The Rolling Stones have revealed details about their much-anticipated upcoming album during an engaging discussion with Conan O’Brien on 5 May in Brooklyn, New York. Band members Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, and Ronnie Wood discussed the new record, titled *Foreign Tongues*, at an exclusive launch event held at The Weylin in Williamsburg, where they disclosed exciting collaborations with musical legends Paul McCartney, Robert Smith of The Cure, and Chad Smith of the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/mick-jagger-keith-richards-ronnie-wood-paul-mccartney-050626-b0e80d92620a47c99ddeb042c6782d68.jpg)
The new album will feature a total of 14 tracks and follows the release of *Hackney Diamonds*, which debuted in 2023 and included McCartney on the track “Bite My Head Off.” The Stones have a legacy of collaboration, and according to Jagger, these partnerships often come about in unexpected ways. He recounted a humorous encounter with Robert Smith while recording in London, recalling how they met entirely by chance. “I turned up one day to do my vocals in London and there’s this bloke standing there with his back to me in a long gown,” Jagger recounted. “When he turned around, he was covered in lipstick. We’d never met before, and I said, ‘You are Robert Smith of The Cure!’ And he said, ‘Yeah!’ That’s how collaborations work sometimes,” he laughed.
Ronnie Wood shared his delight in having McCartney join the project, noting that the former Beatle felt like he had ticked another item off his bucket list by working with the Stones. “He said, ‘Now I can say I’ve played with the Rolling Stones. Wow!’” Wood quipped as he spoke with O’Brien, adding a light-hearted spirit to the event.
Conan O’Brien, a long-time fan of the Rolling Stones, described the opportunity to host such a significant discussion as “the gig of a lifetime.” Their banter included jokes about Jagger’s vocal style. O’Brien teased the frontman about his singing voice on the new album, suggesting it hadn’t changed much since the late 1960s. Jagger humorously responded, “Well, I was taking a lot of drugs in ’68,” prompting O’Brien to jest that he was actually there to intervene.
The atmosphere in the room reflected the excitement surrounding the new album. Jagger described the recording sessions in London as intense, noting, “We had 14 great tracks and we went as fast as we could.” Keith Richards added, “It was a month of concentrated punch,” emphasizing the sheer enjoyment they found in the creative process. At 82 years old, he expressed his gratitude for the privilege of continuing to make music after all these years.
As anticipation builds, *Foreign Tongues* is set for release on 10 July. The band has teased that the album will encapsulate the signature sounds that fans adore, which are deeply rooted in blues, country, rock, and classic Rolling Stones songwriting. With their rich history of innovation and collaboration, the Stones continue to prove their relevance in modern music.
This announcement comes as a reminder of the band’s enduring legacy and their ability to evolve while staying true to their musical roots. Collaborations with icons like McCartney and Smith only add to the excitement surrounding the album, as fans await what the legendary band has in store for them next.
The cultural significance of the Rolling Stones remains unquestionable, and *Foreign Tongues* is expected to resonate with both long-time followers and new listeners alike. As the summer release date approaches, the buzz around the album is intensifying, and tickets for their upcoming performances are likely to be in high demand as they continue to captivate audiences around the globe.