8 Things We Learned at the Rolling Stones Album Release Party

Just about 4 hours after the Rolling Stones announced their new LP, Foreign Tongues, and unveiled the lead single, “In the Stars,” Conan O’Brien walked onstage at the Weylin in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, and addressed a packed crowd that included Leonardo DiCaprio, Christie Brinkley, Andrew Watt, Odessa A’zion, and nearly each single music journalist in New York City.

“Let me set the stage for you,” he mentioned. “In 1962, a bunch of young men got together in London. They played small clubs, but dreamed of bigger things. Then they played slightly larger clubs, hoping that one day they’d reach the big time. Sadly, that day never came. They never quite made it. I think this album is going to change things. I think this album is the one. After years of toiling and obscurity, opening for other bands like Oingo Boingo, Bananarama, Frankie Goes to Hollywood, this “It’s their time.”

Moments later, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, and Ronnie Wood got here out for a Q&A with O’Brien that was lengthy on laughs, brief on main revelations, and stuffed with audio snafus that by no means fairly let up. But any occasion that includes the Stones remains to be a monumental event. Here are eight issues we discovered.

Their New Video for “In the Stars” Features Odessa A’zion and a De-Aged Mick Jagger
At the very finish of the occasion, after many journalists and company had already tricked out, they performed the video for the new Stones single, “In the Stars.” It exhibits a radically de-aged Jagger, trying roughly like he did in the Nineteen Sixties, singing the track in a membership with a number of different musicians, none of whom gave the impression to be the Rolling Stones. I Love LA and Marty Supreme actress A’zion seems alongside him in the video, and she or he excitedly watched the premiere perched subsequent to Watt close to the entrance of the corridor.

Charlie Watts Plays on the Album
In the ultimate years of Charlie Watts’ life, he recorded a number of new songs with the Stones that have been put into the vault. Two of them, “Mess It Up” and “Live by the Sword,” appeared on Hackney Diamonds. And a 3rd observe titled “Hit Me in the Head” was dusted off for Foreign Tongues. “We did that in LA with Charlie,” mentioned Jagger. “It’s a real fast punk rocker. It’s a super-fast song.” Steve Jordan performs drums on the remainder of the songs. “He was recommended by Charlie,” mentioned Richards. “Charlie passed on the baton to him.”

(*8*)

Editor’s picks

Four of the 14 Songs Predate the Sessions, Including One With Paul McCartney
“Hit Me in the Head” is not the solely track that predates the Foreign Tongues classes. The album has three others from the current previous, together with one with Paul McCartney. “It would be really funny if you made him audition,” O’Brien joked. “I think that would be hilarious.” Richards mentioned he simply occurred to be working at the studio subsequent door whereas they made the final report. “He wanted to come by and play with the band,” mentioned Richards. “I wanted to tick that box.”

Bizarrely, Robert Smith Is on the Album, Too
Many Stones followers have been surprised when the Foreign Tongues press launch famous that the Cure’s Robert Smith performs on the album, regardless of their full lack of any shared historical past. At the press occasion, Jagger defined the way it occurred. “I turned up one day to do my vocals in London, and there’s this bloke standing there with his back to me and this long gown on,” mentioned Jagger. “When he circled, it was coated in lipstick. I mentioned, ‘I’ve by no means met you earlier than, however you are Robert Smith of the Cure.’ He mentioned, ‘Yeah!’ I mentioned, ‘While you are right here, we higher go and do one thing.’ He sings a backing vocal.” O’Brien joked that possibly it wasn’t really Smith. “You found it later he was there to fix the air conditioner,” he mentioned.

The Album Was Recorded in London in Just Four Weeks
Much like 2023’s Hackney Diamonds, the Stones and producer Watt put the album collectively in only one month. “We used to spend months and months in the studio and never leave,” Jagger mentioned, “which is another way of doing it.” They reduce most of Hackney Diamonds in America, however this one was made in London. They instructed O’Brien they wished to seize “the London vibe.” “We call it leafy Chiswick,” mentioned Jagger, referring to a complicated West London neighborhood. “We weren’t really in the center of the East End or anything like that.”

The Studio Was Very Tiny
“We worked in the studio before,” mentioned Jagger, referring to Metropolis Studios. “It used to be an old power station. But we never actually recorded in this room. The room is quite small. It was big enough, but not huge. You didn’t have to move your eyes to see everyone. You can see exactly what everyone is doing. You can see what they’re thinking. That room really worked out for us. The sound was really good.”

Keith Richards Isn’t a Master of the Mic
Throughout the complete press occasion, it was solely potential to make out roughly 65 p.c of what Richards mentioned. This was partially due to his accent, regular chuckle, and the horrible echo in a former financial institution constructing, which now hosts massive occasions, however largely attributable to him transferring the mic away from his mouth whereas he spoke. At one level, O’Brien grew so pissed off that he shoved his personal mic in entrance of Richards’ mouth. “We’ll get you a better mic next time,” mentioned O’Brien, “or we can glue that to your face.”

There’s Not Even a Tiny Hint of a Tour
Ever since Steel Wheels Back in 1989, a brand new Stones album meant for a big stadium tour all throughout the globe. But they canceled a deliberate European run in 2025 and pulled another one initially scheduled for this summer time. It’s been practically two years since they’ve performed reside in any capability, and no indicators level to at least one occurring anytime quickly. The subject of reside work did not come up throughout the O’Brien occasion. And Jagger, Richards, and Wood are occurring The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on separate nights this week to advertise the album. It would not seem like they’re even going to do one track reside throughout this promotional run.

It’s potential their live performance days are behind them, they usually’re a studio band now. It’s additionally potential there is a run of dates coming in the close to future they have not introduced but. Hey, Fallon, if you happen to’re studying this, ask at least one among them a few tour. Quite a number of followers are dying to know if the best reside band in historical past has quietly retired from the highway.