Well, everyone knows that it's not really a big deal that Noel Gallagher sort of quit Oasis the other day. This, on the other hand, is a big deal.

A source within the Stones inner-circle says, “Charlie Watts has quit the band. He will never record or tour with the band again”.

The news does not come as a surprise. It was common knowledge that Keith Richards had to talk Charlie into contributing to the A Bigger Bang tour but this time it seems there is no calling Charlie back to active duty.

“The Stones are looking to Keith's Expensive Winos drummer Charlie Drayton to fill the void in all future Stones' callings,” our source says.

With Mick Jagger planning more Stones activity next year, the departure of Charlie will be a huge blow to the band. Charlie was the backbone of the band.

Watts, who reportedly once punched Mick Jagger in the face for calling him "my drummer", and then literally added insult to injury, shouting "you're my f--king singer!" is (other than that) not known for outbursts or typical rock and roller shenanigans. Still married to the wife he met before the Stones got huge, and having managed to avoid the limelight for 46 years in the biggest band in the world, Watts is bowing out without much of a bang, which is by all accounts how he likes it.

Update:

Watts says it's just a rumor:

Despite rumors circulating that he has, Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts has denied he's quitting the group, a spokeswoman said on Wednesday, despite reports from an Australia music blog. The report came from the usually credible Undercover(www.undercover.com.au) and caused a concern around the globe with music fans, since Watts' departure would probably mean the end of the classic rock band.

"Contrary to a fabricated story that ran this morning on a small music web site in Australia, drummer Charlie Watts has not left The Rolling Stones," spokeswoman Fran Curtis said in an emailed statement.