Bandmates salute late Charlie Watts
Members of the Rolling Stones have saluted their unshakeable drummer Charlie Watts, who died Tuesday at age 80.
Mick Jagger, the legendary rock band’s frontman, posted a photo on Twitter of a smiling Watts seated behind a drum.
Lead guitarist Keith Richards shared a picture of a drum set with a hanging “Closed” sign. Guitarist Ronnie Wood posted a photo of himself and his late bandmate captioned “I love you my fellow Gemini - I will dearly miss you you are the best.”
On the Rollingstones. com website, only a black-silhouetted portrait of Watts appeared.
Having joined the Stones in 1963, the drummer ranked just behind Jagger and Richards as the group’s longest-lasting and most essential member.
The 80-year-old’s death has drawn tributes from across the music industry, including from Paul Mccartney, Elton John and
Patti Smith. Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart hailed Watts as “a colossus in the world of rock ’n’ roll drumming (whose) hands and feet danced like (Rudolf ) Nureyev, so elegant, so graceful.”
“We are extremely saddened to hear the passing of the legendary Charlie Watts,” Aerosmith said in a statement. “Our deepest condolences to Charlie’s family and The Rolling Stones. Sincerely, from the guys in Aerosmith you’ve given us all so much!”
West seeks name change: Kanye West filed court documents Tuesday to legally change his name to Ye. The Los Angeles Superior Court filing says the 44-year-old wants to get rid of his full name — Kanye Omari West — in favor of just his two-letter nickname, Ye, with no middle name or last name. The documents cite “personal reasons” for the change. A judge must approve of the change before it becomes official.
West, who calls himself Ye on his social media pages, tweeted that he wanted the change in 2018, saying, “the being formally known as Kanye West.
I am YE.” He has said in interviews that, along with being a shortening of his first name, he likes that it’s a word used throughout the Bible.
The moniker was also the title of his 2018 album.
Mitchell honored by Musicares: Joni Mitchell has been named the 2022 Person of the Year by the Recording Academy’s Musicares organization.
Mitchell, 77, whose albums include “For the Roses,” “Court and Spark,” “Hejira” and “Blue,” will be honored with a tribute concert Jan. 29 — two days prior to the 64th annual Grammy Awards.
“I’m honored to be chosen as person of the year by this great charity,” Mitchell said in a statement. “I look forward to being part of this gala that will help Musicares continue their inspired work in providing a support system for those in need.”
The nonprofit organization’s mission is to provide aid to music industry professionals in need, whether via emergency financial assistance, addiction treatment or senior housing.
Aug. 26 birthdays: Singer Valerie Simpson is 75. Journalist Bill Whitaker is 70. Saxophonist Branford Marsalis is 61. Actor Chris Burke is 56. Actor Melissa Mccarthy is 51. Singer Thalia is 50. Actor Meredith Eaton is 47. Actor Mike Colter is 45. Actor Macaulay Culkin is 41. Actor Chris Pine is 41. Actor Keke Palmer is 28.