A newly discovered letter penned by Rolling Stones co‑founder Brian Jones to Charlie Watts in July 1962—inviting the drummer to join the fledgling group months before he finally accepted—has been slated for auction. The handwritten note and its envelope will be offered at Sotheby’s New York Rock & Pop Sale on December 15, with an estimated price of $70,000–$80,000.
Jones dispatched the letter to Watts shortly before the band’s debut at London’s Marquee Club. Early rehearsals featured future Kinks drummer Mick Avory, and the group spent months playing gigs with Tony Chapman, yet neither proved a lasting fit.
At the time Watts was drumming for Alexis Korner’s Blues Incorporated. “If you are not going to work with Alex in the future,” Jones wrote to Watts, “and still wants to play R&B, we are looking for a good drummer. Already we consider our band far better than Alex’s — we are getting a very tightly-knit sound. We are rehearsing on Monday, Wednesdays and Fridays. Anyway, if you have time, let me know what’s happening. Cheers, Brian Jones.”
In a blunt postscript, Jones noted, “If you are interested, our present line‑up is two guitars, harp, piano, and drums. We are going to use a bass guitar eventually. Our present drummer is atrocious!”
Letter from Brian Jones Recruiting Charlie Watts to the Rolling Stones Courtesy of Sotheby’s
In the note Jones listed himself and Keith Richards as the two guitarists, Ian Stewart on piano, and Mick Jagger on harp (harmonica). The “atrocious” drummer was almost certainly Chapman, though the band experimented with several others at the time.
Watts initially declined the invitation, and the band continued rotating drummers—including Chapman, Steve Harris, Carlo Little and Colin Folwell—before Watts finally joined in January 1963, six months after receiving the letter. He remained with the Rolling Stones until his death in 2021.
