In Brooklyn, a few hours after the announcement of their new album “Foreign Tongues” and the release of the single “In the Stars”, the Rolling Stones answered questions from Conan O'Brien in front of a room full of journalists. Mick Jagger rejuvenated in CGI, an improbable Robert Smith, an album completed in four weeks, and still not the shadow of a Rolling Stones tour: here are the eight essential things to remember.
Barely four hours after the Rolling Stones announced their new LP “Foreign Tongues” and unveiled the opening single “In the Stars,” Conan O'Brien took the stage at the Weylin in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, to address a packed house that featured Leonardo DiCaprio, Christie Brinkley, Andrew Watt, Odessa A'zion, and just about every music journalist in New York.
A few moments later, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Ron Wood arrive on stage for a Q&A by O'Brien – long in bursts of laughter, more stingy in major revelations, and weighed down by sound problems which never really went away. But any event with the Rolling Stones remains a monumental moment. Here are eight things to remember.
1. The video for “In the Stars” with Odessa A'zion and a rejuvenated Mick Jagger
At the very end of the event, when many journalists and guests had already left, the music video for the new single “In the Stars” was shown. It shows a radically rejuvenated Jagger, looking much like he did in the 1960s, singing the song in a club with other musicians — none appearing to be the Rolling Stones. “I Love LA” and “Marty Supreme” actress Odessa A'zion appears alongside him in the clip, and was excitedly watching the clip's premiere alongside Andrew Watt near the front of the room.
2. Charlie Watts still plays on the Rolling Stones album
In the last years of Charlie Watts' life, the drummer recorded several new songs with the Rolling Stones, which were put in the vault. Two of these, “Mess It Up” and “Live by the Sword”, appeared on “Hackney Diamonds”. A third, entitled “Hit Me in the Head”, was released for “Foreign Tongues”. “We did it in LA with Charlie”says Jagger. “It’s real fast punk rock. A super fast song. » Steve Jordan plays on the rest of the tracks. “It was Charlie who recommended it”Richards said. “Charlie passed the baton to him. »
3. Four of the fourteen tracks predate the sessions, including one with Paul McCartney
“Hit Me in the Head” isn’t the only song that predates the “Foreign Tongues” sessions. The album includes three others from the recent past, including one with Paul McCartney. “It would have been fun to have him audition.”jokes O’Brien. “I think it would have been hilarious. » Richards explains that he just happened to be working in the studio next door while they were making the previous album. “He wanted to come and play with the group”Richards said. “He wanted to check that box. »
4. Robert Smith (The Cure) is also on the album, strangely
Many Rolling Stones fans were hallucinated when the press release for “Foreign Tongues” indicated that Robert Smith, frontman of The Cure, played on the album despite the total lack of common history between the two. At the press event, Jagger explained how it happened. “I arrive one day to do my voices in London, and there is this guy, his back turned, wearing a long dress”he says. “When he turned around, his face was covered in lipstick. I said, 'I don't know you, but you're Robert Smith from The Cure.' He said to me: 'Yeah!' I told him, 'As long as you're here, we'll do something.' He did backing vocals. » O'Brien jokes that maybe it wasn't really Smith. “You learn later that he came to repair the air conditioning”he blurted.
5. The album was recorded in London in just four weeks
As with “Hackney Diamonds” in 2023, the Rolling Stones and Andrew Watt completed the album in a month. “Before, we spent months and months in the studio without leaving”said Jagger, “which is also another way of doing it. » The majority of “Hackney Diamonds” was cut in the United States, but this one was made in London. They explained to O'Brien that they wanted to capture “the London vibe”. “We call it the green corner of Chiswick”specifies Jagger, in reference to an upscale neighborhood in west London. “We weren't really in the heart of the East End or that kind of area. »
6. The Rolling Stones studio was tiny
7. Keith Richards is not a mic master
In the entire press conference, we were only able to catch about 65% of what Richards said. This is partly due to his accent, his calm laugh, and the terrible echo of a former bank building which now hosts big events, but mainly to the fact that he constantly moved the microphone away from his mouth while speaking. At one point, an exasperated O'Brien ended up holding his own microphone in front of Richards' mouth. “We’ll find you a better microphone next time”quips O'Brien, “or else we’ll stick it in your face.” »
8. Not a single Rolling Stones tour on the horizon
Since “Steel Wheels” in 1989, a new Rolling Stones album has meant a major stadium tour on a global scale. But they canceled a European tour planned for 2025, and withdrew another initially scheduled for this summer. It's been almost two years since they last played live, and there's no sign that it's going to happen any time soon. The subject of the scene was not discussed during the event with O'Brien. And Jagger, Richards and Ronnie Wood are stopping by Fallon's on separate evenings this week to promote the album. It doesn't look like they'll be playing any songs live during this promo tour. It's possible that their gigging days are behind them and they are now a studio band. It is also possible that a series of dates is in preparation, without having yet been announced. Hey Fallon, if you're reading this, ask at least one of them if a tour is coming up. Quite a few fans would like to know if the greatest live band in history has quietly hung up the phone.
