R.I.P. Mott the Hoople Bassist Pete Overend Watts

Pete Overend Watts, bassist and founding member of classic English rock group Mott the Hoople, has died. The musician passed away Sunday (January 22) following a battle with cancer. He was 69.

Born in Yardley, Birmingham, Watts attended Ross Grammar School where he fellow Mott the Hoople founder Dale Griffin, who died almost exactly one year ago.

Watts played in a series of local groups, such as the Anchors, Wild Dogs Hellhounds and the Silence, with the latter eventually adding singer Ian Hunter and evolving into Mott the Hoople. And it's with Mott the Hoople that Watts made his mark on rock'n'roll, playing on such hits as "Roll Away the Stone" and "All the Young Dudes," which was written and produced by David Bowie.

After Mott the Hoople broke up in the 1974, Watts went on to perform with the short-lived Mott and then British Lions. Over the years, Watts also participated in Mott the Hoople reunions, such as in 2009 and 2013.

Fellow Mott the Hoople member Verden Allen penned a tribute to Watts on Facebook, calling the fallen member a "warm, funny, intelligent, talented and hugely charismatic person" who "always had an entertaining story to tell." You can read the full post below.



Another fellow Mott the Hooople member Morgan Fisher also wrote a tribute post on Facebook, celebrating Watts's "bravery, honesty, generosity, open heart and still-devastatingly witty humour during his last days." You can read that below as well.