LONDON, Sept 6 (Reuters) – The Rolling Stones have announced “Hackney Diamonds”, their first album of original music in 18 years and their first since the death of drummer Charlie Watts, who played two of the tracks at Hackney Empire, on Wednesday. .
Members of the 61-year-old band, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood, appeared on stage at the London theater to discuss the recording, ahead of the premiere of the video for the single “Angry”, featuring 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 the excitement going,” he told Reuters after the launch, which was broadcast live.
He said the album had a contemporary sound, with a mixture 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 spurred the band to record new music.
“I think because of Charlie’s death, we felt like we were still going, that we still had to keep our identity and still say, ‘Hey, it’s just rock and roll. But you know here we are,” said the 79-year-old. He said.
The band told broadcasters that former Stones player Bill Wyman, new drummer Steve Jordan, ex-Beatle 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 Obtain licensing rights
Wood said McCartney, who plays bass on one of the songs, was “blown away” by recording with the band that rivaled the Beatles in influence on 1960s rock music.
He said, “You know, he liked it.”
Award-winning producer Andrew Watt managed the 12-track album, which was recorded in locations including London, Los Angeles and Nassau.
The recording, whose title refers to broken glass after the robbery, will be released on October 20.
The three Stones – all dressed in black – arrived in a London cab emblazoned with the band’s tongue and lip logo. Jagger paid the fare in cash.
“I don’t want to be reckless, but we wouldn’t have released this album if we didn’t really love it,” he told American 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; Editing by Mohamed for The Arabic Bulletin) Additional reporting by Marie-Louise Gumushian; Editing by Mark Heinrichs and Nick McPhee
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