Photo by: Morne de Klerk/Getty Images

Charlie Watts, legendary drummer of famed band The Rolling Stones, passed away in a London hospital this morning according to his publicist. He was 80.

Watts had already recently announced he would not be participating in the upcoming Stones Fall Tour to recover from a successful surgery. Steve Jordan would be standing in for him on the drums.

No cause of death has been released.
“He passed away peacefully in a London hospital earlier today surrounded by his family,” his publicist stated. “Charlie was a cherished husband, father and grandfather and also as a member of the Rolling Stones one of the greatest drummers of his generation. We kindly request that the privacy of his family, band members and close friends is respected at this difficult time.”

Charlie Watts had been with The Rolling Stones since 1963 and played on each of their albums from the ’60s to the present and never missed a tour. He will be so missed by his family, fans, and loved ones.