‘NEVER FORGOTTEN’ Charlie Watts:

Rod has paid a touching tribute to iconic Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts, who died this week.

Rod was among a string of stars to pay tribute to Watts, including Elton John, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and other members of The Rolling Stones.

Rod paid his respects on social media to one of the greatest drummers of all time by posting on his Instagram page “I always told the drummers in my band to listen to Charlie Watts #neverforgotten.”

Meanwhile Kenney Jones told The Mirror how Ronnie Wood was left shell-shocked by Charlies’ death Saying “Ronnie and Charlie are very close and I phoned Ron up as soon as I heard the news. Ron told me, ‘No matter how prepared you are for this sort of thing you are never half prepared when it happens’.

“I said, ‘No, it always hits you like a ton of bricks’.”

Kenney added “If Charlie didn’t play the way he did, Jagger would have nowhere to wiggle his arse. “Kenney replaced Charlie on the Rolling Stones’ 1974 hit It’s Only Rock ‘N Roll (But I Like It) but it caused no hard feelings.

Ronnie had phoned Kenney, asking if he wanted to jam with him and Jagger as Charlie was away.

Kenney was surprised when they put his drum section on the single and said: “I called Charlie up about it and said, ‘I never meant for that to happen, I really am sorry, it’s not my doing’. Charlie said, ‘It’s OK, Kenney, it sounds like me anyway’. He was such a gentleman.

“I got a gold disc too.”

Ronnie paid his own social media tribute by writing “I love you my fellow Gemini ~ I will dearly miss you ~ you are the best,” before signing off with a trio of emojis, including the heart and sunshine symbols.

Photos By Jim Pietryga