Rolling Stones launch album Hackney Diamonds at Hackney Empire

Crowds and camera crews gathered outside the Hackney Empire in Mare Street, which was adorned with posters of giant lips and the slogan 'let's dream big'.

Around 2pm Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood stepped out of a branded London taxi - or Hackney cab - and hit the red carpet to announce the October 20 release date of Hackney Diamonds to a packed Empire audience.

The band chose Frank Matcham's Edwardian gem The Hackney Empire Theatre to launch their new album Hackney Diamonds (Image: Mark Seliger)

Revealing he had shared a pint with Jagger in the The Old Ship in Mare Street the previous day, US host Jimmy Fallon told the live-streamed YouTube audience: "We're here at the iconic Hackney Empire in East London. What a beautiful theatre!"

Seated on a stage adorned with crashed chandeliers, the band said the title of their first stuido album of new tracks for 18 years was inspired by East End slang for broken glass following a robbery.

"We were flinging ideas around for titles and we went with hit 'n' run, smash and grab, and somehow came up with Hackney Diamonds," said Richards.The album was teased in the pages of the Hackney Gazette on August 17 with a cryptic notice for a new glass repair shop opening on Mare Street. (Image: Newsquest)

"Also," he gestured to applause. "We're a London band."

Jagger added: "It's like when you get your windscreen broken on Saturday night in Hackney, and all the bits of glass go on the street."

The band revealed that of the album's 12 tracks, two were recorded in 2019 with their late drummer Charlie Watts, including one featuring bassist Bill Wyman.

The remainder were performed by new drummer Steve Jordan, with Lady Gaga and Stevie Wonder featuring on tracks.

"Ever since Charlie's gone it's different, he is one of the four and of course he's missed," said Richards, who said his former bandmate once told him "if anything should happen, Steve's your man".

"It was a natural progression and would have been a lot harder without Charlie's blessing," he added.

The first track to be released Angry, an unmistakably Stones rock song featuring White Lotus actor Sydney Sweeney in the video, with old footage of the band projected on billboards.

The new album has 12 tracks including two which feature their late drummer Charlie Watts (Image: Mark Seliger)

Jagger joked it had taken them so long to release new material because "we've been a bit lazy" before protesting: "We've been on the road most of the time."

Once they decided "let's make a record" the pace was ferocious and prolific.

"We made a deadline to make it at Christmas and finish it by Valentine's Day," adds Jagger. "We went into the studio in December and had 23 tracks very quickly, we finished in January and mixed it in February."

Their 24th studio album says Jagger is "a bit more eclectic, there are love songs, ballads, country type of songs".

The include Sweet Scent of Heaven, which has a gospel influence, and Dreaming Skies, which Richards said was; "about Mick wanting to get away from it all and listen to Hank Williams."

Today's launch, complete with goodie bags, specially printed t shirts, and cupcakes adorned with the Stone's famous lips logo, is hugely different from their first album The Rolling Stones in 1964.

"I remember Keith and I in a pub in Denmark Street, there was one journalist from NME, one from Melody Maker, we bought them a pint of beer, and that was it," said Jagger.

Asked the secret of the band's six decade-long "happy marriage," Richards quipped "you tell us!" with Jagger adding: "Not speaking too often."

But they still enjoy going ino the studio together: "It's fun. It's where a band can come together and pass around ideas without any interference," said Richards.

Jagger adds: "When you go in, you have got to please yourself. We're playing for ourselves first, and later you think 'people might like this'.

"I don't want to be big headed, but we wouldn't have put this album out if we hadn't really liked it. We are quite pleased with it, and hope you all like it."

Hackney Diamonds is released on October 20 and is available to pre-order.