The Rolling Stones have officially announced their forthcoming studio album, Foreign Tongues, scheduled for release on 10th July via Polydor/Universal Music. The 14-track collection arrives less than three years after the band's Grammy Award-winning Hackney Diamonds, which achieved multi-platinum success.
Lead Single and Track Details
The lead single, In The Stars, will be released digitally on 5th May, accompanied by the album's opening track Rough and Twisted. The album was recorded in under a month at Metropolis Studios in West London, with Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, and Ronnie Wood reuniting with Grammy-winning producer Andrew Watt, who also produced Hackney Diamonds.
Special Appearances and Guest Artists
Foreign Tongues includes a special appearance from the late Charlie Watts, captured during one of his final recording sessions before his passing in 2021. Additional contributions come from an impressive lineup of guest artists, including Steve Winwood, Paul McCartney, The Cure's Robert Smith, and Chad Smith of the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
Reflecting on the recording process, Sir Mick Jagger, 82, said: 'I love doing these recording sessions in London at Metropolis. It was a very intense few weeks recording Foreign Tongues. We had 14 great tracks and we went as fast as we could. I like the room there as it's not too big so you can feel the passion in the room from everyone.'
Keith Richards, 82, added: 'The Foreign Tongues album has a continuity from Hackney Diamonds and it was great to be working in London again, and to have that London vibe around us. It was a month of concentrated punch. To me, it's all about the enjoyment of it. I'm blessed to be able to do this and long may it last.'
Album Artwork and Formats
The album's striking cover artwork is a painting created by acclaimed American artist Nathaniel Mary Quinn. The image makes a caricatured face featuring Sir Mick's lips, Richards' famous headband, and two eyes – at least one of which belongs to Wood.
Foreign Tongues will be available on a wide range of formats, including CD, deluxe CD editions, cassette, multiple vinyl variants, and special box sets, alongside the single In The Stars on CD and vinyl formats.
Teaser Campaign and Rumours
The announcement follows months of mysterious billboards and posts that sparked rumours of a new album – their first since the 2023 Grammy Award-winning Hackney Diamonds. On Friday, the group shared a snippet from an unnamed song in a 13-second video featuring their signature tongue and lips logo on a moving background. The caption consisted of two emojis, including one of a CD, hinting at a new record.
Rumours of new music were first sparked last month when a series of cryptic messages, including posters and QR codes linked to The Cockroaches, appeared across London. The Stones, formed in London in 1962, have also released music and performed gigs under the pseudonym, with teaser videos hinting at the name shared to their 4.2 million followers on Instagram.
