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'Our drummer is atrocious': Brian Jones's 1962 letter urging Charlie Watts to join the Rolling Stones is to be auctioned

The Rolling Stones, whose founder Brian Jones wrote to Charlie Watts in June 1962 urging him to join, with a postscript mocking his then-current drummer as "atrocious.
The Rolling Stones, whose founder Brian Jones wrote to Charlie Watts in June 1962 urging him to join, with a postscript mocking his then-current drummer as "atrocious.

A handwritten letter sent to Watts at his childhood Wembley home, postmarked 3 June 1962, is heading to auction after his sister kept it for more than six decades — its contents revealed publicly for the first time. Jones wrote that the band were holding three rehearsals a week and badly needed a capable drummer, appending a postscript describing their current one as 'atrocious'.

The letter is expected to fetch between $70,000 and $80,000 at Sotheby's New York Rock and Pop Sale on 15 December.

Despite Jones's plea, Watts held out for seven months before finally agreeing to join the Rolling Stones in January 1963.

The letter predates the band even adopting the Rolling Stones name, and was sent days before their first official gig at London's Marquee Club.

MoreThe Independent‘Dear Charlie...’ Letter Brian Jones wrote to future Rolling Stones drummer up for auction - The IndependentThe Times‘Our drummer is atrocious’: unseen Rolling Stones letter for saleThe IndependentWhat Brian Jones wrote to Charlie Watts before he joined the Rolling Stones, revealed for the first timeFemale FirstBrian Jones letter urging Charlie Watts to join Rolling Stones up for auction - Female FirstLondon Evening StandardBrian Jones’s letter asking Charlie Watts to join Rolling Stones to be auctioned - London Evening Standard
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