Rolling Stones Promote New Album “Hackney Diamonds” with Livestream Event
The Rolling Stones, one of rock’s most iconic bands, recently held a livestream event to promote their upcoming album, “Hackney Diamonds.” The event, hosted by Jimmy Fallon and streamed on YouTube, featured Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, and Ronnie Wood, the band’s three current members.
In contrast to their wild antics from their early years, the band opted for a more sedate approach this time around. Instead of a food fight like their unconventional album release in 1968, the band discussed their new album and answered questions from Fallon.
“Hackney Diamonds,” named after an old British slang term for shards of glass after a break-in, is set to be released on October 20. The album is the band’s first collection of original material since 2005’s “A Bigger Bang” and their first since the passing of drummer Charlie Watts in 2021. Jagger revealed that two tracks were recorded with Watts in 2019, including the song “Live by the Sword,” which he described as having a retro feel.
During the livestream, the band members discussed their process of recording albums as a way for them to come together and share ideas. Richards emphasized that playing live is a “holy grail,” but the recording process allows for creative freedom without any interference.
Jagger expressed confidence in the new album, stating that they wouldn’t have released it if they didn’t truly like it themselves. He also hoped that the band’s fans would enjoy it as well. After the livestream, the band premiered the music video for the album’s first single, “Angry,” featuring Sydney Sweeney.
The event took place at the Hackney Empire, an old theater in London’s trendy Hackney district. The band sat in front of a broken-up version of their famous lips logo, surrounded by smashed chandeliers. Journalists and invited guests attended the event, but questions were not allowed from the floor.
Fans have been eagerly awaiting a new album from the Rolling Stones since their 2016 release, “Blue & Lonesome,” which featured blues covers. Jagger mentioned that “Hackney Diamonds” would have been finished earlier if not for the pandemic. In October 2021, the band teased the album through an advertisement for a fake glass repair company called Hackney Diamonds, which referred to their well-known songs.
Despite the livestream generating interest online, the excitement in Hackney’s streets was relatively subdued. A few dozen fans gathered outside the theater to catch a glimpse of the band walking the red carpet. However, some passersby, like 16-year-old Anya Morrisson, were less familiar with the band and continued on their way.
Philip Norman, author of “The Stones,” a major biography of the band, commented on the event, stating that although it was far from the band’s raucous image of the past, it still exuded their rebellious spirit. Norman also mentioned that he expected the album to have the classic Stones sound that fans have loved for decades.
With their new album on the horizon, the Rolling Stones continue to captivate audiences and prove that they’re still a force to be reckoned with in the world of rock music.