NEW YORK, May 6 — The Rolling Stones will release a new album on July 10 named “Foreign Tongues,” the legendary British rockers announced on Tuesday.

The band’s 25th studio album will come less than three years after its last release, “Hackney Diamonds,” which topped the charts in more than a dozen countries and earned some critical acclaim.

“Hackney Diamonds” was the band’s first album in 18 years.

The Stones announced the release date of “Foreign Tongues” online on Tuesday, while dropping a new single, “In The Stars.”

A video posted on its Instagram channel showed singer Mick Jagger and fellow founding bandmate Keith Richards, who are both 82, with 78-year-old bass guitarist Ronnie Wood working in a recording studio.

At a promotional event in New York hosted by comedian Conan O’Brien, the trio discussed their latest work and previewed a few tracks from the album.

“We’re still having a lot of fun,” Jagger said.

“It’s a lot of fun, but also a lot of concentration,” he added.

O’Brien voiced praise for Jagger’s vocals, remarking: “There are people who, at a certain stage, their voice gets thin. Yours is absolutely impeccable, and there’s such force. How do you do that?”

“Well, I was taking a lot more drugs in 1968,” Jagger quipped, to laughter from the audience. He then added: “The secret is practice... it’s simple.”

“I had the time of my life. I’m the biggest fan in the world,” Andrew Watt, one of the album’s producers, told AFP about working on the project.

The rock act did not mention a concert tour during the event, with several media outlets reporting that it was discussed by their team but ultimately dismissed due to the age of the band members and the health risks it entailed.

“Foreign Tongues” will feature appearances from former Beatles bass player Paul McCartney and The Cure frontman Robert Smith.

Speculation had been mounting that they were poised to unveil a new record after they last month mysteriously released a new limited edition single on vinyl only, under the band name The Cockroaches.

The name is an alias they have used in the past to play secret shows.

The track, “Rough And Twisted,” was sold at selected record stores only, in the UK for exactly £10.07 (RM54) – prompting fans to predict the album would appear on July 10. — AFP

Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood join Conan O’Brien to discuss forthcoming album Foreign Tongues

On Tuesday afternoon in New York, the Rolling Stones gathered friends, journalists and fellow artists for a preview of their forthcoming 25th album, Foreign Tongues.

Before the trio stepped on stage, host Conan O’Brien deadpanned that perhaps, finally, this is the album where the band will “finally make it after decades of obscurity”. The audience, which included Leonardo DiCaprio, director Baz Luhrmann and actor Odessa A’zion, laughed appreciatively.