The Rolling Stones have officially announced Hackney Diamonds, kicking off the album release rollout with lead single “Angry” and an accompanying music video featuring Euphoria actress Sydney Sweeney.
Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, and Ronnie Wood have been teasing the news for a while now. Last month the band hid a cryptic ad in a local paper, the Hackney Gazette, which read, “Our friendly team promises you satisfaction. When you say gimme shelter, we’ll fix your shattered windows.” (The term “Hackney diamonds” is east London slang for glass shattered in a robbery.)
“Angry” was released with a livestream hosted by Jimmy Fallon at Hackney Empire where the band detailed the process of making the new record and gave insight into key moments to listen for come October. Hackney Diamonds has 12 songs, with two being recorded in 2019 with the late Charlie Watts on drums. Original Stones bassist Bill Wyman also features on one of the tracks with Watts so as Mick Jagger remarked, “the original Stones (minus Brian Jones) are all on one song.”
Rumors have also circulated that Paul McCartney played bass on various points on the album and that Elton John may have also contributed to the LP, though nothing is confirmed. Ronnie Wood also stated during the livestream that Lady Gaga is featured on the track “Sweet Sound of Heaven.”
The Francois Rousselet-directed music video sees Sweeney cruising around Hollywood in a convertible, enjoying the breeze and taking in the sights as promotional billboards for the new record come to life around her. The track gives a modern lift to the classic Stones formula, creating a warm late-summer singalong that reminds fans why The Rolling Stones have remained one of the best rock groups for over 60 years.
Watch the music video for “Angry” below, and check out the full tracklist for Hackney Diamonds below.