With such a rich back-catalogue, there are any number of lyrics that could fit the bill; ‘a man of wealth and taste’, ‘it’s a gas, gas, gas’ or, perhaps more fittingly, ‘silver train is coming’….
At the 2024 Concours on Savile Row, on 22-23 May, the late drummer of the Rolling Stones Charlie Watts, the band’s engine room for just shy of 60 years, will be honoured by Hagerty and Huntsman. In an exhibition celebrating his life and inimitable style, selections from his extensive Huntsman wardrobe will be on display inside the tailor’s VIP Clubroom, while outside No.11 Savile Row will sit his 1939 Lagonda LG6 Rapide – the crown jewel of his private collection.
A panel discussion chaired by Simon Taylor will feature Paul Sexton, author of Charlie’s only official biography, as well as Dario Carnera who, as Huntsman’s Head Cutter, helped Charlie to become the sartorial scion of rock and roll. Dave Green, Charlie’s oldest friend and bassist in his jazz band, will also join the panel to give a respectful insight into one of music’s most fascinating figures.
Charlie Watts enjoyed an almost mythical existence away from world record-breaking tours with the Stones, rarely giving interviews and avoiding self-promotion to live a quiet private life with his family and what he called ‘his stuff’. Among a trove of varied treasures within his collection, including arguably the most historic collection of drums, was a collection of vintage and classic cars. The Lagonda was the centrepiece.
Only six LG6 Rapides were built by Lagonda before the outbreak of WWII halted production and they are the rarest of all the pre-war Rapides. Charlie acquired this example in the early 1980s and it has been quietly preserved in his collection ever since, aided by the fact that Charlie never actually learned to drive. Yes, that’s right, the rock star who preferred jazz was also the car collector who never drove.
It is thought that this silver and grey coachbuilt beauty has never been shown publicly before and that the Concours on Savile Row will be its concours debut. Certainly, prior to the shooting and publishing of these very images, there was no online record of the car anywhere – a digital barn find, if you will, and very ‘Charlie’.
“With so many great car events in the calendar, it is so rare to find a car that has genuinely never been seen before,” says Dan Cogger from Hagerty’s Private Client team organising the display. “We’re hugely grateful to Charlie’s family and our event partners Huntsman for helping us celebrate a man whose passion for cars and patronage of great tailoring fully embodies what the Concours on Savile Row is all about.”
The Honouring Charlie Watts panel discussion will take place at 14:00 on Weds 22nd May and 12:00 on Thu 23rd May, and will be held in Huntsman’s first floor Clubroom. It will be open to all VIP ticket holders and more information can be found here.
I enjoy your emails but not for the first time you send me an email advertising an event that has already (charlie watts) happened. Very frustrating!
Charlie Watts proved a man can keep his head when all around were losing theirs.
Charlie was a true legend !