Fans of the legendary rock band The Rolling Stones say Hackney Diamonds is missing one major thing.
The 2023-released album was well-received by fans and marked the first album by the Mick Jagger-fronted group since 2016’s Blue and Lonesome. It was also the first new record released by The Rolling Stones after the death of longtime drummer Charlie Watts. Watts died in 2021 at the age of 80, though he had requested that the band continue with a drummer recommended by the longtime band member. Watts had told fellow Stones member Ronnie Wood: “I want to get out of this bloody place [hospital] but until I do, will you please make sure that Steve Jordan carries the flag for me and then when I get better I’ll come and join you, but please let Steve Jordan play in my place.”
Though he died two years before the release of Hackney Diamonds, the album features leftover work from Watts. Fans who attended the latest tour from The Rolling Stones say Watts is sorely missed from the live set, with his impact on the band unmistakeable. One user took to the r/RollingStones subreddit and asked: “Opinions on the Hackney Diamonds tour? Now that it’s been a year since the tour began, what are your opinions on it?”
One user suggested Watts’ death had left a hole in the band which was covered well by Jordan, as well as the rest of the band. They wrote: “Their voices have held up unbelievably well. I did miss Charlie. I have seen nearly every tour since 1973, and they still got it.”
Another added: “They were amazing and loved every minute of it. That said, there were subtle signs of the further advance of age. Mick Jagger was still dancing, but not quite moving the distance around the stage that he covered during the No Filter tour. Keith Richards also seemed to let Ronnie Wood take more leads and was also a tad more subdued on stage. And of course, we all miss Charlie Watts.”
A third praised Watts’ choice of drummer to replace him in The Rolling Stones. They wrote: “Steve Jordan is the only drummer I would’ve picked to replace Charlie. He’s doing a great job, albeit with a very different groove.” They did, however, criticise the tour for feeling as though “the magic feels gone.”
They added: “Honestly, this was the first tour where the magic feels like it’s gone. No Chuck Berry songs. They didn’t play Live by the Sword or any of the other great songs off the album. Setlist has so little in the way of variation. No Brown Sugar.
“I think a lot of my gripes are down to them not taking any chances of any kind. Everything is a safe bet and overproduced. It’s almost as if Mick thinks ‘well we have that animation for Paint It Black so let’s just play it at every show forever.'”
Another agreed, adding: “They shouldn’t be touring or releasing albums without Charlie.”
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