After the in-person announcement from Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood on the forthcoming release of Hackney Diamonds, word has trickled down regarding the impressive roster of legendary musicians for these sessions.
Among the most noteworthy is Paul McCartney adding his legendary bass licks to "Bite My Head Off." Although the rumor mill had the public believing that Ringo Starr was also on the track, that was quickly squashed by all parties.
Ronnie Wood, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards laughing during the 'Hackney Diamonds' launch, Hackney Empire Theater, London, September 6, 2023
Rock 'N' Roll Hall Of Famer Stevie Wonder and Lady Gaga contributed keyboards and vocals, respectively to "Sweet Sounds of Heaven" and Elton John played piano on "Get Close" and "Live by the Sword," which also features original Stones bassist Bill Wyman. The Stones' late drummer Charlie Watts is also on the latter and "Mess It Up."
The inclusion of Watts, who passed in 2021, has been spoken about since his passing. He was working on 'Hackney Diamonds' at the time of his death and as Richards explained in a recent New York Times interview, "Ever since Charlie's gone, it’s been different. He’s number four. Of course, he’s missed, incredibly." Producer Andrew Watt "kicked us up the arse," Jagger commented, noting that the reason for the 20-odd-year gap between albums was due to being "on the road most of the time."
The Rolling Stones - Angry (Official Video)
As for the other bit of talk surrounding a tour to support the new material, Wood teased to the BBC after the press conference that it might happen and touchingly revealed that he had been with Watts: "I was with Charlie before he passed, and he said 'make sure Steve Jordan covers for me until I'm repaired enough to come and join you'. So Steve has his blessing, and that's a really comforting thing." Jordan was a member of Richards' side project, The X-Pensive Winos in the mid-'80s and as he wrote in his 2010 autobiography Life, Watts told him at that time if he ever needed another drummer to fill his seat "Steve Jordan's your man."
As observers noted the playful interchange during the livestream press conference, with Wood and Jagger seemingly champing at the bit and Richards was his usual laconic, laidback self, the word also is that they are nearly done with a second album's worth of new material. When that will be released is right now a mystery.
Hackney Diamonds will be released on October 20 via Geffen. Pre-orders are available on the band's website.
