mean, he’s number four. He’s missing. Of course, he’s missed, incredibly.”
He then shared Watts’ final wish and advice for his bandmates, “But thanks to Charlie Watts, also, we have Steve Jordan who was Charlie’s recommendation if anything should happen to him. [Charlie said] ‘Steve Jordan is your man.'”
“[Watts recommended Steve] Way, way back. He’s been a friend of ours, I worked with Steve. So, it was kind of natural progression. It would have been a lot harder without Charlie’s blessing, but, at the same time, it’s a hard team,” the musician also noted.
Currently, Steve Jordan is the band’s drummer, having previously played with Keith Richards’ X-Pensive Winos when Watts was unavailable.
