Shirley Watts, the widow of Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts, has died. She was 84.
Shirley’s death was confirmed in a statement from her family to the media. The statement is as follows:
“It is with great sadness that Seraphina, Charlotte and Barry announce the death of their much-loved mother, grandmother and mother-in law Shirley Watts. Shirley died peacefully on Friday December 16 in Devon after a short illness surrounded by her family. She will be also sadly missed by her sisters Jackie and Jill, and her brother Stephen. Reunited now forever with her beloved Charlie.”
Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood shared a brief statement saying, “Sally Wood and I are very sad to hear about the death of our friend Shirley Watts. We will miss you so much, but take comfort that you are reunited with your beloved Charlie. Our thoughts and prayers are with their daughter, Seraphina, granddaughter, Charlotte, & son-in-law Barry.”
@SallyWood & I are very sad to hear about the death of our friend Shirley Watts. We will miss you so much, but take comfort that you are reunited with your beloved Charlie. Our thoughts & prayers are with their daughter Seraphina, granddaughter Charlotte, & son-in-law Barry pic.twitter.com/1FxGicuyPH
— Ronnie Wood (@ronniewood) December 19, 2022
Shirley and Charlie married in October 1964 and remained married until Charlie’s death in August 2021. The two met in 1961 while both were attending the Royal College of Art. According to the 2022 Charlie Watts biography Charlie’s Good Tonight (h/t Variety), Shirley “always kept him in line,” according to family friend Tony King. He said in the book, “I remember she wrote me this brilliant letter in the early days when they were touring America, around Altamont time. She said, ‘Charlie came home at the weekend, full of conceit about being a member of the Rolling Stones. So I made him clean the oven.’”
We send our thoughts to the Watts family during this difficult time.
