On Tuesday night, it was announced that musician Charlie Watts has passed away.
The Hives singer Pelle Almqvist thought that the Rolling Stones drummer would live longer than the rest of the band members and was surprised when he was reached by the news.
- It feels very sad, but if you have lived life like Charlie Watts, you have probably twisted everything you can out of that rag.
I lift my hat and thank him for being there.
The Hives, where Almqvist is a singer, toured with The Rolling Stones in the early 2000s.
- It was very valuable to talk and spend time with them as a young person.
I have a good relationship with the band both as a fan and as a touring friend.
Not the most social Stones member
Pelle Almqvist believes that as an engineer or doctor it is quite easy to meet older people who practice the same profession, but that the opportunity is rare when you are a rock star.
During the tour, however, the drummer barely spoke at all with the members of The Hives, says Almqvist.
- He was not the most social of them.
But I just felt, he does not need to talk to us, he's Charlie Watts.
"Happened to be the world's largest"
Watts was an important part of why the Rolling Stone's music became so good, says Almqvist.
- He was a very unique rock drummer.
Subtle.
He may have really wanted to play jazz, but ended up in a rock band that happened to be the world's biggest.
The Hives have both been inspired by and stolen ideas from rock drummer Charlie Watts.
- We have snatched a lot of drum stuff for the band.
In addition, Charlie Watts has always dressed very cool and that has inspired me, says Pelle Almqvist.
Pelle Almqvist believes that the band will sound different in the future, now that Charlie Watt's drums have died down.
- It will be another piece of the puzzle further away from the original Rolling Stones, he says.