Brian Jones's 1962 letter recruiting Charlie Watts to the Rolling Stones up for auction

A previously unseen handwritten letter from 1962, written by Rolling Stones co-founder Brian Jones to drummer Charlie Watts, is set to be auctioned at Sotheby’s New York. The letter, which includes its original envelope, has been held by Watts’s sister for over 60 years.

In the missive, sent just weeks before the band’s first live performance, Jones attempts to recruit Watts from Alexis Korner’s Blues Incorporated. Jones describes the band’s developing sound as “very tightly-knit” and includes a postscript stating, “Our present drummer is atrocious!”

While Watts initially declined the offer, he officially joined the group in January 1963, remaining their drummer until his death in 2021. The auction is part of Sotheby’s Rock & Pop sale, with an estimated value between $70,000 and $80,000. The item will be on public display in New York from December 2 to December 8, with bidding concluding on December 15.