Ronnie Wood Confirms Rolling Stones Working on New Album

The Rolling Stones‘ Ronnie Wood has confirmed that the rock legends, who just completed their historic trip to Cuba, are now focusing on the long-awaited follow-up to 2005’s A Bigger Bang. In a new interview with The Associated Press, Wood revealed that the band recently spent a few days in the studio, where they recorded some new originals alongside nearly a dozen blues covers.

“We went in to cut some new songs, which we did,” Wood said. “But we got on a blues streak. We cut 11 blues in two days. They are extremely great cover versions of Howlin’ Wolf and Little Walter, among other blues people. But they really sound authentic… When we heard them back after not hearing them for a couple of months, we were, ‘Who’s that? It’s you.’ It sounded so authentic.”

Wood added that the album would tentatively arrive “this year.” Wood made the new album remarks in London at the group’s “Exhibitionism” exhibit at the city’s Saatchi Gallery. The event was also attended by Mick Jagger, Charlie Watts and Keith Richards, who wasn’t as forthcoming as Wood when it came to new album details. “There’s one coming,” Richards admitted. “I can’t say no more. My lips are sealed.”

In a Rolling Stone interview in October, following the release of Richards’ solo LP Crosseyed Heart, the guitarist said he hoped the Stones would soon reconvene in the studio.

“I don’t know where, and I don’t know when yet, but yeah,” Richards said. “I was in London last week, and all the boys, we had a little chat. We’re playing South America in February of next year. We were just talking and were like, ‘Well, we’ve got to get back in the studio. That’s agreed? Agreed. Right, OK boys. Where? When?’ We scratch our heads. That I don’t know quite yet. I would say off the top of my head, I would say after the South America thing, but you never know. We might try and get in the studio before Christmas, maybe. I think that’s sort of doubtful, because Christmas, and you know, that build up. But hopefully it’s in the works.”