Rare 1962 Brian Jones Letter Recruiting Charlie Watts Headed to Auction

A Crucial Piece of Rock History Surfaces

A handwritten 1962 letter in which founding member Brian Jones attempts to recruit Charlie Watts to the nascent Rolling Stones is heading to auction later this year. Coming directly from the collection of Watts’s sister, the document has remained within the family for more than six decades and is now being made public for the first time.

The artifact provides a direct look into the formative months of one of rock and roll's most enduring groups. At the time the letter was written, Watts was working in advertising and playing with Alexis Korner’s Blues Incorporated, a prominent group in London's rhythm and blues scene. Jones was assembling a fledgling band that had not yet settled on its iconic name.

Inside the Letter to 'Mr. C. Watts'

Addressed to “Mr. C. Watts” at his childhood home in Wembley and accompanied by its original envelope, the correspondence begins with formal politeness before moving into a persuasive pitch. Jones writes, “Dear Charlie, if you consider this letter rather impertinent, please excuse me.”

He proceeds to ask about Watts's status with Blues Incorporated before arguing the merits of his own group. “We are looking for a good drummer,” Jones wrote. “Already we consider our band far better than Alex’s – we are getting a very tightly-knit sound.”

Perhaps the most striking portion of the letter is its postscript, in which Jones details the ensemble's lineup—comprising two guitars, harmonica, piano, and drums—while offering a blunt critique of their current percussionist, declaring, “Our present drummer is atrocious!”

Timeline to the Lineup

Despite Jones's early outreach, it took another seven months for Watts to formally join the Rolling Stones in January 1963. By the time Watts came aboard, bassist Bill Wyman had also joined, cementing the rhythm section that would define the band's musical identity. On February 2, 1963, the classic early six-member lineup featuring Watts, Wyman, Jones, Keith Richards, Mick Jagger, and pianist Ian Stewart performed together.

The band's determination to secure Watts was also documented years later in Keith Richards’s memoir, Life, where the guitarist recalled that members “starved ourselves to pay for him” in order to afford his inclusion.

Public Exhibition and Auction Details

Sotheby’s has valued the letter between $70,000 and $80,000 (£52,000–£60,000). Craig Inciardi, Sotheby’s music and pop culture specialist, noted that the document offers a rare first-hand record from just weeks before the band's initial performances.

The letter will be publicly exhibited at Sotheby’s New York from December 2 to December 8. Online bidding opens on December 2 and runs until the live Rock & Pop sale on December 15. Watts remained the drummer for the Rolling Stones for nearly six decades until his death in August 2021.

Practical Implications and Verification

For collectors and music historians, this auction represents a rare opportunity to acquire a primary source document concerning the formation of the Rolling Stones. Because the item comes directly from the Watts family, its provenance is exceptionally well-established.

Readers wishing to verify auction dates, public exhibition hours, or catalog details can review the original coverage and announcements directly through [The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/music/2026/oct/28/charlie-watts-brian-jones-letter-rolling-stones-auction) or consult Sotheby’s official sales listings for the upcoming Rock & Pop auction.