Keith Richards provides update on whether The Rolling Stones will ever tour again
Keith Richards has responded to speculation about whether The Rolling Stones will ever tour again.
While their new album, Foreign Tongues, is set to arrive on July 10th, The Rolling Stones have no live dates lined up in support of the record, and sadly, that doesn’t appear like it will change anytime in the near future.
During an interview with the AP at a launch event for Foreign Tongues, Richards was asked directly about whether fans “can expect a world tour”, to which he replied, “We can talk next year.”
The legendary guitarist elaborated, “I mean, possibly. At the moment, we’re just sort of saying, we’ve finished the record, let’s do this. We’re basically considering what to do after. Pretty soon, but not this year.”
Richards’ comments come following reports that The Stones had axed plans for a 2026 tour, which was supposedly set to see them perform across Europe.
At the time, it was claimed that Richards was the reason for the cancellation, as he was unable “to commit” to an extensive tour.
Additionally, it was previously reported that The Rolling Stones were due to hit the road in 2025 across the continent, including dates at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.
Meanwhile, last month, a spokesperson for the band told The Times, “The Rolling Stones will play when they decide to, not before. There are no concerts planned.”
While it is unknown why The Stones have decided against touring, Richards does have arthritis, which could make playing a large number of consecutive shows difficult.
In 2023, he previously opened up to BBC Radio 4’s Today about the impact that the condition had on his guitar playing, explaining: “Funnily enough, I’ve no doubt it has, but I don’t have any pain: it’s a sort of benign version. I think if I’ve slowed down a little bit it’s probably due more to age.”
The Rolling Stones last toured in 2024, when they played a run of North American stadium shows in support of Hackney Diamonds. However, they have not played in the UK or Europe since 2022, which included performances at Hyde Park in London and Anfield Stadium in London.
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