The Rolling Stones’ 60th anniversary will be celebrated with a new series in which each band member will have their own episode, it has been announced.
The four-part series My Life as a Rolling Stone will tell the story of the legendary rock ‘n’ roll band and will premiere on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer this summer.
Sir Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood and the late Charlie Watts each have their own hour-long episode.
Occasion: The 60th anniversary of the Rolling Stones will be celebrated with a new series in which each band member will have their own episode, it has been announced
The episodes feature brand new interviews with Mick, Keith, both 78, and Ronnie, 74, as well as tributes to the legendary drummer, who died in August.
In addition to new interviews, the four films will feature “unseen footage and exclusive stories” from Mick, Keith and Ronnie, as well as new and archived appearances.
The program will reflect the band’s incredible 60-year career and how the talented musicians came together and found success as The Rolling Stones.
According to a press release, “It tells the story of one of the biggest rock ‘n’ roll bands in the world in a way that’s never been done before – by looking at the band through each member’s musical lens, deep within theirs Immerses personalities, passions and memories from the last sixty years.
Members: Sir Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood and the late Charlie Watts (all pictured November 2012) each have their own hour-long episode
“Four hour-long films, each an intimate portrait of Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood and Charlie Watts, show how these individual musical geniuses came together to make the music that soundtracked the lives of millions.”
Fans can also expect commentary from soul star PP Arnold, The Pretenders’ Chrissie Hynde, Guns N’ Roses axe Slash, Sir Rod Stewart, Tina Turner and Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler.
The series will pay tribute to Charlie, who passed away last summer at the age of 80, and will also feature archival interviews with the musician.
The series is directed by award-winning filmmakers Oliver Murray and Clare Tavernor.
Rolling Stones manager Joyce Smyth said, “We are thrilled to celebrate sixty years of The Rolling Stones with these four films, which will offer fans around the world a new and fascinating look at the band.”
Respect: The series will pay tribute to legendary drummer Charlie, who passed away last summer at the age of 80, and will also feature archival interviews with the musician
Lorna Clarke, BBC Pop Controller, said: “What better year for the BBC in their centenary year to pay tribute and celebrate one of the world’s greatest rock groups in their 60th anniversary year.
“The Rolling Stones have been ambassadors of great British rock ‘n’ roll for decades and are loved around the world, so I’m thrilled that the BBC can bring this very special season of programming, including the world exclusive TV series , to our audiences. ‘
Alice Webb, CEO of Mercury Studios, added, “Every once in a while we as filmmakers get to work on extraordinary projects – this is one of those moments.
“We know their music, their swagger, their unrivaled stage presence – and through these beautiful, intimate films, you’ll see the band in all their glory as we discover what makes them truly great.”
“It has been an honor to work with The Rolling Stones to illuminate their incredible lives and careers – we can’t wait for audiences around the world to see them.”
Alongside the film series, the BBC teased a “star-studded program season across TV, radio and digital platforms”.
Talented: The program will reflect the band’s incredible 60-year career and show how the talented musicians (Mick pictured in October) found success as The Rolling Stones
It comes after it was revealed the Rolling Stones will be rocking Hyde Park this summer as part of plans to celebrate the band’s 60th anniversary during a tour of Europe.
The band wrapped up a hugely successful North American tour in November after being set back by Covid and the sad death of longtime drummer Charlie.
But the rock ‘n’ roll legends are returning to Europe and will headline June’s Hyde Park Festival as well as a host of other dates in the UK.
The Rolling Stones last headlined two nights of the BST Festival in 2013, as they wrapped up their 50th anniversary celebrations the previous year.
The shows made a triumphant return to Central London Park 44 years after their infamous free concert there in 1969 – just two days after the death of their bandmate Brian Jones.
Big plans: It comes after it was revealed the Rolling Stones will be rocking Hyde Park this summer as part of plans to celebrate the band’s 60th anniversary during a tour of Europe
On both occasions, Mick Jagger wore a white dress in tribute to Brian. They also freed thousands of butterflies from the stage at the 1969 show.
It’s not clear if the band will be performing anywhere on July 12 to celebrate 60 years since their first performance at the now-defunct Marquee Club in 1962.
For much of the last decade there has been ongoing speculation as to whether the Stones would ever produce another original studio album.
Her 2016 album Blue & Lonesome — her first studio recording in more than a decade — was a series of blues covers recorded in a marathon, three-day session the year before.
Old times: The plans held an infamous free concert there back in 1969 – just two days after the death of founding bandmate Brian Jones. Pictured: Mick Jagger in 1969
However, it is believed that this happened after work on the original songs stalled.
Keith Richards has suggested the band have “four or five tracks” for an album, although that includes “Living in a Ghost Town,” which was released as a single during the Covid lockdown because it seemed “prophetic” to the situation , in which the world was .
During an interview for Apple Music in 2021, Jagger said of new material, “I don’t want it to be just a good album — I want it to be great (laughs), you know?
“So, I’m very hard on myself, you know, when I’m writing something or when I’m writing something with Keith (Richards) or whatever — it can’t just be good.
“We’ve recorded and we’ve got some really good stuff — but I mean, don’t hold your breath.”