“So This Just Happened…”: The Rolling Stones Surprise London Fans With an Unexpected Live Performance
The Rolling Stones marked the imminent release of their new album, Foreign Tongues, by throwing a private party in London for a host of celebrity fans. Mick Jagger and Ronnie Wood hosted the event at the St. Clement hotel, where guests including Daniel Craig, Rachel Weisz, Sam Fender, Sacha Baron Cohen and John McEnroe were treated to a surprise live performance of "Ringing Hollow", a track from the forthcoming record. The gathering signals the start of what the band is framing as a new era in their long career.
Beyond the performance, the celebration featured a striking 500-drone display that lit up the London skyline with the Stones' famous tongue-and-lips logo over landmarks such as the River Thames, Big Ben and the London Eye, designed by Patrick Woodroffe and set to the new song "In The Stars". In interviews ahead of the release, Jagger described "Ringing Hollow" as a song about "America as an idea", reflecting on the perceived decline of the American Empire and his 19 years living in New York. Wood said the studio atmosphere remained as creative as ever, calling the album "Mick's baby", with Foreign Tongues due out on 10 July.
- The Rolling Stones surprised celebrity fans with a live London performance.
- A 500-drone display lit up the skyline with their logo.
- New album Foreign Tongues is released on 10 July.