Charlie Watts Will Be Featured On 2 Tracks Of The Rolling Stones’ New Album

The Rolling Stones confirmed that two songs off their upcoming album, Hackney Diamonds, feature the late drummer Charlie Watts during their live broadcast with Jimmy Fallon on Wednesday. The brand-new album will be released on October 20th.

Interview with Jimmy Fallon Exclusives

Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, and Ronnie Wood had a conversation with Jimmy Fallon about their 24th studio album during a live YouTube stream in London. After this chat, the band left the stage and unveiled their lead single, “Angry,” to the audience.

Fallon also asked the group how things have changed since Charlie Watts passed away in August 2021. Richards expressed:

“Ever since Charlie’s gone, it’s different, of course. I mean, he’s number four. His missus is up there… Of course, he’s missed. Incredibly. But thanks to Charlie Watts, also we have Steve Jordan, who was Charlie’s recommendation for if anything should happen to him. [He told us,] ‘Steve Jordan’s your man.’”

Richards continued:

“[Watt’s chose him] way, way back, and also, he’s been a friend of ours. I’ve worked with Steve, so it was a kind of natural progression. It would have been a lot harder without Charlie’s blessing on that, you know?”

The Rolling Stones’ Upcoming Album

Regarding the creation of the next record, Mick Jagger shared some intriguing insights. He stated that the majority of the songs on the album were written at the end of 2022, showcasing the band’s most recent artistic achievements. Two of the album’s tracks have a unique link to the past, which adds an intriguing twist to its composition.

These two songs, “Live By The Sword” and “Mess It Up,” have a special backstory. In reality, they were initially recorded in 2019, a few years before most of the album’s composition. These songs stand out because they showcase the late Charlie Watts’ remarkable drumming abilities.

His rhythmic contributions give the record a nostalgic undertone that makes it seem almost time-capsule-like in its music. They offer a distinctive moment of reminiscence and musical reflection for the band and their listeners when they are placed one after the other in the middle of the album.

The former Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman makes a cameo appearance and contributes his bass playing to one of these songs. The Rolling Stones’ fans may now enjoy a fleeting but poignant moment of musical history thanks to Wyman’s reunion with the band’s original rhythm section.

With the addition of these vintage recordings and the reunion of a former band member, the album gains depth and resonance, becoming more than just a collection of brand-new songs but also an overview of the band’s ongoing tradition.