ROLLING Stones legend Charlie Watts sadly passed away yesterday at the age of 80, with his devoted wife Shirley Ann Shepherd by his side.
He spent much of his life loved up with Shirley, with the pair getting married in 1964 – just before he shot to fame in the iconic rock group.
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The pair shared 57 blissful years together, with Charlie saying often that he was glad to have met Shirley before stardom – and that he regularly turned down sex with groupies to stay loyal to his wife.
The couple share one daughter, Seraphina, who was born in 1968, and she gave the rocker his only grandchild, Charlotte.
Speaking out about his successful marriage in the past, Charlie credited the fact that he was “not really a rock star” and only wanted to make music.
His love for Shirley and Seraphina was his driving force for success, and he had no interest in being in the public eye.
He told NME: “I don’t have all the trappings of that. I’ve never been interested in doing interviews or being seen.
“For 20 years I never did an interview, you know? I did one with Ray Connolly and I didn’t like the quote.
“I did say it, it wasn’t Ray’s fault. But I thought ‘that’s it!’ and I never did an interview.”
Charlie then cheekily added: “Then Mick got fed up with having to do all of them and I was roped in.”
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The star’s unwavering love and devotion for his wife was highlighted in documentary STP: A Journey Through America with The Rolling Stones, where the band were seen visiting the Playboy Mansion.
As the semi-naked Playboy Bunnies wandered around, Charlie was only interested in Hugh Hefner’s games room.
Charlie was referred to as a “cherished husband” when his management announced the news of his death in a statement yesterday.
It read: “It is with immense sadness that we announce the death of our beloved Charlie Watts.
“He passed away peacefully in a London hospital earlier today surrounded by his family. We kindly request that the privacy of his family, band members and close friends is respected at this difficult time.”
Celebrity tributes have been pouring in from across the globe in honour of Charlie, led by his bandmate Mick Jagger.
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