Sir Mick Jagger & Keith Richards have paid tribute to their bandmate Charlie Watts following the death of Rolling Stones drummer.
In a post on Twitter & Instagram, singer Sir Mick shared a picture of Watts smiling while sitting behind the drum kit.
Guitarist Richards also shared a picture on social media of a set of drums with the "off" sign on it.
The band's publicist said Watts died on Tuesday at the age of 80 in a London hospital.
The news came weeks after it was announced that he would miss the Rolling Stones' US tour starting next month to recover from an unspecified medical procedure. Watts was previously treated for throat cancer in 2004.
— Mick Jagger (@MickJagger) August 24, 2021
He had been a member of the Stones since January 1963, when he joined their fledgling group with Sir Mick, Keith Richards & Brian Jones.
Watts helped become one of the bands that, along with the Beatles, took rock 'n' roll to the masses in the 1960s with such classics as (I Can't Get Know) Satisfaction, Jumpin' Jack Flash, Get Off My Cloud, & more. Delivered. sympathy for the Devil.
The picture chosen by Sir Mick in his social media post has no caption. It shows Watts performing with his own jazz bands, The ABCs & D of Boogie Woogie, at a casino in Herisau, Switzerland, in January 2010.
The Beatles Sir Paul McCartney & Sir Ringo Starr were among other stars in the rock world to remember Watts.
Sir Paul described Watts as "a lovely man" & "a brilliant drummer", who was "steady as a rock", while Fab Four drummer Sir Ringo said on Twitter: "God bless Charlie Watts We're going to miss you".
Sir Elton John wrote on Twitter: "A very sad day. Charlie Watts was the ultimate drummer. Most stylish of men & such great company."
Other fellow drummers paid tribute, with Stewart Copeland of The Police telling BBC Radio 5 Live that Watts had a "unique rhythmic personality" that set him apart.
"She's unique, she's irreplaceable," he said. "There's only one man with that sound.
"You can try & figure out on paper whose voice it was. You could say that his kick was leading the drum charge, but his backbeat was just a hair behind the snare beat, & he Combination ... you can describe that, but there's only one man who can do it."
So sad to lose a unique, iconic drummer. (and dancer)
— Stewart Copeland (@copelandmusic) August 24, 2021
He was a quiet gianthttps://t.co/W9QdcJwfur@RollingStones #DOTM #charliewatts #therollingstones #rollingstones
John Densmore of The Doors remembered him on Twitter as "an early mentor, a fellow jazz fan".
American drummer & vocalist Sheila E said that Watts had "done a lot in music & for us as a drummer" & was "one of the best".
Kenny Jones, who played drums with The Who & the Small Faces, described BBC Watts as "the heart & soul of The Rolling Stones".
Also paying tribute, The Who frontman Roger Daltrey said that Watts was "a perfect gentleman who was as sharp in his manner of dressing as he was on drums".
And folk singer Joan Baez remembered him as "a prince among thieves" & "a gentleman through & through".
The subtle, stoic heartbeat of the Stones
By BBC music reporter Mark Savage
Charlie Watts was never the hottest drummer ever. He was not known for the frenzied singles of Cream's Ginger Baker, or for having explosives in his kick drum like The Who's Keith Moon. Instead, he was the subtle, stoic heartthrob of The Rolling Stones for nearly 60 years.
A jazz fan, she fell in love with drums after hearing Chico Hamilton playing brushes on walking shoes; And the dark arts of rock 'n' roll were introduced only by Mick Jagger & Keith Richards in the early 1960s.
He joined the Stones in 1963 when several other drummers left the band - & he never looked back. Richards later said, "Charlie Watts gives me the freedom to fly on stage."
His jazz-inflected swing gave the Stones' songs their swagger, push & pull on the groove, to make room for Jagger's sensual draw.
She was at her best at the cowbell-wielding Honky Tonk Woman or the locked-down groove Gimme Shelter (where she also threw in some uncharacteristically ostentatious Phil).
On and off stage, he was calm & restrained - sticking to the shadows & letting the rest of the band take the spotlight.
He told the San Diego Tribune in 1991, "I was never really interested in all those things & still am not. I don't know what showbiz is & I have never watched MTV. There are people who just play instruments. , & I'm pleased to know that I am one of them."