Keith Richards has revealed that the Rolling Stones recently assembled for a meeting in London where they secured "definite plans" to record and release a new studio album.
Richards first debuted the big news in an interview with iHeartRadio and further commented on the announcement to Rolling Stone. "[A new album] looks closer," he said. "Don't know where, don't know when yet ...We had a little chat. We were just saying, 'We gotta get in the studio right? Right?' 'That's agreed. Okay, boys, that's agreed.' Where, when - [we] scratch our heads."
It's still unknown, however, when exactly the group will create time in their schedules to meet in the studio and craft their latest project. "I would say off the top of my head after the South American tour in February," Richards said. "But you never know. We might try to get into the studio before Christmas. I think that's sort of doubtful, with Christmas being Christmas, all that buildup. But at the same time, it's definitely in the works."
The Rolling Stones haven't put fourth new music since 2005's A Bigger Bang--in their older age, such a time gap isn't so shocking, but if any group has the resilience and the willpower to keep recording, it's the rock 'n' roll quartet.
Earlier in the year, Mick Jagger seemed uncertain when discussing the possibility of spending time back in the studio "It would be very nice and I've got a lot of new songs and songs I've written over the last couple of years," he said. "I've done really good demos for all of them, which I would love to record. So, let's hope so."
In 2012, The Rolling Stones banned together for a 50th anniversary tour after having halted touring for a total of five years. More recently, the group played a 15-show Zip Code Tour across North America, wrapping up with a July gig in Quebec City.
Currently, Richards has his sights set on promoting his upcoming album, Crosseyed Heart, as well as his impending Netflix original documentary Keith Richards: Under the Influence, both due out this Friday (Sept. 18).
