The Rolling Stones Enlist Enormous Names For New Album 'Hackney Diamonds'

A week after announcing their first album in 18 years, Hackney Diamonds, The Rolling Stones – Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood – have announced the tracklist and expansive list of special guest stars.

On Mess It Up and Live By The Sword, the band’s late drummer Charlie Watts appears, while former bassist Bill Wyman also features on the latter track. On Sweet Sounds Of Heaven, Lady Gaga is a guest vocalist, while Stevie Wonder is on keys and the piano.

That’s not all, though – Paul McCartney plays the bass on Bite My Head Off, and Elton John plays the piano on Get Close and Live By The Sword. Hackney Diamonds will be released on Friday, 20 October. You can pre-order/pre-save your copy of the album here.

Hackney Diamonds isn’t just diverse regarding collaborators; it likely also pulled inspiration from its multiple recording locations, including Los Angeles, London, the Bahamas, New York, and more. The album also marks the band's first work with producer Andrew Watt (Ozzy Osbourne, Miley Cyrus, Pearl Jam, Justin Bieber).

You can check out the music video to the album’s first single, Angry, starring Euphoria actress Sydney Sweeney, below.

The Rolling Stones signalled their “new album, new music,” and “new era” in a recent interview with Jimmy Fallon. “Hackney may be at the heart of Hackney Diamonds, but this is a truly global moment we want to share with fans around the world via YouTube,” the band said in a statement, per Variety.

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Charlie Watts passed away in August 2021.

Born on 2 June 1941 in Bloomsbury, London, Watts started playing the drums in 1955 and would go on to join the influential Blues Incorporated in 1962, where he would go on to meet his future The Rolling Stones band members Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Brian Jones, as well as co-founding member Ian Stewart.

Regarded as one of rock’s greatest drummers, Watts was known for his signature jazz-influenced style.

Watts would officially join the group in 1963 and would remain an active member through to his death.