Rolling Stones Begin Gathering Moss

 

by Pa Rock

Cultural Observer

Three of the current four members of the 20th century British rock band, The Rolling Stones, came together in London earlier this week to hype the release of their first album of original music in eighteen years.  The Stones' collection of new music will premier on October 20th.  It is titled "Hackney Diamonds," a slang term for shards of broken glass left over from break-ins.

The Rolling Stones formed in 1962 at a time when the Berlin Wall was just a year old, Britain's Queen Elizabeth was completing her first decade on the throne, John Kennedy was President of the United States, and seven years before man would set foot on the moon.  The original band consisted of six members and is now down to four, only two of whom, vocalist Mick Jagger and guitarist Keith Richards, have been with the band through its entire existence.  Jagger (now 80) and Richards (79) were both at this week's promotional event, along with Ronnie Woods (76) a guitarist who has been with the group since 1975.  Charlie Watts, the band's original drummer, died in 2020, but will be featured on a couple of cuts on the new album that were recorded the year before his death.

The promotion for the upcoming album was held at the "Hackney Empire," a historic theatre in the Hackney section of London.  American entertainer Jimmy Fallon conducted a twenty-minute interview of the three band mates.    The audience of journalists and other invitees were not permitted to ask questions.

According to an article in the New York Times, "dozens" of people gathered in front of the Hackney Empire to watch the three skinny, elderly rockers wearing shiny black suits and shades, walk down the theatre's red carpet.  One sixteen year-old-girl who was passing by asked what the gathering was about, and when she was told that it was a promotional event for The Rolling Stones, she said, "I've heard of them, I think."  And then she boarded a bus for home.

The moss is starting to take over.