With Charlie gone, realise more what We have is special

Keith on band's unbreakable bond

- TOM BRYANT

MICK Jagger strutted on to the stage in Houston and belted out Start Me Up to kick off The Rolling Stones' Hackney Diamonds tour, 60 years after the band first went on the road in America.

The rock legend is 81 in July, but has the energy and voice to put a teenager to shame.

But for Mick and his bandmates Keith Richards, 80, and Ronnie Wood, 76, the start of the tour was a bittersweet moment as they are missing Charlie Watts, the Stones drummer who died aged 80 from cancer in 2021.

Before Sunday's concert, guitarist Keith said giving up on their music after Charlie's death was never an option.

He said: "Basically, we love each other and we love our music and when you're doing it, you don't really think about it. But I think with Charlie going, I have realised more and more how special that is.