In his first interview since getting heart surgery, GRAMMY-winning Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger has offered some new details about his health and his band's previously postponed tour.

"I'm feeling pretty good," he told Toronto's Q107 radio station. "Been rehearsing a lot lately in the last few weeks … This morning [I did] a bit of gym. Nothing crazy. Then I go into rehearsal with the rest of the band."

The tour, originally set to kick off in late April, was rescheduled due to Jagger's surgery after doctors advised him to get medical treatment. The vocalist had surgery to replace a valve in April. 

On the upcoming No Filter U.S. tour, the band reportedly plans to perform some material they haven't played live before, noting how fans don't like too much of the untraditional. "Most of the time people don’t want too much unusual. People like a little bit unusual. They don’t want 100 percent unusual,” he said.  

Jagger is also well aware of what fans like, alluding to including plenty of crowd favorites on the tour's setlist. "The favorite ones people like to hear are, you know, ‘Paint it Black, ‘Honky Tonk [Women]’ and ‘Satisfaction’ and things like that. We don’t always necessarily do all of them," he said. "We sometimes drop one or two, but there’s maybe 10 favorites. I don’t know how people would feel if you didn’t do any of them. I think people would say, ‘Oh, that’s a bit unfortunate, I came to hear this'"

Back in the fall, the news that the iconic British rock band was coming to the U.S. had the band every bit as exicited as their fans. "It's great to be playing back in America," Stones guitarist Keith Richards said in a tweet at the time. "Feels like we're coming home."

The 75-year-old frontman also commented on how the Stones' touring pattern has changed over the decades. "I don’t do it all the time, [like] 12 months a year," he said. "When you’re young, that’s what you do. [Today I] spend three or four months on the road in a year and that seems to be quite a good balance.”

The tour is now set to kick off in Chicago on June 21 and close out in Miami on Aug. 31. 

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"Is my future all in the past?" laments Keith Richards on "Tell Me Straight," the grungiest number from the Rolling Stones' 26th studio effort (or their 24th if you're from the UK), Hackney Diamonds. Despite approaching the age of 80, a milestone Mick Jagger passed this summer, the answer isn't the obvious one.  

Indeed, while most of their peers have long since settled into retirement, rock 'n' roll's most enduring partnership is still attempting to extend their legacy. And for the first time since 2005's A Bigger Bang, with an album of largely original material, too. It's an approach which appears to have re-energized the Stones so strongly they now sound, musically anyway, like a band bursting out of the blocks rather than one nearing the finish line.  

In fact, the group were so productive during their recording sessions that they already have a follow-up 75 percent completed. If it's even half as vibrant as its predecessor, then fans are in for another down and dirty treat. 

Of course, Hackney Diamonds is inevitably tinged with sadness, too, being their first LP since the death of Charlie Watts in 2021. However, with recording sessions beginning the year previously — the pandemic, Richards' arthritis struggles, and apparently Jagger's general lack of enthusiasm causing the lengthy delay — the legendary drummer still makes a couple of posthumous contributions. 

But as implied by its title, a London slang term for the remains of a window smashed by thieves, the record's overall tone is loud, punchy, and purposeful. Here are five takeaways from the band's latest triumph.  

The Band Get By With A Little Help From Their Friends 

Boasting appearances from no fewer than four genuine musical icons, including two with knighthoods to their name, Hackney Diamonds is by far the most star-studded album in the Stones' 61-year career.  

That's Elton John tinkling the ivories on the funky "Get Close" and barroom stomper "Live By the Sword," while Paul McCartney appears to have been forgiven for last year's spot of shade-throwing ("I'm not sure I should say it, but they're a blues cover band, that's sort of what the Stones are"): he provides the fuzzed-up basslines on the expletive-filled punk of "Bite My Head Off." 

Yet it’s the double whammy of Lady Gaga and Stevie Wonder on the slow-burning "Sweet Sounds of Heaven" who make the biggest impression. The former delivers the strongest powerhouse vocals of her career during a call-and-response which echoes the Merry Clayton-assisted classic "Gimme Shelter." Wonder, who toured with the Stones back in the '70s, meanwhile, works his usual magic on the keys to imbue the seven-minute epic — possibly the finest track the Stones have recorded this century — with an authentic gospel edge.  

The Stones Aren't Afraid To Get Nostalgic 

While Hackney Diamonds largely avoids talk of mortality, loss or other somber themes you may expect from a band whose youngest permanent member, Ronnie Wood, is 76, it's not afraid to get a little nostalgic.  

The blistering "Whole Wide World" essentially plays out like a beginner's guide to the Stones' '60s years, whether it's reminiscing about their pre-fame stint in a "filthy flat in Fulham" or bemoaning the era when both the tabloids and the cops watched their every move. And amid the bluesy harmonica and slide guitars on "Dreamy Skies," Jagger pines for a getaway with nothing but an AM radio playing country crooner Hank Williams for company. 

The trip down memory lane most longtime fans will be interested in, however, is "Live by the Sword." Thanks to appearances from Watts and former bassist Bill Wyman, it's the closest the Stones have got to their imperial phase line-up since 1989's Steel Wheels.  

Mick Jagger Is Still A Horndog 

He might now be an octogenarian, yet judging by the amount of relationship talk on Hackney Diamonds, Jagger still has the libido of a rocker half his age.  

"Driving Me Too Hard" and "Bite My Head Off" both add to the Stones' arsenal of woman trouble anthems, while on "Get Close," Jagger roams around the streets at midnight to make a potentially lascivious pact ("I bargained with the devil, I need heaven for one night").

Further evidence the singer still isn't ready for the pipe and slippers lifestyle yet comes with "Mess It Up," a disco-infused tale of a vengeful ex who's stolen his mobile phone, unlocked his passwords, and shared a particular photo among all her friends. We're left to guess how incriminating said image is.    

It Brings Things Full Circle 

Hackney Diamonds doesn't entirely abandon the covers approach that defined 2016's Blues and Lonesome. Following ten original compositions, it wraps things up with a stripped-back rendition of "Rolling Stone Blues," the Muddy Waters classic which played a significant part in Jagger and Richards' story. 

Not only did the 1950 number — a loose interpretation of Delta blues standard "Catfish Blues" — inspire the band’s name, it was also one of several records a teenage Richards was carrying under his arm during that pivotal train station reunion with his childhood friend. Recognizing they both shared similar musical tastes, the pair began hanging out again and the rest is rock and roll history.  

This is the first time the Stones have celebrated such a sliding doors moment on record and should the proposed 25th album fail to materialize, a hugely touching way to bring things full circle. 

It's Their Best Album In More Than 40 Years 

The Stones have occasionally captured the brilliance of their chart-topping days over the past 40 years, with the mammoth world tour-launching Steel Wheels, outtakes collection Tattoo You, and their last MTV hurrah Voodoo Lounge all containing best of-worthy material. But Hackney Diamonds is their first LP that can be considered as truly essential since 1978 return-to-form Some Girls.  

While the majority of latter-day Stones efforts have come across as merely promotional tools for their latest stadium trek, their latest stands on its own two feet. In fact, there isn't a dud among its 11 tracks, with everyone from co-producer Don Was to regular live musicians Matt Clifford, Darryl Jones, and Steve Jordan at the top of their game.  

"I don't want to be big headed," Jagger told Jimmy Fallon at the album's East London launch last month. "But we wouldn't have put this record out if we hadn't really liked it." The rock god needn't have worried about sounding immodest. In fact, he could have got away with shouting about it from the rooftops. 

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Updated Friday Oct. 13, 2023 to include info about Kendrick Lamar's most recent GRAMMY wins, as of the 2023 GRAMMYs.

A GRAMMY veteran these days, Kendrick Lamar has won 17 GRAMMYs and has received 47 GRAMMY nominations overall. A sizable chunk of his trophies came from the 58th annual GRAMMY Awards in 2016, when he walked away with five — including his first-ever win in the Best Rap Album category.

This installment of GRAMMY Rewind turns back the clock to 2016, revisiting Lamar's acceptance speech upon winning Best Rap Album for To Pimp A Butterfly. Though Lamar was alone on stage, he made it clear that he wouldn't be at the top of his game without the help of a broad support system. 

"First off, all glory to God, that's for sure," he said, kicking off a speech that went on to thank his parents, who he described as his "those who gave me the responsibility of knowing, of accepting the good with the bad."

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He also extended his love and gratitude to his fiancée, Whitney Alford, and shouted out his Top Dawg Entertainment labelmates. Lamar specifically praised Top Dawg's CEO, Anthony Tiffith, for finding and developing raw talent that might not otherwise get the chance to pursue their musical dreams.

"We'd never forget that: Taking these kids out of the projects, out of Compton, and putting them right here on this stage, to be the best that they can be," Lamar — a Compton native himself — continued, leading into an impassioned conclusion spotlighting some of the cornerstone rap albums that came before To Pimp a Butterfly.

"Hip-hop. Ice Cube. This is for hip-hop," he said. "This is for Snoop Dogg, Doggystyle. This is for Illmatic, this is for Nas. We will live forever. Believe that."

To Pimp a Butterfly singles "Alright" and "These Walls" earned Lamar three more GRAMMYs that night, the former winning Best Rap Performance and Best Rap Song and the latter taking Best Rap/Sung Collaboration (the song features Bilal, Anna Wise and Thundercat). He also won Best Music Video for the remix of Taylor Swift's "Bad Blood." 

Lamar has since won Best Rap Album two more times, taking home the golden gramophone in 2018 for his blockbuster LP DAMN., and in 2023 for his bold fifth album, Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers.

Watch Lamar's full acceptance speech above, and check back at GRAMMY.com every Friday for more GRAMMY Rewind episodes. 

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As we close out the month, this New Music Friday has loads of fresh beginnings and highly anticipated reunions.

Several big-name collaborations dropped on Sept. 29, from an electric team-up of the Rolling Stones and Lady Gaga to an R&B and rap fusion from Jungkook and Jack Harlow. 

Two nostalgic releases arrived as well, with Lil Wayne's new album Tha Fix Before Tha Vi continuing his "Tha Carter" series, while *NSYNC fans were treated to the boy band's first new song in 20 years with "Better Place."

Dive into these seven new releases that blend the old generation with the new. 

Jungkook ft. Jack Harlow — "3D"

BTS singer Jungkook takes us through a nostalgic journey with "3D," a song reminiscent of an early 2000s boy band hit. The hypnotizing lyrics illustrate his close connection to someone he can't reach, so he'll watch them in 3D.

"So if you're ready (So if you're ready)/ And if you'll let me (And if you'll let me)/ I wanna see it in motion/ In 3D (Uh-uh)," he sings in the chorus. 

Jack Harlow pops in, dropping a few verses boasting about his global attraction with women. "Mr. First Class" claims he can "fly you from Korea to Kentucky," as he closes out the song.

With an addictive chorus and groovy baseline, this track has a different vibe from his "Seven" collaboration with Latto. The song marks Jungkook's seventh solo single and second of 2023.

Rolling Stones & Lady Gaga ft. Stevie Wonder — "Sweet Sounds of Heaven"

The Rolling Stones, Lady Gaga and Stevie Wonder blended their talents, to create a harmonic symphony of a song that lives up to its heavenly title. Seven minutes of gospel- and blues-inspired rhythms, enriched by Gaga and Mick Jagger's distinct riffs, make this collaboration an immersive experience. Stevie Wonder grounds the track with his command of piano and melodic tempo.

The track is the second peek of the Rolling Stones' upcoming album, Hackney Diamonds, their first LP release in 18 years; their first release, "Angry," arrived Sept. 6. With production from GRAMMY-winning Andrew Watt, the soulful essence makes "Sweet Sounds of Heaven" an exciting taste of the long-overdue album.

*NSYNC — "Better Place"

Yes, you read correctly. After two decades and a recent reunion at the 2023 MTV Video Music awards, <em>NSYNC is back with a new single, "Better Place," appearing in the new animated Trolls* movie (due Nov. 17). With a nostalgic dance-pop beat, familiar production and breezy lyrics, this single is a remarkable comeback.

"Just let me take you to a better place/ I'm gonna make you kiss the sky tonight," they sing in the chorus. 

The reunion was first teased Sept. 14, through a video of the group's emotional studio session, as Justin Timberlake shared on Instagram. "When the stars align… got my brothers back together in the studio to work on something fun and the energy was special," he wrote in the post. 

PinkPantheress — "Mosquito"

Dive into this musical daydream as PinkPantheress serenades us on her new single, "Mosquito," a dreamy, lucid song reminiscent of old-school R&B. After recently hopping on the energetic remix of Troye Sivan's "Rush" and teaming up with Destroy Lonely on "Turn Your Phone Off," PinkPantheress is transporting us through a new era, full of charm and surprises.

"Cause I just had a dream I was dead/ And I only cared 'cause I was taken from you/ You're the only thing that I own/ I hear my bell ring, I'd only answer for you," she sings in the chorus. 

Co-crafted by GRAMMY-winning producer Greg Kurstin, this song is a transcending, surreal experience. This single isn't about romance, instead she takes us through her entanglements with treasures and money. That's further portrayed in the lavish video, which features a European shopping spree starring "Bridgerton" stars Charithra Chandran, India Amarteifio and "Grown-ish" star Yara Shahidi.

Ed Sheeran — Autumn Variations

The era of mathematical-themed albums seems to be over, as Ed Sheeran has entered a new chapter with Autumn Variations, his second project this year. Sheeran is singing from his heart, sharing soulful tales from emotional events in his life including the death of his dearest friend Jamal Edwards and his wife's health challenges during pregnancy — an extension of the stories he told with May's Subtract.

Autumn Variations is very raw, stripped down and authentic as he takes us through his personal journey. Amidst this, Sheeran still brings in some buzzing tracks including catchy songs like "American Town," "Paper Bag" and "Amazing."

Lil Wayne — Tha Fix Before Tha Vi

Lil Wayne celebrated his 41st birthday with a special present to his fans: the release of a new album two days later. The alluring 10-track project,"Tha Fix Before Tha Vi" dives into past vibes with songs like "Tity Boi," a reference to 2 Chainz's initial stage name, which may be a reference to the upcoming joint album between the two. Each song has a different feel including "Tuxedo," which features a more punk-rock melody and "Chanel No.5 ft. Foushee," which features a sensational beat.

His first album since 2020, Tha Fix Before Tha Vi features rather unexpected collaborators, including Jon Batiste, Fousheé and euro. With different sounds and features than past projects, we could possibly be entering a new Weezy era. 

Thomas Rhett & Morgan Wallen — "Mamaw's House"

Country superstars Morgan Wallen and Thomas Rhett unite for "Mamaw's House," a country-folk track relishing the memories of their grandparents' home and cozy fireplace tales. 

"It's where I spent my summers and she put me to work/ Shellin' peas and shuckin' corn until my fingers hurt/ No tellin' who I'da been without Mamaw's house," Rhett sings in the second verse. 

Rhett said the duo decided to write about their small-town culture — Rhett is from Valdosta, Georgia, while Wallen hails from Sneedville, Tennessee — and the significant presence of grandparents brought to their upbringings. 

"This song just kind of brings up how our mamaws used to act when we were little kids," Rhett told Audacy.. "It's an ode to all the grandmas out there."

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Energetically speaking, the Rolling Stones' 1970s run is something of a reverse parabola — it goes up, and then down.

After 1968's acoustic-focused Beggars Banquet — basically their Led Zeppelin III — and 1969's blues-drenched Let it Bleed, the Stones really started to burn rubber. 1971's gloriously decadent Sticky Fingers was the final ramp-up to their arguable masterpiece: the following year's Exile on Main St.

Across four greasy sides, the Stones went from riotous, disheveled fun to Sunday morning-style ache and longing: it seemingly contains the totality of the Glimmer Twins' art in microcosm.

As Exile on Main St. was such a skyscraping achievement, it's natural to wonder if what followed was a downturn. Enter Goats Head Soup, its 1973 follow-up, which turns 50 today.

Lumpy and undulating, Goats Head Soup is mostly known as the album that gave us their No. 1 ballad "Angie"; "Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo (Heartbreaker)" also broke the Top 20 on the Hot 100. On the main, it's an elliptical, hazy listen — like the strewn detritus from the Exile on Main St. sessions coagulated into a hobbling automaton.

There is no "Street Fighting Man" or "Gimme Shelter" or "Brown Sugar." Instead, we get the crawling "Dancing With Mr. D," the dog-tired "Coming Down Again," and the shaking-apart "Star Star." More than almost any other Stones album, Goats Head Soup is its own universe.

For better or worse, Goats Head Soup is stuck in first gear. But for Stones fans wired a certain way, that's a feature, not a bug.

When the Stones sound exhausted, that's a Stones worth savoring. And despite any number of middling contemporaneous reviews, Goats Head Soup is where this beautiful comedown began. Here are 10 reasons why you should give this sui generis Stones platter a shot.

"Dancing With Mr. D" Is Something Else

From Keith Richards’ deliciously ominous opening riff forward, "Dancing With Mr. D" proves itself to have almost no analog in the Stones’ catalog.

"Yeah, down in the graveyard where we have our tryst/ The air smells sweet, the air smells sick/ He never smiles, his mouth merely twists," Mick Jagger sputters. "The breath in my lungs feels clinging and thick/ The palms of my hands is clammy and wet."

Does Mr. D’s initial stand for death? For devil? Whatever the case, Jagger’s indulging in some macabre fun.

"Coming Down Again" Is A Buzzkill For The Ages

There’s a certain, unforgettable weariness to Keith Richards’ Stones songs, and "Coming Down Again" is something of a downcast masterpiece.

Before you ask, yes, it’s about drugs — these are the Stones in the ‘70s, after all. But take junkie mythology out of the equation, and it’s simply a thing of windswept, head-hung-low beauty.

Dig Billy Preston With The Stones!

In the years following the events of the Beatles’ Get Back documentary, keyboardist Billy Preston was in demand as a session cat: he appeared on solo albums by three of four Beatles, as well as those by Sly and the Family Stone, Joe Cocker, and — yes — the Stones.

Preston had previously appeared on Sticky Fingers and Exile on Main St.; on "100 Years Ago," he plays inspired clavinet, and on "Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo (Heartbreaker)," he doubles the clavinet with piano. Speaking of…

Minor Hit "Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo (Heartbreaker)" Remains Satisfying

Despite its kicked-up tempo, "Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo (Heartbreaker)" doesn’t exactly rock; it simmers and hovers.

Lyrically, it presents mirror examples of urban tragedy: a young man shot by police in a case of mistaken identity, and a 10-year girl who ODs in an alley. But a ripped-from-the-headlines "Hurricane"-style story song it isn’t.

Decades later, Jagger denied any specific, real-world inspiration, chalking it up to "New York as a violent place. America as a heavy-handed police state.

"We can go back 100 years and it's probably even heavier," Jagger continued. "Obviously, all that time ago it was heavy in a lot of places, heavy now and heavy before."

"Angie" Is Immortal For Very Good Reasons

Who is Angie? Is it Angela Bowie? Marianne Faithfull?

This talk can safely be consigned to the rock lore archives, as it’s beside the point: "Angie" is simply a gorgeous song. (Although your mileage may vary with Jagger’s whispering.) 

For an expert appraisal of what makes this majestic — and wildly popular — single tick, check out Rick Beato’s analytical YouTube video, for his What Makes This Song Great? series.

Much Of The Bluster Had Worn Off

Yes, we come to the Stones for cocksurity and bravado, but it’s arguably even more interesting when those qualities lose their luster.

Take two of the most horny cuts: "Silver Train" is about a prostitute; "Star Star" is about a groupie. But rather than sound hyped-up, they sound fragile, like machismo is an old costume that didn’t fit them at that moment.

Giles Martin Has Freshened Up Goats Head Soup

As a Beatles remixer, Giles Martin didn’t fall far from the tree; his father, of course, was iconic Fabs producer George Martin.

After making his mark with Sgt. Pepper’s, Abbey Road and the like, Martin has begun working with other camps — the Stones included.

His 2020 remix of Goats Head Soup wipes away the grime and reveals its vulnerable, autumnal heart. Truly, despite its mixed-bag reputation, this stew has never been so savory.

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