Ronnie Wood recently announced that The Rolling Stones’ new album is “done” and will be released next year, with hopes of a tour.
Rumors about the legendary rock band working on new material began circulating earlier this summer and gained momentum this month when producer Andrew Watt announced that he has been collaborating with the band on an upcoming album.
Watt, known for his work with artists such as Elton John, Lady Gaga, and Ed Sheeran, previously partnered with The Rolling Stones on their latest project, the Grammy-winning 24th studio album, “Hackney Diamonds,” which was released in 2023.
Now, the band itself has confirmed that album 25 is on the way and is expected to be released in 2026.
Ronnie Wood talks about The Rolling Stones’ new album
Guitarist Ronnie Wood seemingly confirmed news of the record in a new interview with The Sun‘s Bizarre column. When he was at the flagship RS No.9 shop in Carnaby Street, he told the outlet: “Yes you will be getting a new album next year. It is done.”
At the event on Carnaby Street, where the guitarist was signing copies of his new double anthology album ‘Fearless’, Wood also suggested that he, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards were planning on hitting the road again.
He was asked if the band will be heading out on tour in celebration of the forthcoming LP and the musician said: “Yes we are hoping to do some dates. Hopefully we will be back out there but I am still waiting to find out myself.”
As well as Watt hinting at a new Rolling Stones record in 2026, rumours were also sparked by Keith Richards’ son, Marlon, who also confirmed that the band had been working on a new album, and described it as being “nearly done”.
“They’re in town right now, recording,” he said in an interview with Record Collector back in May. “They’re in Chiswick [West London] or somewhere like that; I think they’re nearly done. They still maintain these ridiculous hours: after lunch until, like, two in the morning.”
When pressed on what the band were working on, he added: “I guess an album – they have enough left over from the last one.”
“They gave them a Grammy, so now they’re all hyped up on that: ‘Oh, yeah – we can do another one like that! We’ve got more like that if you want…’. I think they’re doing the follow-up.”
Marlon also added that he thought his dad’s band were “planning a tour of Europe”, although nothing has been confirmed around this yet.
Will The Rolling Stones retire
Fans have speculated on if The Rolling Stones will retire, and if the 2026 tour could be the band’s swan song, much like The Who this year with their farewell tour. This appears unlikely, as Keith Richards stated in 2020 that he intends to keep The Rolling Stones going until he dies.
Richards told Rolling Stone, “I really can’t imagine doing anything else. You might call it a habit. I mean, that’s what we do. And also there’s that thing between us, like, ‘Who’s going to be the first one to get off the bus?’ You have to be kicked off or drop off, right? So it’s like that.”
Drummer Charlie Watts died in 2019, and the band carried on with Steve Jordan as touring drummer. It will likely take Mick Jagger or Keith Richards dying or being medically unable to perform for the Stones to end, as the band carrying on without Watts makes it likely they’d continue if Ronnie Wood were to pass away. The Stones appear to be taking shorter touring breaks as they age, knowing the end is inevitably near, but it won’t come with any KISS-like proclamations.
