Will the Rolling Stones Retire Now That Their Tour Is Over?
The Rolling Stones finished out their 2024 Hackney Diamonds tour with a 20-song setlist of some of their biggest and newest hit songs. The tour had the rock band go all over North America, promoting their new album of the same name, plus a show at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. With their final show over, it begs the question: Will the Rolling Stones now retire? Honestly, it doesn’t sound like it.
A few years ago, guitarist Keith Richards said that he would never retire and can’t imagine his bandmates doing so either. He explained, “I really can’t imagine doing anything else. You might call it a habit. I mean, that’s what we do. And also there’s that thing between us, like, ‘Who’s going to be the first one to get off the bus?’ You have to be kicked off or drop off, right?” Richards is 80 years old, while singer Mick Jagger is 81 and guitarist Ronnie Wood is 77. Even if they don’t choose to retire, age and health issues may force them to eventually.
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The Rolling Stones took to social media once the tour had ended and thanked fans for their continued support. They wrote, “That’s a wrap on the Stones Tour ’24! A huge thank you to everyone that has come to see a show! And special thanks to all the outstanding musicians that join the Stones onstage, plus every crew member that works so hard to make this happen!”
Remind In the last few shows, fans were quick to notice that the band did not sing some lyrics from their iconic song “Sympathy for the Devil.” Jagger did not sing the lines, “I shouted out, ‘Who killed the Kennedys?’ Well, after all, it was you and me,” likely due to the recent assassination attempt of former President Donald Trump. He previously cut out the line during an event for former President Bill Clinton‘s birthday, but admitted that he didn’t do it on purpose and said that the song is too long so he usually cuts a verse during live performances.
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Hackney Diamonds was the band’s first album of original material since 2005. This was also the first album since the death of their longtime drummer Charlie Watts. They previously released Blue & Lonesome, an album of cover songs, in 2016. Leave us a comment if you’ve seen the Rolling Stones in recent years and if you think they should continue touring or give in to retirement.
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