The Rolling Stones’ new album is “done”.
Guitarist Ronnie Wood has confirmed the follow-up to 2023’s Hackney Diamonds – which saw them reunite with producer Andrew Watt – is ready to rock ‘n’ roll.
As quoted by The Sun newspaper’s Bizarre column, Wood said at the legendary group’s RS No9 shop in Carnaby Street: “Yes you will be getting a new album next year. It is done.”
What’s more,
The 78-year-old musician was there to sign copies of his new double anthology album, Fearless.
He also let slip that he’s hopeful the Stones – also including Sir Mick Jagger, 82, and Keith Richards, 81 – will hit the road again.
Wood teased: “Yes we are hoping to do some dates. Hopefully we will be back out there but I am still waiting to find out myself.”
Studio wizard Watt jumped at the chance to work with the Stones again.
He recently told Rolling Stone: “I’ve said it before, but it’s like working for Batman.”
Watt continued: “When the tongue is up in the air, you just go… I can say we did some recording together, but that’s all I can say.”
Richards’ son Marlon Richards recently confirmed a new album was in the works.
While Watt previously revealed they had left over material from the Hackney Diamonds sessions.
He told the same outlet in February: “It would be great.
“ It was a prolific time for the band. They had amassed, like, 18 years of material. There was so much to go through and choose from initially, and then there were new songs that just came because everyone was rolling and kind of flying.”
Speaking to the Rolling Stones edition of Record Collector magazine, actor-and-producer Marlon said: “They’re in town right now, recording.
“They’re in Chiswick [West London] or somewhere like that; I think they’re nearly done. They still maintain these ridiculous hours: after lunch until, like, two in the morning. I’d rather be somewhere else at that time of night! Unless you’re in it, it’s pretty boring.”
Asked specifically what they are working on, he said: “I guess an album – they have enough left over from the last one.”
The Brown Sugar hitmakers won Best Rock Album at the Grammy Awards and Marlon explained the recognition had spurred them back to work.
He said: “They gave them a Grammy, so now they’re all hyped up on that: ‘Oh, yeah – we can do another one like that! We’ve got more like that if you want…’. I think they’re doing the follow-up.”
He also confirmed speculation that the band will be playing live next year.
Marlon said: “I think they’re planning a tour of Europe.”