The Rolling Stones Announce New Album Hackney Diamonds

The band also shares the Sydney Sweeney-starring video for first single “Angry”

September 6, 2023September 6, 2023 Ron Hart 0 Comments 2023, Andrew Watt, Angry, Bill Wyman, Hackney Diamonds, Jimmy Fallon, Keith Richards, Lady Gaga, Mick Jagger, Paul McCartney, Polydor, Ron Wood, Sydney Sweeney, The Rolling Stones

The Rolling Stones 2023 (Image: Mark Seliger)

The last three remaining members of the classic lineup of The Rolling Stones suffered through a bumbling interview with Jimmy Fallon this morning to announce the release of their 24th studio album Hackney Diamonds.

Over a live broadcast on YouTube at East London’s historic Hackney Empire, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Ron Wood emerged looking fit, energized and ready to rock as they unveiled the album’s release date (October 20th) and the video for the ripping first single “Angry,” which stars Sydney Sweeney of HBO’s Euphoria.

The 12-track album, the song list of which will be revealed at a later date, was recorded in various locations around the world, including Henson Recording Studios, Los Angeles; Metropolis Studios, London; Sanctuary Studios, Nassau, Bahamas; Electric Lady Studios, New York; and The Hit Factory/Germano Studios, also in New York. One song title, however, was revealed at today’s event, that being “Sweet Sound of Heaven” featuring Lady Gaga.

The Rolling Stones Hackney Diamonds, Polydor 2023

The record is their first studio set of new material since 2005’s A Bigger Bang, which coincidently was released on September 6th eighteen years ago. Since then, The Stones have continued to smash box office records for fun on a series of global sellout tours and released 2016’s GRAMMY® Award winning Blue & Lonesome, which featured their brilliant versions of many of the blues tracks that helped shape their sound, and topped album charts around the world. Last year, they thrilled European audiences totalling nearly a quarter of a million on their 60th anniversary tour.

Hackney Diamonds also marks the Stones’ first collaboration with New York-born producer and musician Andrew Watt, who was named Producer of the Year at the 2021 GRAMMY® Awards and has worked with Post Malone, Iggy Pop, Eddie Vedder, Ozzy Osbourne, Justin Beiber and Elton John among many others.

VIDEO: The Rolling Stones in conversation with Jimmy Fallon

Former Stones bass player Bill Wyman, new drummer Steve Jordan, ex-Beatle Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder were all involved in the album, the band also revealed during the broadcast.

Given the heat the Stones have been getting over both the song and the video, it’s certainly wild to see how much these guys can still push the right buttons on society. I personally think the song rocks, and I can appreciate the band waving to Gen Z by putting their biggest crush in the starring role of “Angry.” But I can also appreciate how others are completely turned off by this throwback to a time when young women dancing in moving convertibles was socially (salaciously) acceptable.

In any case, stay tuned for more commentary on Hackney Diamonds as it continues its rollout. You’ll read about it from all angles here at Rock & Roll Globe.