The Rolling Stones played a brilliant secret concert on the eve of the release of their new album “Hackney Diamonds”. Will a tour be announced now?
On October 19, 2023 – one day before the release of their newly released studio album “Hackney Diamonds” – they celebrated Rolling Stones their new work with a secret club concert in New York City. As well-rehearsed as the band appeared, this raises the question: Will tour dates finally be announced?
Keith Richards recently confirmed in a recent interview that the Rolling Stones want to go on tour in 2024 Interview with the BBC – “if we’re all still standing there,” as he noted. “We are all in good shape. We don’t look at each other and say, ‘Time’s up,'” the guitarist said at the time. The fact that the legendary British rock band rehearsed perfectly that evening and was in an excellent mood could be an indication that they had already spent some time in the rehearsal room. Finally, the seven-song setlist also included several pieces from “Hackney Diamonds” that the Stones had not yet played live – for example the ballad “Sweet Sounds Of Heaven,” which Mick Jagger performed that evening. As with the studio recording, US superstar Lady Gaga was welcomed as a duet partner.
You can see a compilation of the performance here:
Some people had actually already joined the group Press conference with talk show host Jimmy Fallon A tour announcement is expected on September 6th, 2023. Maybe Jagger, Richards and Wood didn’t want to steal the spotlight from the album announcement and are waiting a little longer to announce tour dates. If the Rolling Stones go on tour in 2024, it could start in the spring of next year, for example in the USA, and take the band to Europe in the summer of 2024. There were still many months left for the announcement and advance sales. It can be assumed that the band will add one or two new pieces to the setlist.
The setlist of the secret concert:
1-Shattered
2-Angry
3- Whole Wide World
4- Tumbling Dice
5- Bite My Head Off
6-Sweet Sounds Of Heaven (with Lady Gaga)
7- Jumping Jack Flash
We last reported:
As reported, FC Barcelona will be releasing a jersey with the Rolling Stones’ tongue logo in collaboration with Spotify – the jersey will be available from October 28th, just over a week after the release of their new album “Hackney Diamonds”.
>>> our video interview with Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood here!
What was dropped rather casually by Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood: “We are big football fans and are honored that Spotify has immortalized our ‘Tongue and Lips’ logo on the FC Barcelona jersey to celebrate the release of the new one Stones album ‘Hackney Diamonds'”. On November 5th, reports “Goal”, FC Barcelona will also be wearing the new jersey themselves at the women’s team’s game against Sevilla at the Johan Cruyff Stadium in Barcelona. And: “The Stones are also planning to be there. “We will be cheering on the players on the field as well as the fans around the world who will be watching this iconic game,” the band said. That means you can see the Stones there in the audience (theoretically).
Lots going on for the men: For the release of “Hackney Diamonds” there are also special pop-up shops in Germany with exclusive merch, as well as a bus that tours through Germany.
Guitarist Ronnie Wood gave some insights into the new record in an interview with “NME”, talks about the last days of their former drummer Charlie Watts and explains why the Rolling Stones should appear at the “Glastonbury” festival.
In September, Wood, Keith Richards and Mick Jagger announced their new album “Hackney Diamonds” at a press conference. This is her first with new songs in 18 years and therefore also the first after the death of her bandmate Charlie Watts. He died in 2021 after a short illness.
The new recording will consist of 12 songs, with Watts on drums on two of them. Steve Jordan was chosen as his successor and can be heard on the rest of the album. Ronnie Wood describes the difference between the two as follows: “The best way I can describe it is: Charlie was a firework with lots of bangers and Steve Jordan is like a bomb going off. We needed that extra push.”
The band has brought in all sorts of well-known reinforcements for their album. In addition to a feature from Lady Gaga and Stevie Wonder in “Sweet Sounds Of Heaven”, many other star musicians are 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 the Stones will present again in their old quintet strength. A few weeks ago, their lead single “Angry” surprised everyone with the addition of Sydney Sweeney in the music video.
The music video for “Angry”:
Ronnie Wood remembers the recordings well, that he felt the energy of Charlie Watts could still feel in the recording studio after his death – and how he saw him for the last time: “I was the last person to see Charlie in the hospital in London before he died. He said, ‘I want to get out of here, but until I do, will you please have Steve Jordan fly the flag for me?’ And I said, don’t worry about it. We take care of you. Then he said: All right. Now get out so I can watch Frankie Dettori on TV! “Charlie loved horse racing.”