The Rolling Stones, after a few weeks of teasing over the summer, a press conference in September, and two singles -- "Angry" and "Sweet Sounds of Heaven" -- will release their new album today.
Hackney Diamonds is their first album of original material since 2005's A Bigger Bang, and first studio album since their blues covers collection Blue & Lonesome in 2016.
The album contains 12 tracks and was recorded in various locations around the world, including Los Angeles; London; Nassau, Bahamas; and New York. It's their first collaboration with producer Andrew Watt, known for his work with Ozzy Osbourne, Elton John, Post Malone and Iggy Pop. Jagger said that the bulk of the album was recorded between last December and this February with Watt and that they gave themselves a deadline of Valentine's Day to make sure they would get it done.
The album does contain guest appearances from their former bassist Bill Wyman, who plays alongside the late Charlie Watts on "Live By the Sword"; Watts also plays on "Mess it Up."
Other guests include:
- Paul McCartney - bass on "Bite My Head Off"
- Lady Gaga & Stevie Wonder - she sings and he plays keyboards on "Sweet Sounds of Heaven"
- Elton John - piano on "Get Close" & "Live by the Sword"
After performing a private show celebrating the album last night, Keith Richards will plug it with an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon tonight.
The Rolling Stones officially launched the release of their new album, Hackney Diamonds, with a club show last night at Racket on West 16th Street in New York's Meat Packing District.
Taking the stage shortly after 10, they treated the 650 friends, family members, celebrities and media to a seven-song, 35-minute set that included the live debuts of four tracks from the new album.
Mick Jagger said they had done so many album and tour launch events in New York that they missed them, so they needed to record a new album.
With cameras rolling for future release, they performed:
- "Shattered" (Some Girls, 1978)
- "Angry" (Hackney Diamonds)
- "Whole Wide World" (Hackney Diamonds)
- "Tumbling Dice" (Exile on Main Street, 1972)
- "Bite My Head Off" (Hackney Diamonds)
- "Jumpin’ Jack Flash" (1968)
They then left the stage, but returned for "Sweet Sounds of Heaven," also from Hackney Diamonds, with Lady Gaga reprising her role on the album.
This was the Stones' first show since August 3rd of last year in Berlin, Germany, and first U.S. show since November 23rd, 2021 in Hollywood, Florida.
Among the celebs on hand last night were:
- Elvis Costello and his wife, Diana Krall
- Imagine Dragons’ Dan Reynolds
- Hackney Diamonds producer Andrew Watt
- Ed Burns and his wife, model Christy Turlington
- Daniel Craig and his wife, actress Rachel Weisz
- Christie Brinkley
- Chris Rock
- Jimmy Fallon
- Trevor Noah
- Producer Tony Visconti
- Ethan Hawke
- Jann Wenner
- Questlove, who opened the show with a DJ set
Among the Stones' more memorable album and tour launches in New York are:
- Playing on a flatbed truck driving down Fifth Avenue in 1975 to announce that year's tour.
- Taking a train into Grand Central Station in 1989 to announce their Steel Wheels tour.
- Mick Jagger, driving a red 1955 Cadillac convertible across the Brooklyn Bridge with Keith Richards sitting beside him and Charlie Watts and Ronnie Wood in the backseat to announce their 1997 Bridges to Babylon tour.
- Riding aboard a blimp in 2002 that landed in Van Cortlandt Park in The Bronx to announce their tour.
- Playing on a balcony at the Juilliard School of Music in Manhattan to announce their 2005 tour.