The Rolling Stones confirm details of new album Hackney Diamonds
The Rolling Stones have unveiled details of their much anticipated new album, Hackney Diamonds – and lead single Angry – at a star-studded press conference in London.
Mick Jagger, Ronnie Wood and Keith Richards shared insights at an event hosted by US presenter Jimmy Fallon in Hackney – after many hints about the album in recent weeks.
“I don’t want to be big-headed but we wouldn’t have put this album out if we hadn’t really liked it,” Sir Mick told the audience. “We said we had to make a record we really love ourselves. We are quite pleased with it, we are not big-headed about it, but we hope you all like it.”
Speaking to Sky News on the red carpet outside Hackney Empire, Sir Mick and Wood confirmed that Lady Gaga and Stevie Wonder both feature on the album.
On stage, the trio said the record had been made quite quickly after getting together in December last year. They decided on the name, they said, after thinking of titles to do with “Hit And Run, Smash And Grab” – eventually choosing the London slang as The Rolling Stones are “a London band”.
This is their first album of original songs in 18 years and their first release since the death of drummer Charlie Watts in 2021 – they paid tribute to him at the event, saying it would have been “a lot harder” to make the record without his blessing.
Revealing further details of the record, Sir Mick said it features 12 tracks, with two recorded in 2019 with Watts. Fans can look forward to its release on 20 October.
Making albums and touring are the “Holy Grail” of being a music artist, Richards said, as he discussed what it was like to get back into the studio with his bandmates.
“It is fun, it is where a band can come together, playing live is the other Holy Grail, but to record is where the guys can come together and pass around ideas without any interference. It’s a great place for a band to work it all out,” he said.
Asked if they think about how fans will react to their music, Richards added: “No, we just cross our fingers.”
Fans lined up outside the Hackney Empire on one of the hottest days of the year to be among the first to hear the news on Wednesday.
During the event, the trio premiered the video for Angry – and revealed it stars Euphoria and The White Lotus actress Sydney Sweeney, who sits in the back seat of a red convertible driving past Stones billboards in Los Angeles.
The star, sitting in the crowd, told Fallon she “freaked out and called my family” after being asked to feature in the video, describing it as “the biggest thing ever” that she has worked on.
Angry is a theme of the album, Sir Mick said, but added that the album also contains “love songs, ballads, country-type” songs.
Fallon also highlighted the long break since their last album of original songs, 2005’s A Bigger Bang, with Sir Mick responding jokily to say they had been “very lazy” – before adding: “We have done something! We’ve been on the road most of the time.”
The advert for ‘Hackney Diamonds’ in the Hackney Gazette. Pic: via Reuters
Fans were first alerted in August by an advert placed in the Hackney Gazette, supposedly for a glass repair store, featuring lyrics from the band’s best-known hits.
The advert also included a website and phone number, leading to a recorded message with a greeting from a male voice, with a Cockney accent, which said: “Welcome to Hackney Diamonds, specialists in glass repair. Don’t get angry, get it fixed.”
Over the weekend, another website – dontgetangrywithme.com – also appeared, with details of today’s event confirmed on Monday.
“New album, new music, new era,” the band promised, revealing a short video skit featuring Fallon being summoned to the UK via a “Stones phone”.
The Rolling Stones formed in the early 1960s and have had eight number one singles in the UK, including (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction, Paint It Black, and Honky Tonk Women.
In 1989, they were inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, and they marked their 60th anniversary with a European tour in 2022, covering 10 countries including a performance at British Summer Time (BST) festival at London’s Hyde Park.
Sir Rod Stewart has defended his support for Ukraine after he appeared to be booed as photos of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy were shown at a concert in Germany.
The 79-year-old was met with loud boos, shouts and whistles from the crowd in Leipzig’s Quarterback Immobilien Arena on Friday, before performing his 1991 hit Rhythm Of My Heart – which he calls a war song and has dedicated to Kyiv in recent shows.
Sir Rod then saluted the Ukrainian leader, while images of President Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian flag were projected on screen.
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Reacting to the jeers from the crowd on Monday, Sir Rob said he has supported the Ukrainian people since Russia invaded the country in February 2022.
“From arranging for members of my family to take supplies to the country, to renting a house in the UK for a Ukrainian family, as well as employing two Ukrainians as part of my touring crew,” he said.
“So yes, I do support Zelenskyy and the people of Ukraine, and I will continue to do so.
“Putin must be stopped.”
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The singer ended the statement by saying he is having “the time of my life playing for German audiences, sharing some special memories” and is looking forward to playing his remaining dates there.
Sir Rod has regularly condemned Russia, and recently called Vladimir Putin an “arsehole” during an interview with Sky News.
He is due to return to Germany for a show at Hamburg’s Barclays Arena later this week, before performing in Cologne on 25 June and Munich on 28 June.
Daniel Radcliffe has won his first Tony Award and admitted it was “one of the best experiences” of his life at a ceremony in New York which saw big wins for The Outsiders and Stereophonic.
The 34-year-old star of the Harry Potter movies picked up the award at the 77th annual event, which recognises excellence in Broadway theatre, for his role in the revival of Merrily We Roll Along.
After performing with the cast of the show on stage at the Lincoln Centre’s David H Koch Theatre, Radcliffe appeared shocked to win the award for best actor in a featured role in a musical.
“This has been one of the best experiences of my life,” Radcliffe said.
He thanked the late George Furth and Stephen Sondheim “for writing this unbelievable show” in 1981, the songs of which he described as “a gift to get to sing every night”.
He also said it was an “honour” to share the stage with co-stars Lindsay Mendez and Jonathan Groff in the musical, which charts the turbulent relationship between three lifelong friends.
The Outsiders, based on the SE Hinton book about rival gangs in 1960s Oklahoma, won three awards including best new musical – and landed producer Angelina Jolie her first Tony.
Stereophonic, the play about a Fleetwood Mac-like band recording an album over a turbulent year, won best new play and scooped the night’s most total awards with five.
The star-studded ceremony also saw Nick Jonas, Nicole Scherzinger, Jennifer Hudson, Idina Menzel, and Cynthia Erivo among the attendees, while there was a surprise performance from Alicia Keys and Jay-Z.
Angelina Jolie attended the ceremony with her daughter, Vivienne. Pic: Reuters
Alicia Keys performs at the 77th annual Tony Awards. Pic: Charles Sykes/Invision/AP
Radcliffe’s Merrily We Roll Along co-star Groff won best actor in a musical – while British director Maria Friedman collected the gong for best revival of a musical alongside her producer sister Sonia.
The ceremony kicked off with a first-time win for Succession’s Jeremy Strong, who triumphed in the best actor in a play category for An Enemy Of The People.
Sarah Paulson won best actress in a play for her role in Appropriate, a dark family drama-turned-comedy from playwright Branden Jacobs-Jenkins.
Kecia Lewis won her first Tony for her role in Hell’s Kitchen. Pic: Reuters
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Theatre veteran Kecia Lewis picked up her first Tony for best featured actress in musical Hell’s Kitchen.
In an emotional speech, Lewis recalled how she “walked into the Imperial Theatre to begin my Broadway career at 18 years old”.
She added: “This moment is the one I dreamed for most of those 40 years, so I say to everyone who can hear my voice – don’t give up.”
To win a Tony – short for Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Broadway Theatre – means a winner is a quarter of the way towards becoming among the few to gain an EGOT, the so-called “grand slam” of American show business, achieved by those who also win an Oscar, Emmy and Grammy.
The West End of London’s equivalent awards are the Olivier Awards, which were presented this year in April.
Sir Rod Stewart appeared to be booed as photos of Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy were shown at a concert in Germany.
The 79-year-old singer, who has spoken out against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, was playing at Leipzig’s Quarterback Immobilien Arena on Friday.
Before performing his 1991 hit Rhythm Of My Heart – which he calls a war song and has dedicated to Kyiv in recent shows – the Ukrainian flag was projected on screen behind Sir Rod.
Images of Mr Zelenskyy were then shown, prompting loud boos, shouts, and whistles from the crowd.
Videos from social media show the crowd appearing to jeer as Sir Rod salutes the Ukrainian president.
The singer has regularly condemned Russia since 2022, and recently called Vladimir Putin an “arsehole” during an interview with Sky News.
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From February: ‘Music brought us together’
He told Sky News’s Friday Night With Niall Patterson in February: “We have to support Ukraine right to the end.”
In October 2022, Sir Rod also revealed had rented and furnished a home for a family of seven Ukrainian refugees.
“Words couldn’t describe what we were watching,” he told the Daily Mirror at the time. “The bombing of innocent children, the bombing of hospitals and playgrounds.
“Like everyone else, we were completely beside ourselves. I don’t wish that on anyone. This is evil, pure evil.”
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Sir Rod will return to Germany for a show at Hamburg’s Barclays Arena later this week, before performing in Cologne on 25 June and Munich on 28 June.
A representative for Sir Rod has been asked for comment.
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