Rolling Stones Drummer Charlie Watts Hits the Stage at Perth Jazz Club

Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts gave a surprise performance at the Ellington Jazz Club in Perth last night.

Music lovers were taken aback when the famous rock’n’roller got on stage at the Beaufort Street haunt on the same night as their cancelled Perth Arena concert.

Watts, lead singer Mick Jagger and the rest of the Rolling Stones have been holed up in Perth’s Hyatt Regency hotel after the shock death of Jagger’s girlfriend L’Wren Scott in New York.

But Watts was seen leaving the Hyatt Hotel, where the band have been staying since they arrived Sunday night, and heading out for dinner.

Kaitlyn Elsegood, who took photographs of the Stones’ veteran on stage, told PerthNow she was at the venue to watch a friend’s band when word started to spread that one of the world’s best drummers was in the audience.

Watts was invited on stage about midnight by Rolling Stones saxophonist Tim Ries, who was at The Ellington performing music by the Stones.

Watts, who was joined at the jazz club by his granddaughter, treated the crowd to two songs including an instrumental version of Stone’s hit Honky Tonk Woman.

Ellington co-owner Graham Wood said the famous drummer slipped in through the kitchen/stage door.

“His security guys kind of did a sweep through and made sure everything was ok,” Mr Wood said.

“He didn’t make a grand entrance or anything, it was all low key.

“He was there really just to enjoy the music.

“Then he got up and played a couple of numbers.”

Wood said saxophonist Tim Ries sent him a text message at about 9pm last night, asking him to put aside a table for Watts and his entourage.

Ries and The Rolling Stones backing singer Bernard Fowler also performed.

Ms Elsegood added: “He didn’t really say much, just got up and played the drums.”

“He played for 45 minutes.

“It was very, very relaxed and very, very composed, and then he got off and listened to the rest of the bands.” Watts stayed till 1am closing.

Ms Elsegood said it was “a genuine thrill” to watch the legendary Stones drummer play.

“I think it was pretty humble that he just came along to The Ellington Jazz Club.

“The other musicians were also amazing and he was applauding them.”

Earlier the drummer told Mail Online that Stones frontman Mick Jagger was still in a state of shock over the death of his fashion designer partner.