Fifty-four years later and one of rock ‘n roll’s most influential bands is still rocking stages and captivating ears like it was the late 1960’s. Fresh off a Latin American tour that included a historic free to the public concert in Havana, Cuba this Spring, The Rolling Stones –with all but one of its members (Wood) in their early 70’s — have big plans for 2016.
According to an interview with Associated Press, Stones’ guitarist Ronnie Wood acknowledged that the rock ‘n roll icons are working on material for an upcoming album just weeks after they put together a show for the ages in the Cuban capital.
Wood informed the press that the band has been passing the last few days in the studio, where they have recorded a few originals along with a handful of blues covers by iconic crooners that first influenced the artists more than 50 years ago.
“We went in to cut some new songs, which we did,” Wood said. “But we got on a blues streak. We cut 11 blues in two days. They are extremely great cover versions of Howlin’ Wolf and Little Walter, among other blues people. But they really sound authentic … When we heard them back after not hearing them for a couple of months, we were, ‘Who’s that? It’s you.’ It sounded so authentic.”
The 68-year-old Stones guitarist made the comments regarding the group’s new project at their “Exhibitionism” exhibit at London’s Saatchi Gallery, which so happens to be the first international exhibition on The Rolling Stones. The event was attended by all members of the band, but none were as forthcoming as Wood when asked about the details of the new album.
“There’s one coming,” Legendary guitarist Kieth Richards admitted when asked. “I can’t say no more. My lips are sealed.”
The group has gone on to released 24 studio albums in their storied career, the last being 11 years ago in 2005 with “A Bigger Bang.” Since that time, the band has toured continuously, including a 2012 chain of dates to mark the ensemble’s 50th anniversary.
Early photos of the Rolling Stones as a raw-sounding, roguish-looking blues band https://t.co/NLGTZ1Epjq pic.twitter.com/2TXUPc0WSL
— NYT Photo (@nytimesphoto) April 4, 2016
Just last year, Keith Richards released a solo LP titled Crosseyed Heart . During an interview with Rolling Stone , the 72-year-old guitarist admitted his desire to jump back in the studio with his fellow Stones members to cut new material.
“I don’t know where, and I don’t know when yet, but yeah,” Richards said in the interview.
“I was in London last week, and all the boys, we had a little chat. We’re playing South America in February of next year. We were just talking and were like, ‘Well, we’ve got to get back in the studio. That’s agreed? Agreed. Right, OK boys. Where? When?’ We scratch our heads. That I don’t know quite yet. I would say off the top of my head, I would say after the South America thing, but you never know. We might try and get in the studio before Christmas, maybe. I think that’s sort of doubtful, because Christmas, and you know, that build up. But hopefully it’s in the works.”
The band has been at it for 54 years strong now and are quite the show when they’re out performing for a live audience, with Jagger as limber and energetic as ever and Richards as crisp with his blues infused licks as he was 5o years ago.
The news of a new Stones album will add to an already promising year for classic rockers. Eric Clapton announced earlier last month the debut of his new album I Still Do , while Bob Dylan is also expected to release his new material, Fallen Angels , within the coming months.
(Photo by Joel Ryan/Invision/AP)