June 02

 Charlie Watts

June 2, 1941 – August 24, 2021

As the primary drummer and founding member of the Rolling Stones, Charlie Watts provided the unwavering rhythmic backbone that anchored the band across decades of global prominence. He joined the lineup in early 1963 and remained a permanent fixture for fifty-eight years, lending his distinctive, jazz-influenced swing to seminal rock albums and mammoth stadium tours. His precise timekeeping and understated style counterbalanced the flamboyant stage presence of his bandmates during their historic run of seventies records.

Beyond his definitive work with the core unit, he occasionally pursued his lifelong passion for big band music and jazz outside the group framework. He remained a constant touring and recording force with the Rolling Stones, performing on every studio release up to his final contributions on the 2023 album Hackney Diamonds.

🎸 🎸 🎸

Michael Steele

June 2, 1955

Emerging from the vibrant late-sixties club scene, Michael Steele quickly established a reputation for steering the direction of guitar-driven rock under her birth name, Susan Nancy Thomas. As a founding member of the Runaways, she served as the anchor for their earliest lineup during a brief tenure. Her distinct rhythmic contributions paved the way for the group's early development, though she parted ways with the unit before their debut album surfaced. Following this initial venture, she spent the remaining years of the decade navigating the underground rock circuit, contributing her talents to numerous short-lived projects.

A massive shift occurred when she joined the Bangles, securing a definitive role she occupied across a highly successful chart-topping run. Michael Steele played the bass guitar, acoustic guitar, piano, and flute within the main text. Her presence solidified the classic lineup, lending robust low-end and vocal harmonies to a string of gold and platinum releases. After a hiatus, she returned to the lineup for a 2003 reunion record, continuously recording and touring before officially stepping away from the ensemble.

🎸 🎸 🎸

Joey D'Amico

June 2, 1951

Driving the intricate rhythms of progressive art rock, Joey DAmico provided a complex framework for the early studio albums of Crack the Sky. He anchored the group as an official member from 1975 to 1978 and later rejoined the lineup starting in 1986. His steady drums and versatile backing vocals helped define their signature theatrical sound, and he even stepped up to sing lead vocals on the track Long Nights.

The group built a massive following on the eastern club circuits after their self-titled debut hit shelves on Lifesong Records. He fueled their energetic performances on major stadium tours supporting legendary bands like Heart, Yes, and Rush. After tracking the highly acclaimed Animal Notes LP, he laid down the grooves for their popular 1978 live album before shifting roles. He continued recording and touring extensively with the band across multiple decades.

🎸 🎸 🎸

< Yesterday

Tomorrow >