When thinking about the "greatest rock band in the world", the Rolling Stones, instantly you associate the name with some of the most famous songs in rock, as well as with all those proverbial sex, drugs and rock and roll antics that its members are noted for. However, for all that can be said about the debauchery of Mick Jagger and Co, there is one member of the band, drummer Charlie Watts, who has had his feet planted firmly in the ground and has always lived out of the spotlight when not on stage. Both Mick Jagger and Keith Richards have said that without him, there would probably be no Rolling Stones.

Born in London on June 2, 1941, when he left school Watts (who is also an accomplished jazz musician/ bandleader in his own right and has worked on solo jazz side projects) joined a band called Blues Incorporated, which later recruited Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Mick Jones. Watts left the band to work as a commercial artist. However, when three ex-members of Blues Incorporated (namely, Jagger, Richards and Jones) founded a band called the Rolling Stones they persuaded Watts to join them. The rest, they say, is history.

Though quiet in his demeanor, he has an active voice in all the business and creative aspects of the Rolling Stones. He has often designed the album covers and stage sets and is the only other member of the Rolling Stones besides Jagger and Richards entitled to corporate entities.

Almost unheard of in the entertainment business, Watts has been married to the same woman for almost 43 years, Shirley Ann Shephard, with whom he has daughter, Seraphina, born in 1968. A self-professed fashion addict, he has been named one of the best dressed men in the world.

After nearly four decades of playing, Watts is still cited today as an influence in their playing style by many drummers and in 2006 was inducted into Modern Drummer Hall of Fame.