Rolling Stones Announce First Studio Album In More Than A Decade, Listen To A Preview Here

The Rolling Stones have officially announced the release of a new studio album for the first time in more than a decade. The Stones shared the news with their fans on social media that the album, Blue and Lonesome, will be released December 2.

The Rolling Stones return to the blues with Blue & Lonesome, their first studio album in over a decade #RollingStones #BlueAndLonesome pic.twitter.com/e1eDM5TOfo

— The Rolling Stones (@RollingStones) October 6, 2016

Rolling Stones fans had hoped this was the announcement the band had alluded to yesterday. The Stones are still wrapping up their current, highly-successful world tour, but before Stones fans celebrate too hard, they shouldn’t get their hopes up that the band is rolling out new music.

According to Rolling Stone Magazine, Blue and Lonesome will feature 12-tracks by the Rolling Stones covering songs by various blues legends including Eric Clapton, Little Walter, and Jimmy Reed. Two members of the Stones, Keith Richards and Mick Jagger, had hinted that the new album was in the works for the past several months and their producer finally confirmed it last week.

Richards had commented last month that the Stones had recorded a rapid succession of songs in a short few days while in London, and Jagger had hinted he and his fellow Rolling Stones were playing the blues with a Twitter post, encouraging fans to keep watching his social media for more explanation.

Watch this space #playingtheblues pic.twitter.com/INra1Yu9iR

— Mick Jagger (@MickJagger) September 29, 2016

For several days, the Rolling Stones Twitter page revealed the legendary Rolling Stones mouth symbol in a new shade of blue. As if the announcement of the new album wasn’t enough to get fans excited, the Stones decided to give listeners a preview by sharing a minute’s worth of the song “Just Your Fool” on YouTube.

The Rolling Stones are known as one of the legendary rock bands of the so-called “British Invasion” from the 1960s, but the blues influence has always been prevalent in their music. While fans might have hoped for some new original music from the group, the fact that the Rolling Stones members are still touring and recording in their 70s is impressive. The last studio album to come from the band was 2005’s A Bigger Bang, according to CNN. That particular Rolling Stone album went platinum proving that even 40 years into their career, the band still had a huge following and could compete with up and coming newer acts. Their most recent tour included a visit to South America for the first time in 10 years.

As if touring and recording didn’t make the Rolling Stones youthful enough, this past summer lead singer Mick Jagger announced that he was expecting his eighth child. Jagger, who has experienced significant success as a solo artist as well as with the Rolling Stones, is 72, while his current girlfriend is only 29. Ironically, Jagger is already a great grandfather. Apparently it’s not just papa that’s a Rolling Stone, great grand papa is too. And Jagger says it’s his constant activity that keeps him young.

Last year, Jagger told Rolling Stone Magazine that he had no intention of retiring anytime soon. Though he was elusive at the time about whether or not the Rolling Stones would be recording any new albums. When asked about the fact that the Stones have been touring non-stop since 2012 though in shorter spurts, Jagger said they intended to stay active on the tour scene. When asked if he had even thought of retirement, the Rolling Stone frontman said the following.

“Nah, not in the moment. I’m thinking about what the next tour is. I’m not thinking about retirement. I’m planning the next set of tours, so the answer is really, ‘No, not really.'”

[Featured Image by Joe Raedle/Getty Images.]