LONDON, Sept 6 (Reuters) – The Rolling Stones announced “Hockney Diamonds”, their first album of original music in 18 years and the first since the death of drummer Charlie Watts, who played on two tracks, at the Hackney Empire on Wednesday. .
Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood – the remaining mainstay of the 61-year-old band – appeared on stage at the London theater to discuss the recording ahead of the premiere of the video for the single “Angry” starring actress Sydney Sweeney. .
Frontman Jagger, 80, said the band were “beautifully fired up” to record new music. “It was like singing two or three songs every day, so you keep the spirit up,” he told Reuters, which was broadcast live after the launch.
The album had a contemporary sound, with a mix of rock, ballads, dance and “country-type stuff,” he said.
Richards, whose songwriting partnership with Jagger was one of the most enduring and successful in rock, said Watts’ 2021 death prompted the band to record new music.
“Since Charlie passed, we felt we still had to go and still maintain an identity and say, ‘Hey, it’s only rock and roll. But you know we’re here,'” the 79-year-old said.
The band told broadcasters that former Stones bass player Bill Wyman, new drummer Steve Jordan, former Beatle Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder were involved in the album.
[1/4]The Rolling Stones band members Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood attend the launch event for their new album “Hockney Diamonds” at Hackney Empire on September 6, 2023 in London, Britain. REUTERS/Toby Melville Get license rights
McCartney, who rivaled the Beatles in 1960s rock music, played bass on one track, Wood said, and “stepped up” to record with the band.
“You know, he loved it,” she said.
Award-winning producer Andrew Watt helmed the 12-track album, which was recorded in locations including London, Los Angeles and Nassau.
The post, titled Broken Glass After Theft, will be released on October 20.
The three gems – all dressed in black – arrived in a London taxi emblazoned with the band’s tongue and lips logo. Jagger paid the fee in cash.
“I don’t want to be big-headed, but we wouldn’t have put this album out if we didn’t love it,” he told US talk show host Jimmy Fallon on stage.
Fans have been waiting for the announcement since a cryptic ad appeared in a local newspaper last month with hints of the Stones’ biggest tracks and the name of the new album.
Reporting by Sarah Mills and Paul Chandle; Additional reporting by Marie-Louise Gumuchian; Editing: Mark Heinrich and Nick MacPhee
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