The Rolling Stones spoke in detail with Rolling Stone magazine – it was necessary – about their 24th studio album, Hackney Diamondswhose launch is highly anticipated.
Officially announced earlier this month and scheduled for October 20 by Universal, the band’s first album of original material since A bigger explosion in 2005 it was produced by Andrew Watt (Iggy Pop/Ozzy Osbourne/Miley Cyrus) and recorded at Henson Recording Studios in Los Angeles, Metropolis Studios in London, Sanctuary Studios in the Bahamas and the legendary Electric Lady Studios and The Hit Factory/Germaino Studios . In New York. The 12-track album was introduced by the single “Angry”, the video for which features American actress Sydney Sweeney.
It all started when Mick said: “It is important that we make an album”, Keith Richards tells Rolling Stone magazine. I replied : “If you think you have enough material to sing, then I will support you. If the singer likes to sing what he sings, that’s 90% of the game.”
Ronnie Wood, the other guitarist, adds that Paul McCartney recommended Andrew Watt to the band and that Mick Jagger spoke to Watt about taking over production at the band’s concert in Hyde Park, London, last summer. Jagger said that Watt seemed “very excited”.
“You have to understand that I’m a fucking fanatic,” he said. Watt explains. “If I told you how many Rolling Stones concerts I’ve seen, I don’t think you’d talk to me again. When we were in the studio, I’d say, ‘You let some weirdo behind the barricade produce the album.'”
The album features several guests, including Stevie wonder and Lady Gaga in the song “Sweet Sounds of Heaven.” Gaga’s appearance on the album came about simply because she was recording at the same studio in New York and she asked if she could stop by.
“She came in, in front of me, and curled up in a ball in front of me, on the floor.” Jagger remembers. “Someone gave her a microphone and she started singing oohs and ahs.”
“She was sitting on the ground, digging and singing.” Wood said, and Mick said: “Well, come in. Get up. Let’s do something about it. Let’s do it right.”
The group also recruited Paul McCartney to play bass on “Bite My Head Off”, which is apparently the “punk” song on the album, and Elton John to play on “Get Close” and “Live by the Sword”, one of the two songs (the other is “Mess It Up”) in which we find drum tracks recorded by charlie wattsthe late drummer of the Stones.
“Everyone is a Rolling Stones fan,” Andrew Watt added. Like Paul, Elton said to himself: “I just played with the Rolling Stones.”
The full interview can be found here.
Laurent Rieppi was present at the famous press conference held in London and during which we were able to discover the Stones in top form, as well as the video for “Angry”. Check out his report here.
Music video director François Rousselet had to manipulate nearly 40 billboards on the Sunset Strip to create the video for this new title “Angry.” He explained everything behind the scenes of his creation in a long interview that you can read here.
For his part, Walter De Paduwa invites you, on Dr Boogie, to review some rarities from the Stones’ long career this Monday, September 18, starting at 9 p.m.
