Touching tribute to Charlie kickstarts Stones’ return
A SMILING Charlie Watts beams at the crowd from a giant video screen as the Rolling Stones paid tribute to their late drummer on returning to London’s Hyde Park.
The 65,000-audience, which included Hollywood star Tom Cruise, cheered the poignant moment at the start of Saturday’s show.
Singer Mick Jagger told fans: “In 1962 we met a drummer from Wembley called Charlie Watts. Sadly, this is our first show in London without him, so we would like to dedicate it to Charlie.”
Charlie died aged 80 last August and his replacement, Steve Jordan, joined guitarists Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood to play hits such as You Can’t Always Get What You Want, She’s A Rainbow and Paint It Black.
The band, who first played in the park in 1969, returned for a second night of Hyde Park’s BST festival last night.