By JILL LAWLESS and GREGORY KATZ Associated Press

LONDON (AP) — Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts has died at the age of 80. 

Publicist Bernard Doherty said Tuesday that Watts "passed away peacefully in a London hospital earlier today surrounded by his family." 

The self-effacing and unshakeable drummer helped anchor one of rock's greatest rhythm sections for more than half a century and used his "day job" to support his enduring love of jazz. 

Watts had announced he would not tour with the Stones in 2021 because of an undefined health issue. He joined the Stones early in 1963 and ranked just behind Mick Jagger and Keith Richards as the group's longest lasting and most essential member.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629835426049.png" alt="Watts in Lexington, Ky., in 1981 / Photo courtesy Michael Conen, Flickr" />
 <figcaption>Watts in Lexington, Ky., in 1981 / Photo courtesy Michael Conen, Flickr</figcaption>
 </figure>By JILL LAWLESS and GREGORY KATZ Associated PressLONDON (AP) — Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts has died at the age of 80. Publicist Bernard Doherty said Tuesday that Watts "passed away peacefully in a London hospital earlier today surrounded by his family." The self-effacing and unshakeable drummer helped anchor one of rock's greatest rhythm sections for more than half a century and used his "day job" to support his enduring love of jazz. Watts had announced he would not tour with the Stones in 2021 because of an undefined health issue. He joined the Stones early in 1963 and ranked just behind Mick Jagger and Keith Richards as the group's longest lasting and most essential member.

Drummer Charlie Watts, Rolling Stones backbone, dies at 80