Rolling Stones Bombshell: Brian Jones' 'Atrocious Drummer' Letter Inviting Charlie Watts Up for Auction!
A never-before-seen handwritten letter from Rolling Stones co-founder Brian Jones to Charlie Watts, inviting the drummer to join the legendary band in 1962, is headed for auction at Sotheby's. This historic document, penned weeks before the band's first gig, offers a unique glimpse into the formation of one of music's most iconic groups. It will debut at auction on December 15, with an estimated value of $70,000-$80,000.
A significant piece of rock and roll history, a previously unseen handwritten letter from the late Rolling Stones guitarist and co-founder Brian Jones, is set to be auctioned. This compelling document extends an invitation to drummer Charlie Watts to join the nascent group, capturing a pivotal moment before the band solidified its legendary status. The letter, addressed to “Mr. C. Watts” at his childhood home in Wembley, England, was penned in June 1962, mere weeks before the band's inaugural performance and prior to them formally adopting the name The Rolling Stones.
Sotheby’s music and pop culture specialist Craig Inciardi emphasized the historical weight of the letter, stating, “Few documents bring us as close to the formation of a legendary band as this letter.” He further noted its importance in illustrating Brian Jones’s ambition to recruit Watts, whose distinctive drumming style would ultimately help define The Rolling Stones for nearly six decades. The letter, along with its original envelope, has been preserved within Watts’s family for over 60 years, provided by his sister, and will make its auction debut at Sotheby’s New York’s Rock & Pop sale on December 15. It carries an initial estimate of $70,000 to $80,000.
The friendly, yet cheeky, missive opens with the line, “Dear Charlie, if you consider this letter rather impertinent, please excuse me…” Jones, who initially served as a creative driving force for the band before his departure in 1969 due to drug and alcohol issues, then inquired about Watts’s involvement with Alexis Korner’s Blues Incorporated, a prominent R&B act in London at the time. Following this, Jones made his direct pitch: “We are looking for a good drummer. Already we consider our band far better than Alex’s – we are getting a very tightly-knit sound.” He candidly assessed their then-current drummer, remarking, “Our current drummer is atrocious!”
Despite the earnest appeal, which came from a group comprising two guitars, harmonica, piano, and drums, with plans to add a bassist, it took another seven months for Watts to officially join in January 1963. Watts, whose primary background was in jazz, remained the Stones' drummer until his passing in 2021 at the age of 80. Guitarist Keith Richards, in his 2010 autobiography, 'Life', recounted the band's determination to secure Watts, revealing that they “starved ourselves to pay for him! Literally. We went shoplifting to get Charlie Watts. We cut down our rations, we wanted him so bad, man.”
The historic letter will be available for public viewing at Sotheby’s New York from December 2 until its auction date on December 15. In related news, The Rolling Stones are preparing to release an expanded edition of their 'Foreign Tongues' album, retitled 'Foreign Tongues, Loose Lips', on November 27, featuring five new songs from the recording sessions for their 25th studio album.