New Studio Sessions Confirmed for Rolling Stones Following ‘Foreign Tongues’ Success

The Rolling Stones have returned to the recording studio, according to jazz saxophonist Courtney Pine.

The musician disclosed that he recently recorded with Mick Jagger, a mere three months after the band delivered their 25th studio effort, ‘Foreign Tongues’.

During an upcoming Sunday (October 11) episode of BBC Radio 3’s Private Passions, Pine stated: “I’ve just done another session a couple of weeks ago with him [Jagger] for The Rolling Stones.”

“Mick’s an amazing artist,” he noted. “That whole pop world is completely different to anything that I know.”

Pine has collaborated with Jagger previously, contributing saxophone work to his 1993 solo record ‘Wandering Spirit’. Reflecting on those earlier sessions, he recalled: “I played on one version of Mick Jagger’s solo album and they threw it away and then I get a call, ‘Can I come out to LA tomorrow and play on another version of the same album?’ Mick Jagger? Of course!”

While there is no formal confirmation that these latest sessions will feature on the next Stones release, the reports align with comments Jagger made to NME in June, where he revealed he had commenced new writing before ‘Foreign Tongues’ was even out.

When queried if the upcoming project might form the second part of a three-record run, he answered: “Yeah, it could be a trio [of records]… I’ve already started writing songs anyway.”

He cautioned, however, that not every composition may suit the band: “They could be for other people though. When you write a song, you sometimes decide, ‘That’s not for me, but it could be for the Chili Peppers’ or whatever.”

“I’m very open-minded to it. I’ve got a lot of stuff, and not all of it’s suitable for The Rolling Stones. It shouldn’t stop me writing them, you know. If you get an idea, just write it.”

Keith Richards also confirmed earlier this year that Jagger “won’t bloody stop” creating new music, attributing the drive to the momentum built during the making of ‘Foreign Tongues’.

The album, issued on July 10, reached Number One in the UK, marking the band’s 15th chart-topper and tying them with The Beatles on the all-time list.

In a three-and-a-half-star assessment, NME characterized the record as “fresh and refined”, observing: “Mick, Keith and Ronnie have hit a surprising purple patch – and if you believe the eternally energetic entertainer’s claim that he’s already writing the follow-up to ‘Foreign Tongues’, there’s plenty more left in the tank.”

Prospects for touring the new material remain uncertain. Plans for a 2026 UK and European stadium tour were abandoned after Richards could not commit, though Jagger has consistently expressed his desire to return to live performance.

Speaking to NME this summer, he stated: “I don’t think there’ll be shows this year, but I hope to do some next year for the Stones.”

He also suggested a 2027 Glastonbury return remains possible. Despite citing practical challenges from the band’s 2013 headline slot, he said: “Do I wanna do it again? Oh, I’ll say yes.”

Ronnie Wood shared this enthusiasm in a recent conversation with NME.

“When my compadres say, ‘Let’s go’, I’ll be ready,” he said, though he noted the three members are not uniformly eager. “I know Mick is busting to go, and Keith is not busting to go. And you’ve got to have everybody’s enthusiasm to do it.”

Asked specifically about Glastonbury, Wood responded: “I would play that in the drop of a hat, but everybody doesn’t think like that. I think we should do a gig, just like you do. And I think we should do a tour, but it’s easier said than done.”

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