As the Rolling Stones gear up to hit the road once again in Europe, Mick Jagger admitted that he’s still mourning the loss of the band’s late-drummer and musical bedrock, Charlie Watts. Watts died of cancer last August 24th at the age of 80.

Rolling Stone reported during Jagger’s chat with The Times UK, he explained how Watts’ passing has affected him: “I don’t really expect him to be there any more if I turn round during a show. But I do think about him. Not only during rehearsals or on stage, but in other ways too. I would have phoned him up and talked about last night’s Arsenal (soccer) game because he supported Tottenham and I’m Arsenal. I miss him as a player and as a friend.”

Jagger went on to say, “In the show, when we come to the front and bow at the end, there’s no Charlie. He’d always be the last one down. I’d go: ‘Come on, what have you got to do?’ He’d be fiddling with his sticks because he always had to have them in a row before he’d get off the seat.”

When pressed about current pop sensation Harry Styles — who bares more than a passing resemblance to rock’s ultimate bad boy, Jagger said, “I like Harry — we have an easy relationship. I mean, I used to wear a lot more eye make-up than him. Come on, I was much more androgynous. And he doesn’t have a voice like mine or move on stage like me; he just has a superficial resemblance to my younger self, which is fine. He can’t help that.”

  • The Rolling Stones European tour dates (subject to change):
    June 1 – Madrid, Spain – Wanda Metropolitano Stadium
    June 5 – Munich, Germany – Olympic Stadium
    June 9 – Liverpool, England. – Anfield Stadium
    June 13 – Amsterdam, Netherlands – Johan Cruijff Arena
    June 17 – Bern, Switzerland – Wankdorf Stadium
    June 21 – Milan, Italy – San Siro Stadium
    June 25 – London, England – American Express Presents BST Hyde Park
    July 3 – London, England- American Express Presents BST Hyde Park
    July 11 – Brussels, Belgium – King Baudouin Stadium
    July 15 – Vienna, Austria – Ernst Happel Stadium
    July 19 – Lyon, France – Groupama Stadium
    July 23 – Paris, France – Hippodrome Paris
    July 27 – Gelsenkirchen, Germany – Veltins Arena
    July 31 – Stockholm, Sweden – Friends Arena

SIDE NOTES

  • Out now is the Rolling Stones‘ 23-trackarchival release, Live At The El Mocambo. The album is culled from the band’s pair of 1977 shows at Toronto’s El Mocambo Tavern.
  • The new package features the entirety of the March 4th, 1977 set — along with a trio of tracks from the March 5th show not played the night before.

The full tracklisting to The Stones’ Live At The El Mocambo is:

“Honky Tonk Women”
“All Down The Line”
“Hand Of Fate”
“Route 66”
“Fool To Cry”
“Crazy Mama”– live premiere
“Mannish Boy”
“Crackin’ Up”
“Dance Little Sister” – live premiere
“Around And Around”
“Tumbling Dice”
“Star Star”
“Hot Stuff”
“Let’s Spend The Night Together”
“Worried Life Blues
“Little Red Rooster”
“It’s Only Rock and Roll (But I Like It)”
“Rip This Joint”
“Brown Sugar”
“Jumpin’ Jack Flash”
“Melody” – live premiere
“Luxury”

CHECK IT OUT: The Stones “Sixty” tour teaser:

CHECK IT OUT: The Stones performing “Hand Of Fate” from Live At The El Mocambo 1977: