The group has been plotting a stadium trek across Europe and the UK next summer
The Rolling Stones will not be touring in 2026.
Sources confirmed Tuesday that the band are scrapping plans for a stadium trek across Europe and the UK next year. The group had been supposedly working on the routing for some time, as the band’s touring pianist Chuck Leavell and a group spokesperson recently informed press in the UK that the band is almost finished with a new album with producer Andrew Watt who helmed The Stones’ Grammy-winning 2023 LP Hackney Diamonds, and were planning to tour in support of it.
However, guitarist Keith Richards – who turns 82 on Thursday (December 18) – was unable to “commit” to the trek. Over the last few years, Richards has been battling arthritis, which he has called “benign,” and said it forced him to change his style of playing. Although he cranked out a three-song Soho Sessions set last month in New York, the grind of a full stadium tour might be a bit more challenging.
“When they [The Rolling Stones] properly sat down to discuss the tour, Keith said he didn’t think he could commit and wasn’t keen on a big stadium tour over four months,” an anonymous American music critic reportedly told the British tabloid The Sun yesterday (December 15).
They added, “The band was looking to tour earlier this year but couldn’t make it work either. It’s hard for their fans but The Stones will get back on stage when they’re good and ready.”
While it seems the band won’t be performing live any time soon, fans should be stoked about a new album most likely dropping next year.
Ahead of the album’s 50th anniversary, The Rolling Stones reissued their classic 1976 outing Black and Blue. The remastered, reimagined, and expanded, the Super Deluxe Box Set is stacked with unreleased recordings, a Blu-ray of rare performances, a 100-page book featuring exclusive photographs, and a replica ’76 tour poster. The set was released on November 14.
Check out the artwork and packaging HERE, plus a link to order.
To celebrate the reissue of an old album, The Stones treated fans to something brand new. The band hit the studio and recorded a cover of Shirley & Company’s “Shame Shame Shame.” Stream the official audio below.
On April 28, 2024 The Rolling Stones kicked off their highly anticipated Hackney Diamonds Tour at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas. The rock icons rolled through a hit-filled set after a fantastic opening performance by Gary Clark Jr. The album that got the most play was The Stones’ latest, Hackney Diamonds. They cranked out the lead single “Angry,” and gave “Mess It Up” its live debut. The started their two-track encore with “Sweet Sounds of Heaven.”
Other highlights includes “Start Me Up,” “Beasts of Burden, “Miss You,” “Sympathy for the Devil,” “Jumpin’ Back Flash,” and many more. They played “Little T&A” for the first time since 2016, with guitarist Keith Richards handling lead vocal duties. They wrapped things up with their classic hit, “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction.”
Check out the full setlist below plus fan-filmed footage from the show HERE.
The list of opening acts for The Stones’ current tour was quite impressive. The group pulled from all genres, with one artist serving as The Stones’ special guest every night. Rockers Gary Clark Jr., Joe Bonamassa, The Pretty Reckless, Widespread Panic, The Linda Lindas, and The Beaches will each be performing on a date throughout the run. The trek also includes Icelandic blues rockers KALEO, who supported Greta Van Fleet on their recent global arena trek. Additionally, country chart-topper Lainey Wilson and folk crossover juggernaut Tyler Childers also performed.
The Stones’ North American stadium tour saw frontman Mick Jagger, guitarist Keith Richards, and guitarist Ronnie Wood perform at stadiums across the continent. Produced by AEG and Concerts West, The Hackney Diamonds Tour wrapped up on July 17 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. The run included stops in Los Angeles, Chicago, Orlando, Atlanta, and more.
Last year, The Rolling Stones announced a 30th anniversary celebration of their hit 1994 album, Voodoo Lounge. To commemorate the milestone, The Stones are reissuing the record on limited edition red and yellow colored vinyl and with a bonus 10″ featuring single B-Sides, “I’m Gonna Drive,” “So Young,” “Jump On Top of Me,” and ‘The Storm’ – exclusive to the official Rolling Stones store. The release is due out on July 12.
Additionally, the band curated a new collection of Voodoo Lounge merchandise featuring vintage design t-shirts and hoodies for whether you are listening at home or seeing the band out on the road this summer. A number of limited edition bundles are also available.
Released on September 3, 1994, Voodoo Lounge marked the band’s first collaboration with their new label, Virgin Records. It was the long awaited follow-up to their 1989 hit, Steel Wheels. Anchored by the hit singles like “You Got Me Rocking,” “Love Is Strong,” “Out of Tears,” and “I Go Wild,” the record hit No. 2 on the Billboard 200 and took the top spot on the UK Albums Chart.
In October of 2023, The Rolling Stones released their acclaimed new album, Hackney Diamonds. The record hit No. 1 in 19 countries around the globe, and features the hit single, “Angry.” After announcing their North American stadium tour last week, the band has confirmed a forthcoming expanded release of their latest studio effort.
On October 19, 2023, The Rolling Stones played a secret club show in New York City to launch the release of their new record. The invitation-only gig took place at Racket NYC (formerly Highline Ballroom). There were approximately 650 people at the show. Among those reportedly in attendance were GRAMMY® Award winners Elvis Costello and Diana Krall, Oscar-winning actress Rachel Weisz (The Constant Gardener, The Mummy), comedian and actor Chris Rock, actress and entrepreneur Mary-Kate Olsen, and star of the 007 franchise, actor Daniel Craig.
The band played a brief seven-song that began with “Shattered” from 1978’s Some Girls. The debuted their new album’s lead single “Angry” next. They would also play “Whole Wide World” and “Bite My Head Off” from the new record. The Stones also treated fans to performances of their classic hits “Tumbling Dice” and “Jumpin’ Jack Flash.”
For the encore, they played another new song, “Sweet Sounds of Heaven” for the very first time. The track, from their new album, features none other than GRAMMY® Award winners Lady Gaga and Stevie Wonder. To the surprise of all in attendance, Lady Gaga joined The Stones on stage for the performance.
Their 23rd original studio effort, Hackney Diamonds will also be The Rolling Stones’ first album without founding drummer Charlie Watts who passed away at 80 in August of 2021. During a live-streaming event hosted by The Tonight Show‘s Jimmy Fallon, the band revealed that two tracks on the album – “Mess It Up” and “Live by the Sword” – were recorded in 2019 with Watts on drums.
“Ever since Charlie’s gone, it’s different,” guitarist Keith Richards said during the event. “He’s ‘Number Four.’”