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Mudlark has snapped up the authorised biography of the late Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts by Paul Sexton.
Joel Simons, publishing director, acquired world all language rights to Charlie’s Good Tonight: The Authorised Biography of Charlie Watts from Jack Fogg at DunnFogg and Paul Edwards at Smyth Barkham on behalf of the Charlie Watts estate. It will publish in the UK on 15th September 2022, followed by Harper US on 11th October and has been sold into a further nine territories around the world.
Sexton is an author, journalist and broadcaster who has followed and interviewed the Rolling Stones for 30 years. In this official biography. which will publish a year on from Watt’s death with the blessing of both the Charlie Watts estate and the Rolling Stones, Sexton tells the life story of a globally revered drummer who remained the rock at the heart of the band for almost 60 years.
The book includes forewords by both Mick Jagger and Keith Richards and a prelude by original Rolling Stones manager and guru Andrew Loog Oldham. Additionally, those closest to Watts have shared many exclusive photographs, unseen outside his immediate circle until now.
Drawing on new interviews with bandmates Jagger, Richards and Ronnie Wood and unprecedented access to Watts’ family as well as countless friends and collaborators, Sexton describes the drummer’s unique life in the Stones and beyond. Charlie’s Good Tonight also draws on the author’s vast archive of interviews with the entire group to describe the "unusual and often hilarious story of how an obsessive jazz fan came to be the backbone of the greatest rock ’n’ roll band in the world, and of how a very private person became a reluctant hero to millions".
Sexton said: “One of Charlie’s good friends said to me that he was a very easy man to love. Having had the pleasure of his company on so many occasions over the course of more than a quarter of a century, that’s a sentiment I echo wholeheartedly. To be able, with the help and encouragement of those who knew him best, to draw on my time with this unique man and his fellow Rolling Stones to write his authorised biography, is a thrill and an honour. In particular, I can’t say thank you enough to Charlie’s family, whom he loved so much, for their warm support and endorsement.”
The Rolling Stones commented: “Our dear friend Charlie Watts was not just a fantastic drummer but a wonderful person. He was funny and generous and a man of great taste and we miss him terribly. It’s great that his family have authorised this official biography by Paul Sexton, who’s been writing and broadcasting about Charlie and the band for many years.”
Watt’s daughter Seraphina said: “My father was an intensely humble and private person off the stage, who relished and protected his private time at home with us. We were so very touched by the outpouring of love and support from all his fans when he died. We’re very happy and grateful that Paul, who interviewed my father many times over many years, and whom my father liked and respected, is the one writing this very special book about this very special man.
“Since the beginning of this endeavour Paul has acted with insight, emotion, sensitivity and integrity. He was committed from the beginning to show the many sides of my father, not only as one of the greatest rock ’n’ roll drummers – steering one of the longest-enduring bands of all time for almost 60 years – but as so much more, with his deep passion and love for jazz and boogie-woogie and of course, closest to our hearts, as an incredibly generous, kind, thoughtful and loving husband, brother, father and grandfather.”
Simons added: “I’m so proud to be publishing this incredible biography on the Mudlark list. I’m delighted to have the chance for Mudlark to share this unique celebration of the world’s best-loved drummer, which features extraordinary insight from those who knew Charlie best.”