Nearly six decades after they first stormed the charts, the Rolling Stones refuse to slow down. The legendary rock outfit is not only preparing new material with producer Andrew Watt but also revisiting a chapter of their past with an expansive reissue of their 1976 album Black and Blue. For a band that has long defined endurance in music, the dual announcement underlines their ability to straddle both nostalgia and reinvention.
Back in the Studio With Andrew Watt
In 2023, the Stones surprised fans and critics alike with Hackney Diamonds, a record produced by Andrew Watt, whose resume spans collaborations with everyone from Miley Cyrus to Ozzy Osbourne. Despite Watt’s roots in contemporary pop, his chemistry with the band revitalized their sound, and the album earned them a Grammy—an achievement that seems to have reignited their appetite for recording.
Keith Richards’ son Marlon hinted at what’s coming in an interview with Record Collector. According to him, the band is “nearly done” with a follow-up album. He added, half-jokingly, that the Grammy win fueled the Stones’ confidence: “They gave them a Grammy, so now they’re all hyped up on that. ‘Oh yeah—we can do another one like that! We’ve got more like that if you want.’”
Producer Andrew Watt, speaking cautiously to Rolling Stone, confirmed he’s been back in the studio with the group but stopped short of revealing too much. “It’s like working for Batman,” Watt said. “When the tongue is up in the air, you just go. I can say we did some recording together, but that’s all I can say.” His cryptic comments keep the details under wraps but confirm that new Stones music is definitely brewing.
The Legacy of Black and Blue
While fans await the fresh material, the Stones are turning their gaze backward with the announcement of a deluxe box set celebrating Black and Blue. Originally released in 1976, the album has always had a mixed reputation within the band’s catalog. It marked the Stones’ first outing with guitarist Ronnie Wood, who joined officially after the departure of Mick Taylor, and featured a patchwork of styles—funk, reggae, ballads, and straightforward rock. Though not considered among their most definitive works, Black and Blue has long been recognized for its adventurous spirit and its snapshot of a transitional period for the band.
The new reissue will be available as a five-LP or four-CD box set, remastered and expanded to include rare and unreleased recordings. Among the gems are studio jams featuring guitar virtuoso Jeff Beck, live performances from the 1976 tour, and a remixed version of the original record. The set also spotlights a handful of previously unheard songs, including “I Love Ladies,” a Jagger-Richards composition that has been sitting in the vaults for nearly fifty years.
One of the most intriguing additions is the Stones’ cover of Shirley & Company’s 1974 disco anthem “Shame, Shame, Shame.” The track, freshly released as the box set’s first single, captures the group’s willingness to flirt with different genres during the disco era. For fans and historians alike, these unearthed recordings offer a chance to hear the band experimenting at a moment when rock and popular music were rapidly evolving.
Looking Forward and Back
This combination of forward momentum and archival reflection perfectly encapsulates where the Rolling Stones find themselves in 2025. On one hand, they remain eager to produce relevant, contemporary material with Watt, a producer half their age who continues to introduce new textures to their sound. On the other, they understand the enduring fascination with their history and are unafraid to revisit and recontextualize albums like Black and Blue.
The strategy also reflects the Stones’ understanding of their audience. Younger fans may be drawn to the excitement of new music, while long-time devotees will relish the chance to explore hidden corners of the band’s past. By releasing both a new project and a carefully curated reissue, the Stones manage to satisfy both groups simultaneously—a balancing act few artists of their vintage could pull off.
The Stones Keep Rolling
At a time when most artists would have long since retired, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, and Ronnie Wood continue to shape the narrative of rock music. Each new release, whether an original studio album or a deep dive into their archives, reinforces their status as one of the most durable and inventive acts in music history.
With the Black and Blue box set due soon and a new album nearly complete, the Stones once again prove that they are more than a legacy act. They are, against all odds, a living, breathing rock band still hungry for the next challenge.
For fans, the message is clear: the story of the Rolling Stones is far from over.
