LONDON, Sept 6 (Reuters) – The Rolling Stones have announced “Hackney Diamonds,” their first album of original music in 18 years and the first since the death of drummer Charlie Watts, who played on two of the tracks at Hackney Empire, on Wednesday. .
Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood, members of the 61-year-old band, appeared on stage at the London theater to discuss the recording, before the premiere of the video for the single “Angry”, which features actress Sydney Sweeney. .
Frontman Jagger, 80, said the band was “very excited” to record new music. “Every day was like banging out two or three songs, so you have to keep up the excitement,” he told Reuters after the live-streamed launch event.
He said the album had a contemporary sound, with a mix of rock, ballads, dance and the “country genre”.
Richards, whose songwriting partnership with Jagger is one of rock’s most enduring and successful, said Watts’ death in 2021 motivated the band to record new music.
“I think because Charlie died, we felt like we were still going and that we still had to keep our identity and still say, ‘Hey, it’s just rock and roll. But you know, here we are,” the 79-year-old said. He said.
The band told broadcasters that former Stones bassist Bill Wyman, new drummer Steve Jordan, former Beatles Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder all participated in the album.
[1/4]Rolling Stones members Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood attend the launch party for their new album “Hackney Diamonds” at the Hackney Empire in London, Britain, September 6, 2023. REUTERS/Toby Melville Obtaining licensing rights
Wood said McCartney, who played bass on one of the songs, was “stunned” to record with a band that rivaled the Beatles in its influence on 1960s rock music.
“You know, he loved it,” he said.
Award-winning producer Andrew Watt helmed the 12-track album, which was recorded in locations including London, Los Angeles and Nassau.
The record, whose title refers to broken glass after a robbery, will be released on October 20.
The three Stones – all dressed in black – arrived in a London taxi emblazoned with the band’s tongue and lips logo. Jagger paid the fare in cash.
“I don’t want to be rash, but we wouldn’t have released this album if we didn’t really love it,” he told US talk show host Jimmy Fallon on stage.
Fans have been waiting for the announcement since a mysterious ad appeared in a local newspaper last month, including references to some of the Stones’ biggest hits and the name of the new album.
(Reporting by Sarah Mills and Paul Sandel – Prepared by Mohammed for the Arabic Bulletin) Additional reporting by Marie-Louise Gumushian; Edited by Mark Heinrich and Nick Macfie
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