How the Stones Rolled After Charlie Watts's Death — Steve Jordan Steps In

When Charlie Watts died in August 2021 at 80, the Rolling Stones had already postponed their No Filter tour because of COVID. Watts had actually told the band months earlier that he wouldn’t be able to join the rescheduled dates due to an unspecified medical procedure. So the idea of a substitute wasn’t totally out of nowhere, but losing the guy who’d been the band’s rhythmic anchor for 58 years still felt like the end of an era.

Watts personally recommended Steve Jordan, the drummer who’d worked with Keith Richards on his solo projects and had a long history with the Stones’ extended family. Jordan had actually been the first choice for the original lineup of the X-Pensive Winos in the late ’80s, so Keith trusted him completely. The band went ahead with the 2021 U.S. tour, dedicating it to Watts, and Jordan played with a blend of power and restraint — honoring Charlie’s parts without trying to copy his exact feel. It worked so well that when the Stones announced a new album in 2023, Jordan was officially a full member. No awkward transition, just steady, respectful continuity.