The Rolling Stones have an album "almost finished" and are already thinking about doing another tour.

When the Rolling Stones released 'Hackney Diamonds' in 2023, it had been eighteen years since their previous studio album of original material. But now they've hit a stride that many young stars of the moment would be thrilled with. According to Marlon Richards, Keith's son , they already have a new album "almost finished" and are already thinking about a new tour, which, he says, will initially be European-only.

During an interview for the new Rolling Stones issue of Record Collector, the actor and film producer responded to the question of what the band is doing at the moment. " They're in the city right now, recording . They're in Chiswick (west London) or somewhere; I think they're almost finished. They still keep those ridiculous hours: after lunch until 2 a.m. or so. I'd rather be somewhere else at that time of night! Unless you're really into it, it's quite boring."

Asked whether the recording would be a single or a full-length album, Marlon added: "I guess an album, since they've got quite a bit of material left from the last one. They won a Grammy, so they're really excited about it now : 'Oh yeah, we can do another one like that! We've got more like that, if you want...' I think they're working on the follow-up." He also alluded to the possibility of seeing them on stage again, concluding with the phrase: "I think they're planning a European tour."

This confirms rumors that surfaced this summer, when several outlets reported that the Stones were working in a recording studio and planning another series of major live shows. The Sun, specifically, reported that Jagger, Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood, and Steve Jordan had been working together since April and had already recorded 13 songs at Metropolis Studios in West London. It also claimed that renowned Andrew Watt , who produced and co-wrote three songs on Hackney Diamonds, would be producing the new effort, and that the band was negotiating a release date with their record label.

"The plan was originally to bring their big US tour to the UK and Europe this summer, but promoters couldn't secure dates," a source told the outlet. "Instead, the Stones decided to go back to the studio and record their next album. It's a big deal for their fans, who haven't had the chance to see them live this year."

Along those lines, even before the release of 'Hackney Diamonds,' Jagger told The New York Times that he didn't consider it to be "the last Rolling Stones album," as the members were already "three-quarters of the way through the next one." In November 2023, Keith Richards shared a similar opinion with SiriusXM, saying, "There's so much more to do. There's always going to be another album until we die... This is what we do. We have to keep the Rolling Stones going." During the interview, Richards also shared that he has no plans to stop performing because he still "loves it," adding, "It keeps me on my toes and my fingers moving. And I'm still finding different ways to play. Even though you're pushing 80, trust me, it doesn't stop you."

Ronnie Wood also spoke about the number of new songs that were written during the 'Hackney Diamonds' sessions, and said that fans wouldn't have to wait long to hear more new material: "Paul McCartney played on two tracks, one of which we've got up our sleeve for, you know, more music to come. We recorded about 23 songs and only chose the first 12. I don't think fans will have to wait another 18 years to see a new album finished."

Meanwhile, the British band has surprised fans by releasing a new track called "Zydeco Sont Pas Sales," a tribute to zydeco pioneer Clifton Chenier, a native of Opelousas, Louisiana (USA). The song is part of the album "Tribute to the King of Zydeco," released this summer to celebrate Chenier's centennial. It also features guest appearances by Steve Earle, Jimmie Vaughan, Lucinda Williams, John Hiatt, and Taj Mahal, among many others.