The Rolling Stones are set to release a new studio album, Foreign Tongues, marking another entry in their enduring musical legacy. Guitarist Ronnie Wood revealed details of the band’s latest project, which comes less than three years after their previous album, Hackney Diamonds, released in 2023.

Wood attributed the rapid follow-up to the continued collaboration with American producer Andrew Watt, who also worked on Hackney Diamonds. The producer, aged 35, is credited with bringing fresh energy and considerable input, something the band has not experienced since the late Jimmy Miller’s celebrated tenure between 1968 and 1973. Wood praised Watt’s musicianship and familiarity with the band’s sound, describing him as a long-time fan who understands his guitar playing intimately.

Foreign Tongues features 14 tracks over just more than an hour, developed through sessions in New York, Los Angeles, and London. The album’s completion took place at Metropolis Studios in Chiswick, near Wood’s residence. The project also involved contributions from veteran musician Steve Winwood, who featured on nine songs playing organ and piano. Wood recalled their longstanding acquaintance from the 1960s London music scene and praised Winwood’s musicianship.

Among the tracks, Foreign Tongues preserves some material left over from the Hackney Diamonds sessions, including "Hit Me On The Head," which features the late drummer Charlie Watts, who passed away in 2021. Wood expressed gratitude to his successor, Steve Jordan, for honoring Watts’s legacy on both recent albums.

Musically, Wood sees the new album as channeling the energy reminiscent of earlier Stones records like Some Girls and Emotional Rescue, characterized by vibrant guitar interplay and a youthful dynamism. He highlighted his guitar solos on several tracks including “Back In Your Life,” “Mr Charm,” and “Side Effects,” describing the record as providing “more solos” for him.

He also spoke about the band’s choice to cover Chuck Berry’s “Beautiful Delilah” in a style influenced by blues artist Mississippi Fred McDowell, with performances by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards on 12-string guitars and drumming by Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Chad Smith. Wood reflected on Berry’s profound influence on his own development as a guitarist and performer.

In addition to his work with the Stones, Wood is preparing for his first solo tour in several years, launching next week in Austria alongside Van Morrison. His tour will feature material spanning his entire career, including his time with The Jeff Beck Group, The Faces, and his solo recordings. Notably, the tour will reunite Wood with musicians Andy Newmark and Willie Weeks for the first time in five decades.

The tour includes dates across Europe in cities such as London, Zurich, Cologne, Paris, Amsterdam, Barcelona, and Lisbon, and will open with a performance at an outdoor event on the Royal Sandringham Estate in Norfolk in August, headlined by Eric Clapton. Wood noted that Clapton’s invitation inspired him to assemble a band featuring guest singers Imelda May and Chanel Haynes.

Furthermore, Wood confirmed ongoing work on a new Faces album, continuing collaborations with Rod Stewart. The pair plan to finalize the project next year after reuniting at the 2025 Glastonbury Festival.

Reflecting on the lasting appeal of the Rolling Stones and their contemporaries, Wood shared a recent exchange with Paul McCartney, who appears on Foreign Tongues track “Covered In You.” Wood described their mutual appreciation for continuing to make music that resonates with audiences decades after their initial rise to fame, emphasizing the spirit of respect and camaraderie that persists among the band members.