The Rolling Stones Announce Their First Album In 18 Years, 'Hackney Diamonds'

Legendary rock band The Rolling Stones will release their first album in 18 years, Hackney Diamonds, in 2023.

Earlier this year, guitarist Keith Richards confirmed that new music was on its way.

Tonight, at 11:30 pm AEST, tune into the band’s interview with Jimmy Fallon below to find out more about “new album, new music,” and a “new era”. The Rolling Stones will be streaming live from Hackney, London, and encourage their fans to get involved in a YouTube comments Q&A.

Hackney Diamonds will follow their 2005 album, A Bigger Bang. Their upcoming LP was preceded by teasers to a song possibly called Angry, which consequently made fans grumpy after the website that was supposed to host the snippet crashed on multiple occasions, Rolling Stone reports.

Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Ron Wood’s new album will reportedly feature the band’s late drummer Charlie Watts’ final recordings and stars rumoured special guests Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr.

“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,” the band said in a statement, per Variety.

Last year, The Rolling Stones celebrated their 60th anniversary and toured around Europe to commemorate the anniversary. They toured with new drummer Steve Jordan, who also appears on the album.

Charlie Watts passed away in August 2021.

Born on 2 June 1941 in Bloomsbury, London, Watts started playing the drums in 1955 and would go on to join the influential Blues Incorporated in 1962, where he would go on to meet his future The Rolling Stones band members Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Brian Jones, as well as co-founding member Ian Stewart. 

Watts would officially join the group in 1963 and would remain an active member through to his death. 

Regarded as one of rock’s greatest drummers, Watts was known for his signature jazz-influenced style.

Andrew Watt, the Grammy Award-winning Producer Of The Year in 2021 and the producer for Ozzy Osbourne, Miley Cyrus, Pearl Jam and Justin Bieber, has reportedly steered the band’s new album.