On morrisseycentral.com, The Smiths’ frontman’s personal blog, Morrissey stated that, “I invented the group name, the song-titles, the album titles, the artwork, the vocal melodies, and all of the lyrical sentiments came from my heart … and so it’s a bit like saying Mick Jagger had nothing to do with the Stones.” Grandiose comparisons to Mick Jagger aside, Morrissey believes that other ex-Smiths members are taking credit for his work. In reference to the Smiths’ 1983 signing to Geoff Travis’ Rough Trade records, Morrissey said: “Several news sites now claim that the initial meeting at Rough Trade Records was with “Johnny Marr and Andy Rourke,”. Morrisey’s website lacks any citation or direct reference to the “several news sites” he mentions. A quick google search will reveal that Wikipedia and several major news publications credit both Morrissey and Marr with the signing.

While the specific claims made by the 64-year-old singer may be unverified, it is true that many fans and industry veterans have turned their back on Morrissey. However, rather than a result of greedy ex-band-members, Morrissey’s poor reputation is the result of his right-wing political opinions. Although The Smiths’ original material expressed relatively progressive messaging around class, the monarchy, and organised religion, Morrissey’s more recent affiliations with far-right politics has pushed him away from the mainstream.

In a 2019 performance on Jimmy Fallon’s The Tonight Show, the singer wore a badge that featured the logo of the now-defunct For Britain Party. For Britain was a far-right fringe party led by Anne Marie Waters that promoted an anti-Islamic, anti-immigration policies which was host to ex-members of the British Nationalist Party (BNP) who were deemed too extreme for the UK Independence Party (UKIP). Speaking with Fiona Dodwell on blogsite Tremr in 2018, Morrissey expressed sympathy for Stephen Christopher Yaxley-Lennon, better known as Tommy Robinson, saying: “it’s very obvious that Labour or the Tories do not believe in free speech… I mean, look at the shocking treatment of Tommy Robinson”. For those who don’t know, Tommy Robinson is the far-right nationalist founder of the English Defence League (EDL), who has been convicted of multiple crimes that include assault of a police officer, ownership of a false passport, and the stalking of a journalist.

Morrissey has an esteemed past and a solidified position in British music cannon which will never change however, Morrissey’s claim of “cancel culture beings at home” mirrors that of many allegedly disgraced celebrities whose politics frequently land them in hot water. It is not ex-band-members who are tarnishing the legacy of the Smiths, but it is instead the reactionary far-right politics which he continues to promote.

The Spanish footballing giants have said the logo in question will be the legendary tongue and lips frequently used by The Rolling Stones. The match will be played on October 28^th at the Estadio Olimpico Lluis Companys – as opposed to the legendary Camp Nou stadium, which is currently undergoing refurbishment. The legendary stadium will be renamed Spotify Camp Nou, upon reopening due to the clubs partnership with Spotify.

DONE DEAL!
FC Barcelona and @RollingStones sign deal ahead of the next #ElClásico thanks to @Spotify . 28/10/2023 pic.twitter.com/bfH7tpw5Lp

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) October 19, 2023

The Rolling Stones in a statement have said: “We’re huge football fans and honoured that Spotify have brought our Tongue & Lips logo to grace the FC Barcelona shirt to celebrate the release of the Stones’ new ‘Hackney Diamonds’ album, we’ll be cheering on the players on the pitch as well as fans around the world who will be tuning in to watch this iconic match.”

The logo will also be added to the kit for the Barcelona women’s team match against Sevilla at Estadi Johan Cruyff on November 5^th.

This isn’t the first time that Barcelona have put an artist’s logo on their kit for an El Classico match, as they have done it two times previously with their collaboration with Spotify, which started in 2022. On October 16^th 2022, Barcelona wore Drake’s Owl logo on the front of their shirts as the club lost 3-1 to Real Madrid at the Bernabeu. On Match 19^th earlier this year, Barcelona then wore a shirt with the logo of Rosalia, a Catalan-based singer, as Barcelona beat Real Madrid 2-1, with the shirts being available to the public for 399.99 euros.

Barcelona’s marketing Vice-President, Juli Guiu spoke about the club’s partnership with Spotify, as he said: “Our collaboration with Spotify has taken things to the next level, Bringing together two icons – The Rolling Stones logo and the Barca jersey – is a special moment for our fans around the world. Music and football form a special partnership with a long future ahead of them and we are happy to add another chapter to the story.”

The Rolling Stones Barcelona shirt will be available to the public on October 23^rd via the club’s website here.

Speaking to the BBC on whether arthritis has affected his playing, Richards said, “Funnily enough, I’ve no doubt it has, but I don’t have any pain, it’s a sort of benign version. I think if I’ve slowed down a little bit it’s probably due more to age. And also, I found that interesting, when I’m like, ‘I can’t quite do that any more,’ the guitar will show me there’s another way of doing it. Some finger will go one space different and a whole new door opens. And so you’re always learning. You never finish school, man.”

The Rolling Stones have only recently celebrated their 60th anniversary and noted the landmark with a special tour. This seemingly put the fire back into the band, with frontman Mick Jagger expressing a desire to get back into the studio to record a new LP. Commenting on the finished product and Jagger’s influence on proceedings, Richards continued, “he [Jagger] hit me in the right spot. I’ve always wanted to record the band as soon after we get off of the road, because the band is lubricated.”

The band have covered a lot of ground in their long and storied history, forming in 1962 in London with the now legendary story of Jagger and Richards meeting each other on the platforms of Dartford train station-Richards with his guitar and Jagger holding records of Chuck Berry among other blues musicians. The pair quickly struck up a friendship and the rest is rock history of the most illustrious kind.

Hackney Diamonds, The Rolling Stones’ 24th studio album, is set to be released on 20 October and features guest spots by Paul McCartney, Elton John, Lady Gaga, Charlie Watts and former bassist Bill Wyman.

The star-studded gospel-inspired track is set to be featured on The Rolling Stones’ upcoming album Hackney Diamonds, which is the band’s first full-length release of new material since 2005’s A Bigger Bang. Stevie Wonder had already been confirmed to be on the album, however Lady Gaga’s appearance, whilst heavily rumored, had never been confirmed. This new track follows the release of the previous single, ‘Angry’.

Talking to Zane Lowe for an interview on Apple Music 1, Mick Jagger discussed the collaboration with Lady Gaga on the track, as he said: “We did it live in the room, and that was a great experience, her just coming in the room and her just opening up and seeing her bits and feeling her way and then getting more confident. And then we came back and then did some extra parts that we hadn’t done on the day and then we did some tidying up and we were just in the overdub room, really face-to-face, getting them really tight, the parts really tight, and then being slightly competitive and screaming.”

Talking about Lady Gaga, Jagger also added: “She’s a really great singer and I’d never heard her sing quite that style before”. The song’s sessions also included legendary musician Stevie Wonder, who toured with the Stones in 1972.

Mick Jagger also spoke about playing with Wonder in the interview, as he said: “It’s all played live. And of course, we did overdubs, but it’s all played in the room. Yeah, there’s that moment, especially in that session where we had Stevie, and you’re feeling your way out a little bit and then you do that soul ending, which is you do sometimes on stage where you stop and you start.”

It seems it was the idea of producer Andrew Watt to have Stevie Wonder on the album. A self-confessed fan who even has a Stevie Wonder tattoo, Watt pushed the band to think about the collaboration, he said: “How cool, as a fan, for Stevie Wonder to be playing on a Rolling Stones song?”

The album will also feature original drummer Charlie Watts on two tracks. The drummer unfortunately passed away in 2021 but the band were able to use some of the drum tracks he laid down before his death.

The upcoming album Hackney Diamonds releases on October 20^th and will be available on CD, Vinyl and on all major music streaming platforms.

Frontman Mick Jagger spoke on a Canadian Podcast, ‘Q with Tom Power’ to promote the new album and he revealed that a follow-up is already being worked on as he said: “This won’t be the last album. We are two-thirds through the next one.”

This will come as a massive shock to long-time Rolling Stones fans as before Hackney Diamonds, which is due for release on October 20^th, the last full-length album of original music the band had released was 2005’s A Bigger Bang.

The new album, Hackney Diamonds, will feature original drummer, Charlie Watts – who unfortunately died in August 2021 from cancer. Watts plays on 2 songs whilst his replacement Steve Jordan plays on the rest of the tracks. Jagger earlier this month confirmed this as he said: “There’s 12 tracks on the album. Most are with Steve, but two are tracks we recorded in 2019 with Charlie. We used two of the tracks that we recorded with Charlie before.”

Commenting at a special event at Hackney Empire in London earlier this month, guitarist Keith Richards commented on Watts’ absence, saying: “Ever since Charlie’s gone it’s different, of course, he’s number four, he’s missing. Of course he’s missed, incredibly. But thanks to Charlie Watts we have Steve Jordan – who was Charlie’s recommendation should anything happen to him, Steve Jordan is your man. It would have been a lot harder without Charlie’s blessing.”

It can only be assumed at this point that the follow-up album is being worked on with replacement drummer, Steve Jordan, however that is ultimately unknown.

First and foremost, the band is currently gearing up for the release of Hackney Diamonds with lead single ‘Angry’ already released.

The album features star studded collaborations including Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder.

Talking about Paul McCartney making it on the album, Jagger claims it was unexpected, as he said: “Paul was in LA when we were recording and he was supposed to work with Andy one week. Andy had said, ‘I am working on this record and I will be on it for six months if I do nothing else. Andy said, ‘Why don’t we get Paul to come in?’. We suggested he played on this tune, and he really rocked it. We were all in a room together. “It seemed so natural and Paul was so relaxed and he enjoyed it. John [Lennon] was a close friend of mine and he was so acerbic. Paul is a different kind of personality. We don’t see each other that much but we do text.”

The Stone’s new album released after teasing the idea, comes almost two decades after their last album was released back in 2005, and their first since the death of Charlie Watts.

Mick said, “Most are Steve, but two are tracks we recorded in 2019 with Charlie and so we, er, we used two of the tracks we recorded with Charlie before.” Ronnie Wood then picked up from that and confirmed the name of both singles, he said “Live By The Sword” and “Mess it up.”

Fans will have to patiently wait until October 20 when the album is officially released. You can access the Rolling Stones web page and pre-order the album now.

Charlie Watts previously proclaimed as the greatest drummer of his generation, sadly died in 2021; however, the reason behind his death has never been disclosed. Charlie was previously diagnosed in 2004 with throat cancer but was in remission in 2005.

Keith Richards recalls and tells Jimmy during their press conference that Charlie had recommended Steve Jordan. “Thanks to Charlie Watts also we have Steve Jordan, who was Charlie’s recommendation, If anything should happen to him, Steve Jordan’s your man.”

Charlie Watts, appearing on two tracks from the new album, wasn’t the only surprise that the Rolling Stones had up their sleeve for their comeback release.

The first long-awaited new single off the album, to be released, is entitled Angry. The band reunited with host Jimmy Fallon in Hackney London on September 6, to premier their iconic new music video.

At the conclusion of the premiere, Jimmy Fallon had another special guest, Sydney Sweeney, the star of the Rolling Stones’ new music video. Famous for her acting performances in ‘Euphoria’, ‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood’ and, most recently, ‘Reality’.

In the video, Sweeney is being driven down Los Angeles Boulevard, in a Stones-branded convertible, passing billboards of the Rolling Stones through the decades. She is seen enjoying the open top, lip-syncing to the lyrics, and playing air guitar.

After the Rolling Stones leave the stage, Jimmy steps down to the front row, where Sydney Sweeney and her Mum, Lisa, are sitting. Jimmy asks Sydney “What goes through your brain when you get asked to do a Rolling Stones video?” Sydney replies with, “Oh gosh, Freaked out, called my family and brought my mum.”, Sydney then turns to the seat behind her, where her mum is sitting.

Jimmy, turns and says to Lisa, “Hi mom, You’ve gotta be very proud of your daughter.” With a beaming smile on her face, she nods and says, “Very proud.”

Fallon asks “Have you done a video before?”.  Although Sydney has appeared in one other music video, she goes on to add, “But nothing like this” and “This is the biggest thing ever.”

September 20, Rolling Stones, new album, Hackney Diamonds featuring Charlie Watts, and it is clear, that his contributions to the band over the past 58 years and talent as a drummer will be sorely missed on tour and from the recording studio.

A new Stones era
Worldwide September 6th
Join at https://t.co/09XIP65sXt
#hackneydiamonds pic.twitter.com/uV6xOXKDig

— The Rolling Stones (@RollingStones) September 1, 2023

The clip, which was shared on the official Rolling Stones social media accounts, features the intro to a new track that showcases a classic, rhythmically driven Stones sound, complete with snappy drums and ringing riffs. Check out the snippet below:

As well as posting on social media, the band launched a new website, dontgetangrywithme.com, which plays the audio clip – if you can get the webpage to load. Numerous reports from fans have complained of having trouble accessing the teaser, with the site requesting they refresh and try again. Each complaint, however, has been met with a reply along the lines of “don’t get angry with me”, and no offer of tech assistance has been made – indicating the glitch may have been intentional. 

Oh don’t get angry with me.. https://t.co/hHOCWBo9jq

— The Rolling Stones (@RollingStones) September 2, 2023

The Stones, it seems, have been particularly cryptic as of late. Only last week, a mysterious advert appeared in an East London newspaper, the Hackney Gazette. The ad, which claimed to represent a glass repair company called “Hackney Diamonds”, featured a sales blurb that referenced three song titles by the band: “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction”, “Gimme Shelter” and “Shattered”. Other clues came in the shape of a familiar-looking font (used on the band’s 1978 album Some Girls) and the suspicious use of a certain tongue logo. 

See the Hackney Gazette ad below:

Anyone see this? An ad ran in Hackney Gazette for a company called Hackney Diamonds teasing Rolling Stones song titles. Their est. date is 1962, same year Stones formed. Website seems to be run by Universal Music, the Stones’ label. A clue their long-awaited new LP is on its way? pic.twitter.com/DFSnb2WE48

— Simon Harper (@Simon__Harper) August 21, 2023

Just a quick visit to the official Rolling Stones website does enough to suggest the existence of a soon-to-be-released album called Hackney Diamonds, and with all the hints the band have been dropping lately, even the most sceptical of fans must be at least a little excited: a new Rolling Stones album would be the band’s first full-length studio release since 2016’s Blue & Lonesome covers album, and their first album of original material since A Bigger Bang in 2005. Speculations of a new record have been circulating since January, when guitarist Keith Richards shared a 15-second video confirming that the band had new music to share:  “Hi guys, here we are again. There is some new music on the way and hopefully, we’ll get to see you, you know? Anyway, let’s keep our fingers crossed.”

pic.twitter.com/NIhn6AKBJL

— Keith Richards (@officialKeef) January 11, 2023

The Rolling Stones appear to have revealed the title of their next album with an advert for a fictional glass repair specialists in the Hackney Gazette and Islington Gazette. https://t.co/VSRM35BrnN

— Hackney Gazette (@hackneygazette) August 23, 2023

Fans of The Rolling Stones are convinced that an advert taken out in London’s Hackney Gazette about a new window repair business is actually a cleverly cryptic album announcement by the band. The advert is for a store called Hackney Diamonds (reputed to be the title of the new record) opening in September 2023 and many, especially those that are shrewd fans of the band, have noticed that the so-called business’s advert features many Rolling Stones songs embedded in the writing.

Taking a closer look, the Rolling Stones famous tongue and lips logo forms the dot in the i of Diamonds at the top of the advert and some have claimed that the font style is the same as the one used on 1978’s Some Girls. Perhaps most intriguing, the bottom of the advert makes the claim that the ‘business’ was established in 1962-the very year the Rolling Stones formed as a band.

The advert also includes a link to its website. When followed, a privacy terms window opens on behalf of the band’s music label Universal. There is also a number people can call, featuring a voice that welcomes callers to Hackney Diamonds, specialists in glass repair.

The Rolling Stones having fun with an ad teaser for their new album in the Hackney Gazette pic.twitter.com/2l4sZCVj6k — simon read (@simonnread) August 23, 2023

Not surprisingly, the advert, noticed by eagle-eyed fans, has cued excitement for every Rolling Stones fan as the prospect of the band’s first new original music in 18 years is enough to make considerable waves in the music scene. The new album will also mark the first ever Rolling Stones release not to feature drummer Charlie Watts after the musician’s passing two years ago.

Guitarist Keith Richards has previously hinted that, although Watts may be gone, his drumming contributions to the band may not be finished just yet, with the drummer having recorded new tracks prior to his death. Speaking about the recording of new material, Richards teased, “let me put it this way, you haven’t heard the last of Charlie Watts.”

Should the Hackney Diamonds advert prove genuine, it will be the first new Rolling Stones record since 2016 when the band released a blues covers album called Blue & Lonesome. It will, however, be the first new original studio material the group has released since 2005’s A Bigger Bang.

The Rolling Stones were most recently immortalised in their hometown of Dartford when two bronze statues of frontman Mick Jagger and Keith Richards were revealed in the city centre. Named The Glimmer Twins, the statue acknowledges the pair’s first meeting on the platform of Dartford train station.

Happy Birthday, Mick.
Long may we keep saying this to each other, Happy 80th!
Love, Keith @MickJagger pic.twitter.com/g86Zy8wpZC

— Keith Richards (@officialKeef) July 26, 2023

Jagger is only slightly older than Richards, who will also be celebrating his 80th birthday in December and the legendary guitarist sent his frontman a moving message while picking out a short tune on the piano. Richards said, “long may we keep saying this to each other, happy birthday Mick have another good-in and give me a call and let me know what it’s like.”

Often considered one of the greatest songwriting pairs in rock n roll history, the two musicians met as teenagers while waiting for a train in Dartford where they were both from. On that journey, rock legend laid its foundations as soon after, the duo began the Rolling Stones and embarked on one of the most storied careers in the genre’s rich history.

Thanks so much for all your lovely comments and birthday wishes!! : Mark Seliger pic.twitter.com/XoNN05lYNH — Mick Jagger (@MickJagger) July 26, 2023

Following closely behind British contemporaries The Beatles, The Rolling Stones have been noted for Richard’s unique playing style- having the ability to pluck out some of the best known riffs ever to be recorded and Jagger’s energetic live performances, punctuated by his distinctive vocal style. The partnership made the band one of the most successful musical acts of all time, overseeing the group’s continued success in each of the decades they have been a part of.

Often credited as The Glimmer Twins on Rolling Stones records, Jagger and Richards first penned the song “As Tears Go By” for artist Marianne Faithful, before writing “The Last Time” in 1965-earning the band their first top ten hit. The pair would go on to write such hit songs as “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction”,” Jumpin Jack Flash,” and “Brown Sugar.”

Although Richards and Jagger have remained close friends for 73 years, their relationship has often been described as love/hate and the pair have weathered some stormy periods, some of which heralded successfully productive periods immediately after. With Richard’s autobiography Life, released in 2010- which some have claimed hurled barbed criticisms at Jagger-many pondered if the Rolling Stones would continue.

The two have proven in subsequent years that a break in the relationship could not be further from reality as the duo have continued to take The Rolling Stones forward into their 6th decade. And, if Richard’s birthday message is anything to go by, the pair’s friendship is just as strong as ever.

The Rolling Stones releasing new material will follow their previous album release, Blue and Lonesome, which was released 7 years ago in 2016. The upcoming Stones album will be their 31st studio album and the first since the death of their drummer, Charlie Watts. It has not yet been confirmed if Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr will collaborate with the band on the same tracks, or if their recorded material will even be released with the album. There has been no announcements of an expected release date and no statements from members of The Rolling Stones confirming a new album or a collaboration with the surviving member of The Beatles.

Recording sessions have reportedly been taking place recently, in Los Angeles, with the 32-year-old American music guru, Andrew Watt, being said to be producing the album. The 2021 Producer of the Year Grammy award winner, Andrew Watt, has worked with pop stars and rock stars throughout the music industry, such as Ozzy Osbourne, Pearl Jam, Elton John, Miley Cyrus, Justin Bieber, Iggy Pop and Dua Lipa. On January 11 2023, the guitarist for The Rolling Stones, Keith Richards, confirmed that there will be some new music being released at some point in the near future in a video uploaded to his Instagram . ‘’There’s some new music on its way and hopefully we’ll get to see you.’’ Stones haven’t toured since 2017, on their European and North American ‘The No Filter Tour.’

It is extremely likely that the Stone’s next album will include tracks which were recorded with the group’s legendary drummer, Charlie Watts, who passed away at the age of 80 in the summer of 2021. In a Los Angeles Times interview, Keith Richards was quoted saying ‘’You haven’t heard the last of Charlie Watts.’’ Watts was the drummer for the band for 60 years and reportedly only ever missed one concert throughout those six decades.

The collaboration of The Rolling Stones and the surviving members of The Beatles comes as a surprise to many fans, as throughout their phenomenal music careers, the two bands haven’t always seen eye-to-eye and faced a fiery feud during their successful careers. John Lennon was once quoted in a 1970 Rolling Stone interview, which was about the release of his solo debut album, John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band, stating that Mick Jagger was ‘’a joke.’’ Although there has been phases of rivalry, the bands have also shared moments of appreciation, such as Mick Jagger inducting The Beatles into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1998. The Stones and Beatles have been known to briefly work together even with their differences, as they teamed up in 1967 for a cameo, as the Beatles performed backing vocals for the single, ”We Love You.”  Variety have said they have reached out to reps for McCartney, Starr, Watt and The Rolling Stones for a comment on the reports of a collaboration.