The Rolling Stones officially announce their last(?) album.

I can’t imagine a world where The Rolling Stones no longer exist. Shortly after they were formed in 1962, they ascended to rock ubiquity along with The Beatles, Zeppelin, and a few others. Now, though, we might be at the end.

We’re down to just three of them: Mick (supernaturally fit at 82), Keef (supernaturally decrepit at 82, but probably immortal), and the forever New Guy, Ronnie (joined 1975) at 78 (with significant health challenges, including cancer.

Yesterday (May 5) The Stones announced Foreign Tongues, which is whispered to be the band’s last album. The announcement came after an extensive campaign teasing something from The Cockroaches, the name The Stones used when they played those infamous shows at Toronto’s El Mocambo in March 1977.

Due July 12, it will feature 14 songs, some of which took shape during the last album, Hackney Diamond in 2023. It will also include drum tracks from Charlie Watts, who has returned from the grave. When it won’t be Charlie on drums, Chad Smith of the Red Hot Chili Peppers will appear on an unspecified number of songs. Otherwise, Charlie proxy Daryl Jones will be there.

Here’s the first single:

Other guest appearances include their old buddy, Paul McCartney, Steve Winwood, and, er, Robert Smith of The Cure. You read that correctly. Here’s how that happened.

Is this it for albums? Maybe. But since it’s The Stones, you never really know.

Here’s a trailer for the album.