Fans have been waiting for it for nearly two decades: The Rolling Stones will release Hackney Diamonds on October 20, a new studio album featuring original songs that the legendary British band announced on Wednesday. Consisting of 12 tracks, according to Mick Jagger, including the first single, dubbed “Angry”, this album is the first released by the Rolling Stones since 2016, but the first of original songs in eighteen years.
“We were maybe a little lazy and then suddenly we were like, ‘Let’s set a date and make a record,'” quipped Mick Jagger, the band’s charismatic vocalist, who turned 80 in July. presenting the album, alongside Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood, to the press.
They were interviewed by American TV presenter and comedian Jimmy Fallon, at a performance venue in Hackney, east London, a venue “at the center of the new album”. All dressed in black, glasses on their noses, the three British rock grandpas arrived all smiles, taking a break in front of the photographers and many fans present to catch a glimpse of this cult group.
“I’ve been following the Stones since I was 4 years old and I’m from the neighborhood. […] It’s crazy that they are here, “ignited Rory McGlinchey, himself a musician and wearing a T-shirt with their likeness. “This is great news, I can’t wait,” he added when interviewed by Agence France-Presse.
” It was time ! adds, also enthusiastic, Victoria Riley, 50 years old and originally from Lancashire (north of England). Some admirers were luckier, having been able to get a ticket to enter the Hackney Empire Theater, where the press conference was taking place.
This album is the Rolling Stones’ 24th studio album in the UK, the first with original songs since 2005, when they released A Bigger Bang. Their previous album, seven years ago, Blue and Lonesome, was a record of blues covers. Hackney Diamonds will be their first album since legendary band drummer Charlie Watts passed away in 2021 at the age of 80.
The Rolling Stones had maintained the suspense around this album. Its launch was announced in August in a cryptic advertisement in a local daily, the Hackney Gazette.
“Hackney Diamonds, glass repair experts. Opening September 2023,” it read. This announcement immediately spread on social networks, fans having spotted allusions to the group. In-text mentions of headline titles like “Gimme Shelter” and “Satisfaction”. The date of the creation of the company, 1962, also happens to be that of the creation of the Rolling Stones.
Read all about it ?? @RollingStones put a cryptic ad in the @hackneygazette for their new album Hackney Diamonds ?? pic.twitter.com/SEVBkWTjL2
And the dot on the “i” in the word “diamonds” featured the famous tongue-sticking mouth logo. The advertisement linked to a website, “hackneydiamonds.com”, bearing the signature of the Universal Music label.
