Rolling Stones Hackney Diamonds: Album announcement or ‘new store in Mare Street’

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‘Hackney diamonds’ is slang for broken glass, suggesting a burglary or theft. But what will happen in Hackney’s Mare Street?

The rumours began with an advert in the corner of a newspaper - a new Rolling Stones album could be on the way.

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The advert for “Hackney Diamonds, Specialists in Glass Repair” ran in last week’s Hackney Gazette and comes with a Rolling Stones tongue logo in the dot of the ‘i’ in diamonds.

It says the company was established in 1962 - the year the Stones formed - and has a message packed with puns on song titles: “Our friendly team promises you satisfaction. When you say gimme shelter we’ll fix your shattered windows.”

A phone number is provided, 0202 3932 6088, on which a mystery man with a cockney accent refers people to the website www.hackneydiamonds.com which allows people to register their email address for further updates.

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The website’s terms and conditions reveal it is registered to Universal Music.

Teasingly, the print advert says: “Opening our new store on Mare Street, September 2023.”

Hackney Diamonds is expected to be the new Rolling Stones Album. (Pictures by Carl Court/AFP via Getty Images/Universal)Hackney Diamonds is expected to be the new Rolling Stones Album. (Pictures by Carl Court/AFP via Getty Images/Universal)
Hackney Diamonds is expected to be the new Rolling Stones Album. (Pictures by Carl Court/AFP via Getty Images/Universal) | Carl Court/AFP via Getty Images/Universal

The advert was spotted by Clash Magazine and Sharper Content founder Simon Harper, who posted on X: “Anyone see this? An ad ran in Hackney Gazette for a company called Hackney Diamonds teasing Rolling Stones song titles. Their est. date is 1962, same year Stones formed. Website seems to be run by Universal Music, the Stones’ label. A clue their long-awaited new LP is on its way?”

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A new album by The Rolling Stones would be the first collection of original material since 2016’s A Bigger Bang.

It is known that the band have recorded new material, and that Charlie Watts recorded drum parts before his death in August 2021, aged 80.

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