The Rolling Stones 'will pay tribute to Charlie Watts on stage when they resume their tour'

The Rolling Stones are reportedly planning on paying an emotional tribute to Charlie Watts on stage during their tour next month.

The group were left devastated by Charlie’s passing on Tuesday aged 80 but they are said to believe he would have wanted them to carry on with the shows.

A source told The Sun: ‘The band want to make the show a celebration of his life.

Plan: The Rolling Stones are reportedly planning on paying an emotional tribute to Charlie Watts on stage during their tour next month (pictured L-R Ronnie Wood, Keith Richards, Mick Jagger and Charlie Watts)

Plan: The Rolling Stones are reportedly planning on paying an emotional tribute to Charlie Watts on stage during their tour next month (pictured L-R Ronnie Wood, Keith Richards, Mick Jagger and Charlie Watts)

‘He was like a brother to them but they know he would have hated the thought of them cancelling shows.

‘Charlie had given them his blessing to tour without him following his operation, so they will honour his wishes.’

The group, made up of Mick Jagger, 78, Keith Richards, 77, and Ronnie Wood, 74, will resume their No Filter tour on September 26 in St Louis, Missouri.

Charlie previously pulled out of the tour after undergoing a medical procedure last month.   

Heartbreaking: The group were left devastated by Charlie's passing on Tuesday aged 80 but they are said to believe he would have wanted them to carry on with the shows

Heartbreaking: The group were left devastated by Charlie’s passing on Tuesday aged 80 but they are said to believe he would have wanted them to carry on with the shows

MailOnline has contacted representatives for The Rolling Stones for comment. 

The death of the London-born drummer was announced on Tuesday – with a statement saying he had ‘passed away peacefully in hospital surrounded by his family’. 

The band lead an outpouring of grief following the news, with Ronnie sharing a picture of the pair with the caption: ‘I love you my fellow Gemini ~ I will dearly miss you ~you are the best’. 

Rolling Stones frontman Mick shared a poignant photo of a smiling Charlie on both Twitter and Instagram, without a caption, while guitarist Keith posted a Twitter photo of the Rolling Stones’ drum kit with a ‘closed’ sign hanging from it.

Career: The London-born drummer (left) joined the then-fledgling band in 1963 after meeting Mick, Keith and Brian Jones while playing in rhythm and blues clubs

Career: The London-born drummer (left) joined the then-fledgling band in 1963 after meeting Mick, Keith and Brian Jones while playing in rhythm and blues clubs

Ronnie’s wife Sally, 43, shared a slew of throwback pictures of the drummer that she captioned: ‘We love you Charlie. The whole world will miss you xx ❤️’.

Fearne Cotton, who is married to Ronnie’s son Jesse, took to Instagram to express her upset at the ‘biggest and saddest loss’.

Alongside prayer hand emojis, she wrote: ‘Charlie. An era defining drummer with an abundance of style and class. The biggest and saddest loss to the world of music.

‘Musicians of this standard don’t come around often. Someone who creates a sound that is emulated by so many others for decades.

'I will dearly miss you': Mick, Ronnie and Keith shared poignant tributes to Charlie after the Rolling Stones rocker passed away

‘I will dearly miss you’: Mick, Ronnie and Keith shared poignant tributes to Charlie after the Rolling Stones rocker passed away

‘He was always so kind and funny whenever I saw him. Prayers and love to Charlie’s family. ♥️’

Charlie joined the then-fledgling band in 1963 after meeting Mick, Keith and Brian Jones while playing in rhythm and blues clubs.

Along with Jagger and Richards, Watts featured on every one of the band’s studio albums. He was widely regarded as one of the greatest drummers of all time.

Watts was due to tour the US with the band later this year. But it was announced earlier this month he would not feature due to a recent emergency surgery.

Poignant: Keith shared a poignant Twitter photo of the Rolling Stones' drum kit with a 'closed' sign hanging from it

Poignant: Keith shared a poignant Twitter photo of the Rolling Stones’ drum kit with a ‘closed’ sign hanging from it

His London publicist, Bernard Doherty, said in a statement this evening: ‘It is with immense sadness that we announce the death of our beloved Charlie Watts.

‘He passed away peacefully in a London hospital earlier today surrounded by his family.

‘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.’

Earlier this month, it was announced that Watts was to miss the band’s forthcoming US tour.

History: Alongside frontman Sir Mick and guitarist Keith, Charlie (pictured centre) was among the longest-standing members of the Stones, which has seen a shifting line-up of musicians including Mick Taylor, Ronnie and Bill Wyman

History: Alongside frontman Sir Mick and guitarist Keith, Charlie (pictured centre) was among the longest-standing members of the Stones, which has seen a shifting line-up of musicians including Mick Taylor, Ronnie and Bill Wyman

Session and touring musician Steve Jordan was previously announced as Watts’ temporary replacement on drums.

Watts said at the time that ‘For once my timing has been a little off. I am working hard to get fully fit but I have today accepted on the advice of the experts that this will take a while.’

A spokesperson said then that Watts’ procedure had been ‘completely successful’ but that he needed time to recuperate.

Following the news, Mick welcomed Jordan, who will join the band when the tour starts, with dates also scheduled for Pittsburgh, Nashville, Minneapolis, Dallas and more

Alongside frontman Sir Mick and guitarist Keith, Watts was among the longest-standing members of the Stones, which has seen a shifting line-up of musicians including Mick Taylor, Ronnie Wood and Bill Wyman.

Tour: Charlie previously pulled out of the tour after undergoing a medical procedure last month (pictured in 2012)

Tour: Charlie previously pulled out of the tour after undergoing a medical procedure last month (pictured in 2012)

In 2004, Watts was treated for throat cancer at London’s Royal Marsden Hospital and he was given the all-clear after a four-month battle with the disease, involving six weeks of intensive radiotherapy treatment.

Watts was diagnosed after discovering a lump on the left side of his neck.

Doctors performed a biopsy which confirmed the tumour was malignant and he was diagnosed with throat cancer in June that year.

His spokesman said at the time that Watts’ treatment had ‘not interfered with any tour or recording plans for the group, who have been ‘relaxing between work commitments”.

Following his recovery, the band began work on their 22nd studio album, A Bigger Bang.

Watts, who reportedly gave up smoking in the 1980s, said during an interview with Rolling Stone magazine at the time that he felt ‘very lucky’ doctors had caught the cancer early.

Statement: Charlie's publicist Bernard Doherty said: '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'

Statement: Charlie’s publicist Bernard Doherty said: ‘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’

source: dailymail.co.uk