The Rolling Stones Play Surprise Concert With Lady Gaga At Intimate New York City Venue

The Rolling Stones celebrated the release of their new Hackney Diamonds album with a surprise club show last night at Racket in New York City. The legendary band delivered a seven-song performance at the 650-capacity venue on Thursday that included the live debuts of four cuts from the LP including a “Sweet Sounds Of Heaven” encore with special guest Lady Gaga.

Rumors The Stones would commemorate the arrival of their first album of new material since 2005’s A Bigger Bang with an underplay in New York City had been swirling over the past week. Some attendees of the event at Racket, a space in Chelsea formerly known as Highline Ballroom, received invites for an “Album Release Party,” while other secured wristbands for entry at other Hackey Diamonds events in NYC. As Rolling Stone’s report indicated, it wasn’t 100% clear until the band took the stage around 10 p.m. whether they would indeed perform.

Those at Racket were asked to place phones and smart watches in pouches before The Rolling Stones launched their set with “Shattered,” a song from 1978’s Some Girls LP inspired by the New York City scene at that time. Last night was the group’s first live performance since ending their Sixty tour of Europe on August 3, 2022 in Berlin, Germany. Vocalist Mick Jagger, guitarists Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood were joined at the intimate club by their current rhythm section of bassist Darryl Jones and drummer Steve Jordan. The band for the evening was rounded out by vocalist Chanel Haynes and Hackney Diamonds contributor Matt Clifford on keys.

“It always seems that we launch our new albums in New York,” Jagger told the crowd according to Rolling Stone’s Andy Greene. “We’ve done it in a blimp [in 2002]. We’ve done it on a flatbed truck going down 5th Avenue [in 1975]. We did it in a convertible going over the Brooklyn Bridge [in 1997] and a train going into Grand Central [in 1989]. We were missing the launches so much that we had to make another album to come back and re-launch it.”

Hackney Diamonds lead single “Angry” filled the two-slot and was followed by another live debut as the legendary group rolled through “Whole Wide World” off their new record. It was then time for another classic via Exile On Main St. gem “Tumbling Dice.” The Rolling Stones returned to Hackney Diamonds for the ensuing “Bite My Head Off” with Jones handling the bass part laid down by Paul McCartney on the studio version.

The Rolling Stones closed their set at Racket by performing “Jumpin’ Jack Flash,” the most played song in their repertoire. Lady Gaga emerged with the band for their “Sweet Sounds Of Heaven” encore. The pop star reprised her role on the studio cut by dueting with Mick Jagger to bring the evening to a close.

Watch a series of clips of last night’s show that have surfaced thus far below starting with a pro-shot snippet of the “Sweet Sounds Of Heaven” encore:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGUltsZe3FA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yg8XY9vNFIk

Setlist (via Setlist.FM)

Set: Shattered, Angry*, Whole Wide World*, Tumbling Dice, Bite My Head Off*, Jumpin’ Jack Flash

Encore: Sweet Sounds Of Heaven*^

• * – Live Debut
• ^ – w/ Lady Gaga on vocals