The Rolling Stones’ Keith Richards: America is 'a bit of a disappointment at the moment'

Prior to the release of their 25th studio album this Friday, Rolling Stones' Keith Richards has commented on whether one of their new songs is an anti-Trump track... Legendary rockers The Rolling Stones will unleash their 25th studio album, ‘Foreign Tongues’, on Friday, and one song on the album is rumoured to be an anti-Trump track. Guitarist Keith Richards has commented on the song ‘Ringing Hollow’ and expanded on the matter in a new interview with the Sunday Times, in which he labels the US as “a bit of a disappointment” considering the current political climate. According to Richards, ‘Ringing Hollow’ is a “nostalgic love affair with America, and (it being) a bit of a disappointment at the moment.” Richards, who has lived in Connecticut since 1985, added that he has felt the concern from people around him over financial strain: “All you hear is the moaning about the price of gas. This is where it hurts people.” In a separate interview, frontman Mick Jagger spoke to MOJO about the inspiration for ‘Ringing Hollow’. He said that while the song isn’t “only about” Trump’s America, it does centre around “America generally and your experiences of it.” “The American Dream is intact for some people, and I’m sure we can find some wonderful immigrant stories that happened in the last 12 months, but we read about the decline of the American Empire,” the singer shared. “It’s not the same at all, but there are a lot of questions about imperial overreach, and the lobbying system.” While none of the band members have said that the song is a direct criticism of Trump, they have clashed with him on numerous occasions – mostly about the unauthorised use of their songs at his rallies. In 2016, The Stones told Trump that he didn’t have permission to use their track ‘You Can’t Always Get What You Want’ at the end of a speech, and sent him cease and desist letters. When Trump used the song again in 2020, the band teamed up with Broadcast Music, Inc. to threaten legal action. Elswehere, in 2019, Jagger lashed out at Trump during the Venice Film Festival. The rock star commented on Trump’s rudeness, lies, and him "tearing apart" environment controls when America should be setting the standard for the world. He said he was fearful about "where all this polarisation and rudeness and lying is going to lead us." "We are in a very difficult situation at the moment, especially in the US, where all the environmental controls that were put in place - that were just about adequate - have been rolled back by the current administration so much that they are being wiped out," he added. "The US should be the world leader in environmental control but now it has decided to go the other way.” ‘Foreign Tongues’ comes out on Friday 10 June. It is set to feature contributions from Paul McCartney and The Cure’s Robert Smith, as well as a cover of Amy Winehouse’s hit song ‘You Know I’m No Good’. Stay tuned to Euronews Culture for our verdict on the album.