Entertainment

Rolling Stones reveal 'blessing' from Charlie Watts as they launch new album

The Rolling Stones have revealed details of their first album of original songs since 2005 and how late drummer Charlie Watts, who died in 2021, is involved.

In a Hackney event on Wednesday, the rockers revealed their new LP Hackney Diamonds will be released on October 20, and it will also include appearances from Lady Gaga and original member Bill Wyman.

At the event they also presented their new single, Angry, and dropped the music video featuring actor Sydney Sweeney, 25.

Remaining band members Sir Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood were interviewed by US talk show icon Jimmy Fallon in a live-streamed event from the north London location.

Their last new material album 18 years ago was A Bigger Band, and their last cover album was Blue & Lonesome.

It is the first album since the death of the Rolling Stones’ long-time drummer Watts two years ago.

To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a webbrowser thatsupports HTML5video

Latest London news

  • How will I know if my child’s school is shutting because of dangerous concrete?
  • London set to boil in heatwave as forecasts predict temperatures will hit 32C
  • 11 of the best London events happening in September 2023

To get the latest news from the capital visit Metro.co.uk’s visit Metro’s London news hub.


Sir Mick revealed two songs – Mess It Up and Live By The Sword – from the 12-track album include Watts, who recorded them in 2019 two years before his death.

Keith paid tribute to Watts during the interview, as he said: ‘Ever since Charlie is gone it’s different, he’s number four.

‘He’s missing, of course he’s missed incredibly.’

He also revealed that Watts told them before he died that if ‘anything ever to happen to him’ then ‘Steve Jordan’s your man’ to be their replacement drummer.

‘It was a natural progression,’ added Keith of Steve, who has toured with the Stones since Watts’ death at festivals like BST Hyde Park.

‘Thanks to Charlie we have Steve Jordanwho was his recommendation if anything should happen to him,’ he said.

‘He’s been a friend of ours so he was a natural progression, it would have been a lot harder without Charlie’s blessing.’




Lady Gaga will also make a guest appearance, as Ronnie Wood said: ‘Lady Gaga sings really sweet on [album track] Sweet Sound Of Heaven.’

As the original bassist for the band from 1962 to 1993, Bill features on one of the tracks. He performed on their first 19 albums.

Sir Mick said: ‘We asked Bill to come in and do one track so we have the original line-up on one track.’

The White Lotus and Euphoria star Sydney was also at the live event, and said of being asked to appear in the video: ‘I freaked out and called my family and brought my mum.’

She added: ‘This is the biggest thing ever. I didn’t know it was going to be the first single but I love the song, it’s stuck in my head.’

Angry sees the actress writhing on the back of a convertible car as it drives along Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles past billboard of Stones footage over the years.

The new music was previously teased in an advert in the Hackney Gazette, which appeared to be for a fictional glass repair business.

The advert included a website and a phone number, which when called, responded with the automated message: ‘Welcome to Hackney Diamonds, specialists in glass repair: Don’t get angry, get it fixed.

‘Opening early September, Mare Street, E8. Register for a call at hackneydiamonds.com. Come on then.’


Explaining the title of the new LP, Keith said: ‘We were flinging ideas around for titles and went from Hit And Run to Smash And Grab and we came up with Hackney Diamonds, which is variations of them both.’

To the delight of the audience Keith added: ‘And we’re a London band.’

They had originally planned to release the album by Valentine’s Day, but Sir Mick joked maybe they were ‘a bit too lazy.’

Previously chatting about today’s event, the band said: ‘Hackney may be at the heart of Hackney Diamonds, but this is a truly global moment we want to share with fans around the world via YouTube.’

Before The Rolling Stone formed in the early 60s, Sir Mick, 80, and Keith, 79, were part of a blues band that regularly performed at jazz clubs in Ealing Broadway.

Last year the Stones travelled through Europe for their 60th anniversary tour which featured stops in cities including Madrid, Milan and Munich, and also London.

Got a story?

If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us [email protected], calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.

Source: Read Full Article