Charlie Watts didn't just play the drums. He was the floor. He was the architecture. For nearly sixty years, the drummer in the Rolling Stones wasn't just a guy keeping time; he was the secret weapon that kept the world’s greatest rock and roll band from falling off the rails. When Charlie passed away in 2021, the music world didn't just mourn a legend—they wondered if the Stones could even function without that specific, jazzy swing that defined their sound.
The truth? They almost didn't.
But then came Steve Jordan. Most people know him from the X-Pensive Winos or his time with the John Mayer Trio, but stepping into the shoes of the most respected drummer in history is a different beast entirely. It’s not just about hitting the snare at the right time. It’s about navigating the chaotic, "push-pull" relationship between Keith Richards’ telecaster and Mick Jagger’s frantic energy.
The Charlie Watts Blueprint: Why This Chair is the Hardest in Rock
You can’t talk about the current state of the band without looking at what Charlie built. He was a jazz guy. Honestly, he didn't even like rock music that much when he joined. He brought this weird, beautiful technique where he’d lift his stick off the hi-hat whenever he hit the snare. It created this tiny pocket of silence—a breath—that gave the Stones their signature "swagger."
If you try to play Honky Tonk Women with a standard rock beat, it sounds like a marching band. It feels stiff. It feels wrong. Charlie’s swing made it dangerous.
Keith Richards has said a million times that he follows the drummer. He doesn't follow the singer. So, the drummer in the Rolling Stones effectively leads the band from the back. When Charlie died, Keith didn't just lose a friend; he lost his compass. The search for a replacement wasn't a talent search—it was an emergency. Steve Jordan was actually Charlie’s own choice. Before he died, Charlie told the guys that if he couldn't make the No Filter tour dates, Steve was the man. That’s the only reason it works. There was a literal passing of the torch.
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Steve Jordan: The New Engine in the Machine
Steve Jordan plays "bigger" than Charlie did. Let's be real. If you’ve seen them live recently or listened to Hackney Diamonds, you’ve noticed it. Jordan hits like a sledgehammer. Where Charlie was subtle and understated, Steve brings this massive, soulful "thwack" that reflects his background in R&B and session work.
He's a different kind of animal. He’s been playing with Keith since the 80s, so they have a shorthand that is almost psychic.
What changed with the sound?
- The Tempo: The songs feel slightly faster now. Not "punk rock" fast, but there’s a new urgency.
- The Snare: Jordan’s snare drum is famous in the industry. It’s high-tuned and sharp. It cuts through the stadium noise in a way Charlie’s warm, woody tone didn't.
- The Energy: Mick Jagger is in his 80s and still running eight miles a night. Jordan’s drumming seems to fuel that cardio.
It’s interesting to watch the fan reaction. Some purists miss the "lift" of the hi-hat. They miss the way Charlie looked like he was bored out of his mind while playing the most iconic beats in history. But most people realize that Steve Jordan saved the band. Without him, the 2024 Hackney Diamonds tour simply doesn't happen.
The Mystery of the "Other" Stones Drummers
Most people think it’s just been Charlie and Steve. That’s not quite right. Back in the very early days—we're talking 1962—the band was a revolving door of musicians. Before they finally landed Charlie (who they had to beg to join because he wanted a steady paycheck), there were guys like Mick Avory, who went on to be in The Kinks. Tony Chapman was another one. Tony actually played their first official gig at the Marquee Club.
Imagine being Tony Chapman. You’re the drummer in the Rolling Stones for five minutes, you leave because you don't like the "vibe," and then the band becomes the biggest thing on the planet for the next sixty years. That’s a tough pill to swallow.
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Why Nobody Can Copy the Stones' Rhythm
There is a technical reason why being the drummer in the Rolling Stones is a nightmare for session pros. It's the "behind the beat" feel. In most bands, the drummer is the metronome. You play to the click. In the Stones, the drums are slightly behind the guitar, and the bass (played by Darryl Jones since 1993) is somewhere in the middle.
It creates this feeling of a train that is perpetually about to derail, but never does.
When Steve Jordan joined, he had to unlearn some of his clinical precision. He had to learn how to "loosen" his wrists. You can hear it on tracks like Mess It Up from the new album. It’s got a bit of a disco-funk vibe, which is Jordan’s bread and butter, but he keeps it "Stonesy" by letting the groove breathe.
The Gear: More Than Just Wood and Skin
Charlie Watts famously played a 1957 Gretsch kit. He used it for decades. It was a tiny kit by rock standards—just a four-piece. Most arena drummers have twenty cymbals and a mountain of toms. Charlie had a ride, a crash, and a hi-hat. That was it.
Steve Jordan uses a much more robust setup, usually Yamaha drums and Paiste cymbals. He needs the volume. In the modern era of stadium sound, the "jazz" setup just doesn't carry the same weight unless you're a magician like Charlie was.
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What Happens Next?
The Rolling Stones are effectively immortal at this point. With the release of Hackney Diamonds in late 2023 and the subsequent tours, they’ve proven they can survive the loss of their heartbeat. Steve Jordan isn't an "interim" guy anymore. He is the drummer in the Rolling Stones. He has earned the seat.
However, the shadow of Charlie Watts will always be there. Every time they play Start Me Up, fans are looking for that specific cowbell hit and that effortless cool. Jordan knows this. He plays with a level of respect that you rarely see in rock. He isn't trying to "be" Charlie; he’s trying to honor the chair.
If you’re a musician trying to study this style, don't look at the sheet music. It won't help you. You have to listen to the space between the notes. That’s where the Stones live.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Musicians
- Listen to the "No Filter" Live Recordings: Compare the 2019 shows (Charlie) with the 2021/2022 shows (Steve). You’ll hear the exact moment the band’s "weight" shifted from the floor to the front of the stage.
- Study the "Charlie Gap": If you're a drummer, try playing a basic 4/4 beat but don't hit the hi-hat when you hit the snare. It’s harder than it sounds to keep it steady.
- Watch the "Sympathy for the Devil" isolated tracks: You can find these on YouTube. Listening to just the drums and percussion reveals how much African and Latin influence was actually in the Stones' "rock" sound.
- Follow Steve Jordan’s Production Work: To understand why he was picked, listen to his work with the John Mayer Trio or his production on Keith Richards' solo albums like Talk is Cheap. He understands the "architecture" of a song, not just the rhythm.
The Rolling Stones didn't just find a new drummer; they found a way to stay relevant in a post-Charlie world. It’s a masterclass in adaptation.