Charlie won't mind if Stones Stop

Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts has admitted he’d be “quite happy” if the band’s upcoming Australian tour is their last.The 72-year-old also says there’s a reason behind their recent spate or short runs rather than the extensive treks they used to undertake.

Watts tells The Australian: “This is short compared to what we’ve done before – but it needs to be, I think, at our tender age.

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“The thought of doing fifty shows, which was normal at one time for us to sign off on, that’s quite daunting. Now we’re doing that in little bits.

“If we don’t do any more I’ll be quite happy with that.”

The Stones blasted back into action at the end of 2012, just in time to celebrate their 50th anniversary, then remained on the road during 2013, including a return to London’s Hyde Park and a headline spot at Glastonbury.

Their schedule for this year includes concerts in the UAE, Japan, Macau and China as well as six Australian dates and one in New Zealand.