The famous British group wanted to celebrate the highly anticipated release of their new album. Hackney Diamonds. On Thursday night, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Ron Wood performed seven songs, including one with Lady Gaga, in a small New York club full of stars.
It was certainly THE most popular concert in the Big Apple on Thursday night. The Rolling Stones took the stage at Racket NYC in Chelsea. The capacity of the place? A mere 650 people! This was an extremely intimate concert that only a few lucky people were able to attend, considering the Stones usually play arenas or stadiums.
The Racket audience included several celebrities, including host Jimmy Fallon, comedians Chris Rock and Trevor Noah, musicians Elvis Costello and Diana Krall, and actors Daniel Craig, Rachel Weisz and Ed Burns. It was DJ Questlove (The Roots) who warmed up the crowd before the Stones’ arrival.
Jimmy Fallon. Courtesy of Kevin Mazur/Getty Images
Trevor Noah and Chris Rock. Courtesy of Kevin Mazur/Getty Images
Christy Turlington and Ed Burns. Courtesy of Kevin Mazur/Getty Images
Diana Krall and Elvis Costello. Courtesy of Kevin Mazur/Getty Images
Questlove. Courtesy of Kevin Mazur/Getty Images
There are a total of seven songs that the “rock grandpas” performed to the cheering crowd, including the new “Angry, Whole Wide World” and “Bite My Head Off” as well as the hits “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” and “Falling Dice.”
Ron Wood, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards Courtesy of Kevin Mazur/Getty Images
The Rolling Stones held a surprise concert at Racket NYC on Thursday evening (October 19, 2023) to celebrate the release of their new album Hackney Diamonds. Courtesy of Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Rolling Stones. Courtesy of Kevin Mazur/Getty Images
Keith Richards smiled. Courtesy of Kevin Mazur/Getty Images
At the age of 80, Mick Jagger has lost none of his style. Courtesy of Kevin Mazur/Getty Images
The Rolling Stones held a surprise concert at Racket NYC on Thursday evening (October 19, 2023) to celebrate the release of their new album Hackney Diamonds. Courtesy of Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Rolling Stones. Courtesy of Kevin Mazur/Getty Images
The Rolling Stones held a surprise concert at Racket NYC on Thursday evening (October 19, 2023) to celebrate the release of their new album Hackney Diamonds. Courtesy of Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Rolling Stones. Courtesy of Kevin Mazur/Getty Images
Surprisingly, Lady Gaga joined Jagger to sing the duet “Sweet Sounds of Heaven,” one of the highlights of Hackney Diamonds.
Mick Jagger and Lady Gaga. Courtesy of Kevin Mazur/Getty Images
Lady Gaga was the surprise guest at this concert at Racket NYC. Courtesy of Kevin Mazur/Getty Images
Today the Stones’ new album is released, their first original composition since A Bigger Bang in 2005. For this occasion, the Stones have asked several friends to accompany them in the studio: their former bassist Bill Wyman, Stevie Wonder and Paul McCartney, Elton John and Lady Gaga.
Even the late Stones drummer Charlie Watts, who passed away in 2021, is featured on two songs, “Mess It Up” and “Live by the Sword,” thanks to recordings from 2019.