The Rolling Stones are actively developing fresh material in the studio.
Saxophonist Courtney Pine, who contributed to Sir Mick Jagger’s 1993 solo project Wandering Spirit, has revealed that he has recently spent time in the studio with the Start Me Up frontman, though he did not specify whether the sessions were for a Stones record.
During an appearance on BBC Radio 3’s Private Passions on Sunday (11.10.26), Pine stated: “I’ve just completed another session with him for The Rolling Stones a couple of weeks ago.”
Praising the music icon, he added: “Mick’s an amazing artist. That whole pop world is completely different to anything that I know.”
Looking back at his past work with Mick, he recalled: “I played on one version of Mick Jagger’s solo album and they discarded it, and then I got a call, ‘Can I come out to LA tomorrow and play on another version of the same album?’ Mick Jagger? Of course!”
In June, Mick revealed he was writing new music that could be for a Stones album or destined for other artists.
Asked by NME whether he has another album in him after this summer’s Foreign Tongues, he replied: “Yeah, it could be a trio [of records]… I’ve already started writing songs anyway. They could be for other people though. When you write a song, you sometimes decide ‘that’s not for me, but it could be for the [Red Hot] Chili Peppers’ or whatever.”
He continued: “I’m very open-minded to it. I’ve got a lot of stuff, and not all of it’s suitable for The Rolling Stones. It shouldn’t stop me writing them, you know. If you get an idea, just write it.”
While the possibility of new Stones music remains, touring is a different matter entirely. Keith Richards is currently not keen on hitting the road again.
In a recent interview, bassist and guitarist Ronnie Wood explained that he and Mick are eager to get back on stage, but the lead guitarist is not pushing for the band’s return.
He told NME: “I know Mick is busting to go, and Keith is not busting to go. And you’ve got to have everybody’s enthusiasm to do it.”
Ronnie stressed that he will re-join the Stones as soon as the group decide to move forward, but confirmed there are no plans at present: “When my compadres say, ‘Let’s go’, I’ll be ready. I’ve got no plans yet though.”
