10 Best Moments from the Rolling Stones’ ‘Hackney Diamonds’ Tour

On July 21, the Rolling Stones will wrap up their North American Hackney Diamonds Tour, a whirlwind journey across the continent in just three months.

If you were fortunate enough to snag tickets, you witnessed high-energy and fast-paced performances that kept fans on their feet all night.

While the Stones’ future plans remain uncertain, let’s revisit the top 10 highlights from this unforgettable tour.

1. New Music From ‘Hackney Diamonds’

A significant highlight of the tour was the new music from the Stones’ 2023 album, Hackney Diamonds. This album is their first LP since 2016’s Blue & Lonesome and their first collection of new original material since 2005’s A Bigger Bang. While not all songs from the album made it to the set list, tracks like “Angry,” “Bite My Head Off,” “Whole Wide World,” “Mess It Up,” “Tell Me Straight,” and “Sweet Sounds of Heaven” did feature in their live shows.

2. Surprise Songs and Tour Debuts

Although the set list remained largely consistent, there were some surprises. Fans were treated to rare performances of songs like “Time Is on My Side” and “Emotional Rescue” after many years. Rarities such as “Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo (Heartbreaker)” and Bob Dylan’s “Like a Rolling Stone” added to the excitement, making each show unique.

3. Fan-Voted Songs

At each concert, fans had the chance to vote on one song from a list of four set options. The winning song was then performed that night. Among the fan picks were “Monkey Man,” “She’s a Rainbow,” “Wild Horses,” “You Got Me Rocking,” and many more.

4 Mick Jagger’s Plea to American Fans: Vote

Mick Jagger encouraged the audience to participate in the upcoming U.S. presidential election. Often before announcing the fan-voted song of the evening, he reminded attendees about the importance of voting. In Foxborough, Massachusetts, he said, “There’s a presidential election in November; don’t forget to vote in that. Don’t take anything for granted!”

5. Guest Appearances

The tour also saw some special guest appearances. In New Orleans, the Stones performed “Time Is on My Side” with Irma Thomas, who originally recorded it in 1964. They also performed “Dead Flowers” with Tyler Childers in Orlando, Florida, and Lainey Wilson in Chicago.

6. Opening Acts

The Stones didn’t stick to just one opening act but featured various artists across different cities. The lineup included veteran performers like Widespread Panic, Joe Bonamassa, Bettye LaVette, and Gary Clark Jr., as well as rising stars like Lainey Wilson, The Linda Lindas, and Lawrence.

7. Lucky Dip Tickets

Getting affordable concert tickets can be challenging, but the Stones introduced a program called Lucky Dip. Through this lottery system, batches of tickets were sold for approximately $40 each. However, the catch was that you wouldn’t know your seat location until you picked up the tickets from will-call. Still, any seat is a good one at that price, effectively combating scalpers.

8. Steve Jordan on the Drums

Following Charlie Watts’ decision to take time off for health reasons in 2021, Steve Jordan stepped in to fill his shoes. Despite the big expectations, Jordan has delivered with talent and class. Reflecting on Watts’ endorsement, Keith Richards shared in 2022 that Watts had said, “You can do it with Steve. He can take my seat anytime.”

9. Chanel Haynes in ‘Gimme Shelter’

Chanel Haynes took on the iconic vocal part in “Gimme Shelter,” originally performed by Merry Clayton. Haynes honored Clayton’s legacy while making the performance her own, following Clayton’s advice to “sing it like Chanel would sing it.”

10. Keith Richards on Extra Lead Vocals

Even Mick Jagger needs a break now and then. During this tour, Keith Richards stepped up, singing at least two, often three songs per show, including “Little T&A,” “Before They Make Me Run,” “Happy,” “You Got the Silver,” and “Tell Me Straight.”

Source: UCR, Rolling Stone