Mick Jagger said he “can’t wait” to get the Rolling Stones back on the road. During an interview with BBC Radio 2 alongside Ronnie Wood, Jagger confirmed that the rock band does plan to tour again in the future.
“I’d love to go on tour,” Jagger said. “I can’t wait.” He added, to manage expectations: “I don’t think it’s going to be this year. But hopefully it’s going to be as soon as possible.”
Jagger’s confirmation comes after the band apparently scrapped plans last year for a U.K. and European stadium tour intended for 2026. Last January, a report emerged that the group was presented with several offers for shows over the summer but dismissed them due to logistical issues surrounding the venues and travel, as well as preexisting commitments.
The Rolling Stones last toured in 2024 in support of their 2023 effort, Hackney Diamonds, including 20 concerts in North America. The tour was a massive production, involving rehearsals of more than 60 songs from the band’s catalog after the album’s launch in London and a pop-up concert in New York City.
The band is gearing up to release a new album, Foreign Tongues, on July 10. The band recorded the album at West London’s Metropolis Studios with producer Andrew Watt, who helmed Hackney Diamonds. In addition to Jagger, Keith Richards, and Wood, the album features the return of bassist Darryl Jones, keyboardist Matt Clifford, and drummer Steve Jordan. The album also includes an appearance by late Stones drummer Charlie Watts that was recorded during one of his last sessions before he died in 2021. Guest artists on the album include Steve Winwood, Paul McCartney, the Cure’s Robert Smith, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Chad Smith.
During the interview with BBC Radio 2, Jagger explained that the collaboration with Smith came about by happenstance at an industry event.
“He was standing there with his back to me and this long gown on and when he turned around, he was covered in lipstick,” Jagger said. “And I said, ‘You’re Robert Smith of The Cure.’ He said, ‘Yeah, we’ve never met.’ And I said, ‘While you’re here, you better go and do something.’ That’s how collaborations work sometimes.”
He added of McCartney, “We’d never played with him before. I’d sung with him before, but we’d never actually played a musical instrument. That was very exciting. He was a very quick learner.”
