“His music will never stop playing”. So reads the obituary of Dirk Werner Schultz known in the Ibiza music world as Dirk ‘Watts’, who passed away this Saturday at the age of 82. Watts, born on February 25, 1943, was known as the longest-lived drummer on the island, since at 82 he was still giving his all at every concert and also for his facet as a plastic artist, after developing his career on the island for decades, since he had lived in Sant Carles since 1978.
The news has been reported by the website Sant Josep es Música: “We have learned that on Saturday Dirk ‘Watts’ left us, a drummer that when you saw him in action with My Generation was always a spectacle in spite of his age. From Sant Josep és Música we pay tribute to him with this beautiful photo by Joan F. Ribas. Thank you for your music. Rest in peace…”, they say in Sant Josep’s musical website.
‘Watts’ played for years with My Generation a band of veteran musicians who have played on almost every stage on the island. A ‘power trio’ formed by Jürgen Graf on guitar and vocals, Ran Pérez on bass and backing vocals and the drums of ‘Watts’, who mainly covered great hits of the 60s and 70s, from The Beatles to the Stones or Jimi Hendrix or The Who, from whose great success they had taken their name.
Artist
For its part, the City Council of Santa Eulària lamented the death of Dirk Werner Schultz, whom he remembered in his role as a painter. Schultz was a professional painter with a long and distinguished career. After training in Fine Arts at the Staatliche Akademie der Bildenden Künste in Stuttgart (1965-1971), he developed a realistic style of great precision, using techniques such as acrylic, watercolor, oil and charcoal. Many of his works are inspired by traditional Ibizan architecture.
His pictorial work has been exhibited in several galleries in Santa Eulària (Galería El Mensajero and Galería Alfredo) and Eivissa (Galería Art i Marcs), participating annually in the Art Route of the Palacio de Congresos. One of his works, representing a view of Can Planetes and Puig de Missa, is part of the collection of the Santa Eulària Town Hall and is exhibited in the Consistorial Building.
“From the City Council of Santa Eulària des Riu we want to express our deepest condolences to his family and friends, and recognize the valuable contribution of Dirk Werner Schultz to the artistic and cultural heritage of the island,” said the Consistory in a note.
The wake will take place this Wednesday, March 12, from 12 pm to 1 pm at the Municipal Crematorium of Santa Eulària.
For the full article, please visit Diario de Ibiza website here.