Ronnie Wood had no idea that Robert Smith, frontman of The Cure, was featured on the Rolling Stones' upcoming album until he heard the finished version. The album, titled Foreign Tongues, is set for release on July 10 and includes appearances from Sir Paul McCartney, Smith, and even a track featuring drumming from the late Charlie Watts.
Smith's contributions on two songs are among the most surprising, even to guitarists Ronnie Wood and Keith Richards. Speaking in Mojo magazine, Wood admitted: 'Didn't know anything about it. It was an afterthought of Mick's during the mixing.'
Smith himself revealed that he initially went to London's Metropolis studio 'expecting to get drunk' with his friend, producer Andrew Watt. He offered to wait in the bar while Watt finished working with Mick Jagger on final touches to the album. However, Jagger insisted Smith join them in the studio. Despite this, Smith said: 'I wasn't expecting to play on the Rolling Stones album.'
Smith initially declined Jagger's suggestion to 'play a bit of guitar,' but as the night progressed, his confidence grew. After Jagger left, Smith said 'come on then' and, with Watt, plugged in a guitar. 'I just started playing and one thing led to another,' he modestly recalled. Jagger apparently liked what he heard when he returned the next day. Smith's guitar work ended up on the song 'Divine Interventions,' and he also plays synth on 'Never Wanna Lose You.'
Recalling the encounter at the album launch party in New York last month, Jagger described seeing a 'bloke standing there with his back to me with this long gown on,' who turned around 'covered in lipstick.' Jagger told Smith, 'You're Robert Smith of The Cure,' adding, 'While you're here you better go and do something.' Smith commented, 'That's how collaborations work sometimes.'
A cover feature in the August issue of Mojo magazine offers more insights into the new LP, the follow-up to 2023's Hackney Diamonds, also produced by Andrew Watt. Sir Paul McCartney plays bass on a ballad called 'Covered In You.' He expressed his delight, telling Radio 2: 'I showed up as a session player just with my bass. It was really good feeling... I wasn't a star. I was just the bass player.' He added: 'I'm standing there and playing, and I'm thinking 'I'm playing with the Stones'.'
Late drummer Charlie Watts is heard on the track 'Hit Me In The Head,' described as 'punky.' Jagger noted: 'It's real fast, like a punk rocker... Charlie plays great — it's a super-fast song.'
Some themes touch on America and its changes. Jagger said: 'The American dream is intact for some people... but we read about the decline of the American Empire.' The album also includes a song about the impact of drugs on the band called 'Side Effects,' with lyrics: 'There's a price to pay for everything you put in your veins.'
Wood concluded: 'It's a modern miracle we're still around. Now we've raised the bar with this record. Mick's singing the best he's ever sung, I'm playing the best I've ever played, and it's in the air.'
Foreign Tongues by the Rolling Stones will be released on July 10. The August issue of Mojo magazine is out now.
