And Four Became Three

The Stones are back on tour.

The No Filter Tour was delayed because of Covid. They are back on the road - without Charlie. The first date was on September 26 in St. Louis.

I have seen clips of that concert.

Pretty tough, but The Stones being The Stones they still delivered. I imagine this tour will have extra energy and emotion in memory of Charlie Watts.

The final bow was heartbreaking to me.

After every concert Charlie, Ronnie, Mick and Keith used to walk to the front of the stage, link arms and take a bow.

To me that was a celebration of their longevity, their staying power, their determination and dedication to the music. Their love, worship and respect for the music and for their own legacy. The four of them against the world.

In St. Louis four became three.

Mick, Keith and Ronnie. Linking arms, taking a bow - without Charlie.

It destroyed me.

Seeing the three of them up there without Charlie brought home the permanence of this situation. He's gone and he won't be back. The weirdness of death. The heaviness of absence.

I am sure Mick, Keith and Ronnie have been rocked by Charlie's death. He put in 58 years with this band.

Fifty eight.

No different than a marriage, when your life is intertwined with other people for that long, the bond becomes sacred. When death breaks that bond the soul recoils.

Of course The Stones are paying tribute. The St. Louis show opened to just drums, an empty stage, and four large screens overhead displaying photos of Charlie. Mick talked about how hard it is to play on without him.

I quoted Rob Thomas as saying that Charlie's death feels like the beginning of the end of an era.

Seeing those three men link arms and bow without him brought the point home in a visceral and very sad way.

Requiescat in pace, Charlie Watts.

With LOVE.