The Rolling Stones – Hackney Diamonds: The Greatest Comeback in Rock History

Hackney Diamonds: The Rolling Stones Are Back

Released on 20 October 2023, Hackney Diamonds is The Rolling Stones' twenty-fourth studio album and their first collection of original material in eighteen years. It is, by any measure, one of the most remarkable comeback records in rock history — a band in their eighties sounding vital, hungry, and completely themselves.

Produced by Andrew Watt, the album was recorded in London and Los Angeles and features guest appearances from Lady Gaga, Stevie Wonder, and Paul McCartney. It debuted at number one in the UK and across Europe, and reached number three on the Billboard 200 in the United States.

The Title

The album takes its name from Cockney rhyming slang for broken windows — a nod to the band's London roots and their enduring connection to the city where it all began in 1962. The title also carries a sense of hard-won brilliance: diamonds formed under pressure, still catching the light after sixty years.

The Songs

"Angry" is the album's lead single and one of its most immediate tracks — a driving, riff-led rocker that sounds like classic Stones while feeling completely contemporary. Lady Gaga appears on "Sweet Sounds of Heaven", a gospel-inflected soul ballad that builds to an extraordinary climax and stands as one of the finest things the band have recorded in decades.

Stevie Wonder plays harmonica on "Live by the Sword", while Paul McCartney contributes bass to "Bite My Head Off" — a reunion of sorts between two of rock's greatest surviving legends. "Mess It Up" features a drum track recorded by the late Charlie Watts before his death in 2021, making it one of the album's most emotionally resonant moments.

Throughout, Mick Jagger's vocals are extraordinary — expressive, powerful, and utterly distinctive. Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood's guitar interplay is as fluid and instinctive as ever.

The Legacy of Charlie Watts

Hackney Diamonds is dedicated to Charlie Watts, the band's drummer for nearly sixty years who passed away in August 2021. His presence is felt throughout the record, and his pre-recorded drum parts appear on several tracks. Steve Jordan, who had worked with Keith Richards for decades, stepped in as the band's touring and recording drummer.