LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 06: (LR) Ronnie Wood, Sir Mick Jagger and Keith Richards attend the launch event for The Rolling Stones’ new album “Hackney Diamonds” at the Hackney Empire on September 06, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by David M. Benett/Alan Chapman/Dave Benett/Getty Images)
Photo: Alan Chapman/Dave Benett/Getty I, David M. Benett. All rights reserved.
In a new interview, Mick Jagger has opened up about the likelihood of a “postmortal future” for the Rolling Stones. In conversation with the “Wall Street Journal” the 80-year-old talked about the coming years. This also includes the question of whether he could imagine selling the band’s back catalog from 1971 onwards – after all, there would then be some money left over for his own heirs. “But my children don’t need $500 million to live well.” Perhaps, says Jagger, his fortune would then be donated to charities. He says he can’t imagine publishing an autobiography either.
The singer is a little more flexible – surprisingly? – on the topic of “financial structuring of post-fame”. “You can run a postmortem business these days, can’t you? Do a posthumous tour? “The technology,” says Jagger, “has developed further since the Abba thing.” And he reveals that that would definitely have been an option for him: “But I missed the opportunity.” With their “Voyage” shows, In which the four Abba musicians, who are only a few years younger than the Stones frontman, are represented by holograms, the virtual Swedes have been delighting thousands of fans every month in the London “Abba Arena” since May 2022.
The problem with age, says the Briton Jagger, who was born in 1943, “is that older people feel helpless, useless and irrelevant.” With “Hackney Diamonds,” the Rolling Stones are releasing their 26th studio album on October 20th, the first foreshadowing was “ Angry”, the second single released on Thursday (September 28, 2023) is “Sweet Sounds of Heaven”, a song in which Lady Gaga sings along and Stevie Wonder plays the harmonica.
“Hackney Diamonds” will be the Rolling Stones’ first album in 18 years to feature exclusively original songs. Additionally, it is the first since the death of drummer Charlie Watts in 2021.
In addition to the feature from Lady Gaga and Stevie Wonder, other star musicians will also be there. Paul McCartney plays bass on “Bite My Head Off” and Elton John hits the keys on “Get Close” and “Live By the Sword”. “Mess It Up” and “Live By the Sword” were recorded with Charlie Watts – and the latter song contains a part from former bassist Bill Wyman, which will once again present the Stones in their old quintet strength