The Rolling Stones have called off plans for a 2026 stadium tour of the United Kingdom and Europe, a source close to the band confirms to Variety, following reports that guitarist Keith Richards was unable to “commit” to it.
While never officially announced, the group’s touring pianist Chuck Leavell and a spokesperson recently told press in the U.K. that the band has nearly completed a new album — their second with 35-year-old producer Andrew Watt — and planned on touring the U.K. and Europe. However, Richards, who turns 82 on Thursday, is said to be unable to commit to the rigors of another tour. Live dates in recent years have shown that he has faced challenges due to a long battle with arthritis, which he has called “benign” and said has forced him to change his style of playing.
Richards was in fine form during a brief three-song performance at the Soho Sessions in New York last month, however, that is a much different proposition than a multi-country, multi-week tour.
“When they properly sat down to discuss the tour, Keith said he didn’t think he could commit and wasn’t keen on a big stadium tour for over four months,” an unnamed “American music critic” reportedly told British tabloid The Sun on Monday. An unnamed spokesperson added, “The band were looking to tour earlier this year but couldn’t make it work either. It’s hard for their fans but The Stones will get back onstage when they’re good and ready.”
The Stones have toured nearly every year since the early 2000s, in increasingly small itineraries as the three principals — Mick Jagger, 82, Ron Wood, 78, and Richards — have grown older; original drummer Charlie Watts died in 2021 and was replaced by longtime Richards collaborator Steve Jordan. The band’s most recent tour was the “Hackney Diamonds” jaunt, named after their most recent album, which spread 20 North American dates across three months.
However, a new album appears to be on track for release next year, as Watt — who has worked closely with Lady Gaga, Ed Sheeran and Miley Cyrus as well as as Elton John, Ozzy Osbourne and Pearl Jam — seemed to inject new life into the group, helping them to finish “Hackney Diamonds,” their first full album of new material in some 15 years in 2023.
Jagger told Variety last year, “I knew that Andy and I could work together as soon as we met. He has such infectious enthusiasm and a great work ethic, plus he’s a great musician too. We immediately clicked and made what I thought was going to be a tough job into a fun and easy one.”
Richards added, “Andrew has a contagious vitality about him coupled with an unrelenting enthusiasm, which is one of the great qualities of a producer. Also, he was great fun to work with, another great quality!”
.
