The Rolling Stones have given fans a glimpse into the making of their video for "Angry," the first single off their upcoming album, ‘Hackney Diamonds.’ The video, directed by François Rousselet, features the iconic band's billboards on Hollywood's Sunset Strip coming to life and rocking out to the song.
Rousselet says he was inspired by the 2016 book, Rock 'n' Roll Billboards of the Sunset Strip by Robert Landau, which documents the history and artistry of the music industry's advertising on the famous boulevard. He says his goal was to "put into perspective how great they have been through the decades.”
The video also stars 26-year old actress Sydney Sweeney, who is seen gyrating to the song while being driven down the Sunset Strip on the back of a red 1980s Mercedes 450 SL. Rousselet says he chose her because she's "one of the cool, new faces of this generation,” having recently starred as Olivia Mossbacher in season one of The White Lotus, as well as her role as Snake in director Quentin Tarantino’s 2019 movie, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.
Sweeney says she was thrilled to be part of the video, calling it "a dream come true." She says she grew up listening to the Rolling Stones and admires their longevity and influence. She also praises Rousselet for his vision and creativity, saying he made her feel comfortable and confident on set.
The video for "Angry" was released on September 15th and has already amassed over 10 million views on YouTube. The song is a catchy rock anthem with a message of peace and tolerance. Mick Jagger, who co-wrote the song with Keith Richards, says in an audio clip that he originally wanted to express his anger about the state of the world, but then decided to make it a plea to calm down.
"It did start off with me being angry then I thought, 'It doesn't sound right. I'm gonna turn it around and make it a plea to calm down'," Jagger says.
The Rolling Stones are preparing to release their new album, Hackney Diamonds, on October 20th. The album will feature 12 new songs, including a collaboration with Lady Gaga and Stevie Wonder called "Sweet Sounds of Heaven," which will be out this Friday. The album will also mark the final appearance of drummer Charlie Watts, who passed away last month at the age of 80.
The Rolling Stones are currently on their No Filter Tour in North America, with Adam Lambert filling in for Watts. The tour will end on November 20th in Austin.
[Source: Classic Hits Today]