Keith Richards Honestly Says Why Mick Avory Didn’t Passed To Be A Rolling Stone

Not every group of musicians is destined to make great music together. The chemistry between band members is key, and even if someone can play every note perfectly, it won’t matter if they can’t vibe with the rest of the band. In the early 1960s, The Rolling Stones were still searching for that perfect lineup, and Keith Richards quickly realized that Mick Avory, the future drummer of The Kinks, wasn’t the right fit for their sound.

Early Days: Building the Stones’ Sound

In the beginning, The Rolling Stones were similar to The Beatles, relying heavily on their collective dynamic. Just like how John Lennon and Paul McCartney were essential to The Beatles, The Stones needed the right blend of members to make their sound work. At the time, their music wasn’t too complex—mostly blues covers from artists like Muddy Waters, which was the same formula that most British bands were using.

Though Mick Jagger and Richards didn’t start writing their own songs until pushed by manager Andrew Loog Oldham, their love for the blues drove their early sound. And when it came to finding the right drummer, they needed to have someone who could truly feel and play the blues.

Avory’s Missed Beat

Mick Avory wasn’t a bad drummer by any means. His work with The Kinks, especially on tracks like You Really Got Me and Waterloo Sunset, showed off his versatility—able to deliver energetic rock beats or lay back for softer ballads. However, his style just didn’t click with Richards and The Stones.

As Richards recalled, “We were rehearsing drummers. Mick Avory came by… He was terrible, then. Couldn’t find that offbeat. Couldn’t pick up on that Jimmy Reed stuff.” For a band that built its foundation on blues music, not being able to lock into that groove was a dealbreaker. The Stones needed someone who could capture the raw, gritty blues sound they idolized.

Charlie Watts Became The Perfect Fit

Even though Charlie Watts didn’t have an extensive blues background when he first joined The Stones, his jazz influences made him a unique addition to the band. Jazz and blues share many roots, and Watts’ ability to incorporate different textures into his drumming made him the ideal choice. Songs like Satisfaction took on a whole new energy with Watts behind the kit, and the band quickly found their rhythm.

In hindsight, passing on Mick Avory turned out to be the right move. While he went on to have a successful career with The Kinks, it’s hard to imagine The Stones thriving with him behind the drums. Watts brought a special dynamic that helped the band evolve beyond blues covers into one of the most iconic rock bands in history.

And thankfully, even in their most heated moments, Watts never resorted to hurling pieces of his drum kit at his bandmates—something Avory was known for doing during his time with The Kinks!