Jagger, Wood Preview 'Ringing Hollow' Ahead of Rolling Stones' 25th LP Release

Q: Jagger wants a new tour, Richards prefers residencies. What is the real future of the Stones on the road?

The most likely future is a compromise: no full-scale Stones tour in 2026, and if the band returns to the road in 2027 it is more likely to be shorter, more selective, and possibly built around city residencies rather than a long traditional run. That is where the evidence points. Mick Jagger has said he wants to tour *Foreign Tongues* and believes he still has the energy for a new tour in 2027. He has also made clear he prefers moving from city to city and is not enthusiastic about residencies. Keith Richards, by contrast, has said the issue is not performing but the strain of travel. At 82, he has openly questioned whether long tours are still practical and floated residencies in places such as London, New York, Paris or Rome as a better format. Recent developments strengthen Richards’ case. Reports indicate there will be no shows in 2026, and a planned U.K.-European stadium run was scrapped, with travel demands a key factor. That suggests the old model of a long international trek is becoming harder to sustain, even if the band remains eager to play live. So the real answer is that the Stones are probably not finished onstage, but their road future is narrowing. A 2027 return remains possible, especially given Jagger’s push, yet it would likely be a limited engagement: fewer dates, longer stays in major markets, and a schedule designed around endurance rather than scale.

Q: With promising new music, why is The Rolling Stones' new album cover being widely criticized as an 'eyesore'?

The criticism is aimed at the artwork, not the music. Early reactions suggest *Foreign Tongues* contains strong material, but the cover has been widely mocked because many reviewers and fans find its visual style harsh and unattractive. The sleeve is described as a “cartoonish Photo-fit” or “slide puzzle” collage of Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood, blending their faces into a surreal composite. Critics have called it “retina-punishing” and an “eyesore,” arguing that the fragmented, collage-heavy design feels jarring rather than iconic. In other words, the objection is that the image looks cluttered and awkward, especially compared with the strength of the songs being previewed. That reaction has stood out because the album itself has generated more encouraging notices. Reviews have pointed to tracks such as “Ringing Hollow,” “Rough & Twisted” and “In the Stars” as evidence that the Stones still sound lively and inventive on their 25th studio album. Classic Rock, for example, gave the record a solid 7/10 while singling out the cover art as a major misfire. The artwork was created by American artist Nathaniel Mary Quinn, who framed it as an honor and a serious artistic collaboration. But while the concept may have been ambitious, the public response indicates that many people simply do not think it works as an album sleeve. The result is a familiar split: promising music, poor packaging.

Q: The Rolling Stones are critiquing Elon Musk. What does their new song 'Mr Charm' reveal about the tech billionaire?

The song portrays Elon Musk as a powerful but questionable tech tycoon, using him as a symbol of extreme wealth, ambition and the distortions that come with both. In “Mr Charm,” the Rolling Stones explicitly refer to him as “mad mogul Mr. Musk” and frame him in a line about space travel: “Who would take you into space? Who would you really trust? Is it Boeing, is it NASA, is it mad mogul Mr. Musk?” That wording suggests skepticism about Musk’s role as a private-sector space pioneer, casting him less as a visionary hero than as a figure whose power invites doubt. The broader lyrics also point to a critique of billionaire excess. Jagger sings, “Life’s too short for just making money, show me how to spend it honey,” which reviewers have read as a jab at vast wealth accumulation and the values attached to it. Another lyric contrasts youthful dreams of going to Mars with a more grounded outlook, a likely wink at Musk’s fixation on space exploration. Critics describe “Mr Charm” as a “punky ripper” with “pointed” political barbs rather than a blunt attack. In that sense, the song does not present a detailed portrait of Musk’s business record. Instead, it uses him as shorthand for a modern mogul: immensely rich, culturally dominant, fascinated by space, and not automatically trusted.

3 articles · Updated · Rolling Stone · Jul 9

Mick Jagger and Ronnie Wood performed “Ringing Hollow” acoustically at a London event, giving guests an early live preview before the Rolling Stones release Foreign Tongues on Friday.
An Instagram clip showed Jagger, Wood and keyboardist Matt Clifford in an intimate setting; photos placed Jagger and Wood at a Wednesday album launch at London’s St. Clement Hotel, where the performance likely occurred.
“Ringing Hollow” is one of several songs rolled out ahead of the band’s 25th LP, following singles including “Jealous Lover,” “Divine Intervention,” “In the Stars” and “Rough and Twisted.”
The album campaign also includes the six-episode Speaking in Tongues podcast hosted by Norah Jones, while Keith Richards has said a full tour may be unlikely and suggested a residency format instead.