PAUL SMITH & THE ROLLING STONES TEAM UP ON EXCLUSIVE ‘HACKNEY DIAMONDS’ VINYL & T-SHIRTS
The Rolling Stones x Paul Smith collaboration sees the release of a limited-edition ‘Hackney Diamonds’ vinyl – the band’s first studio album in 18 years – as well as collectable T-shirts.
As a longtime friend and supporter of Sir Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood, Paul was delighted to be asked to design an exclusive vinyl for the band’s first studio album in 18 years: Hackney Diamonds.
The Rolling Stones x Paul Smith exclusive vinyl design references the album’s dynamic title – itself a nod to East End slang for broken glass – with a photoprint rendering of smashed glass. Photoprints themselves have been a Paul Smith hallmark since the 1980s, when the designer pioneered the use of them in clothing.
Incorporating the band’s signature colour – red – the vinyl sleeve also utilises Paul’s distinctive handwriting for the band name and track list. The vinyl itself features a sticker with a reworking of The Rolling Stone’s iconic tongue logo with Paul’s well-known Signature Stripe.
The album, the band’s first of new music in 18 years, features 12 new tracks, including the roaring new single ‘Angry’ which was released on 6 September 2023. Recorded in various studios around the globe – including in London, New York, LA and Nassau – Hackney Diamonds is produced by 2021 Grammy Producer of the Year, Andrew Watt.
Paul says: “I consider it an incredible honour to work with Mick, Keith, and Ronnie on this exciting collaboration – as a brand, we’ve always had a close relationship with the music business, and I count The Rolling Stones as one of my all-time musical heroes. As well as being a fan, I’m also lucky enough to be able to call the band friends. It goes without saying that Hackney Diamonds is a phenomenal album, with a fearless spirit. For this launch, I wanted to create something that stayed true to the vision that the band set out – with a few subtle Paul Smith ‘twists’, as we call them.”
To complement the release of the vinyl, Paul Smith has also designed a selection of collectable 100% organic cotton tees featuring the exclusive vinyl print as well as a version with a print of the reinterpreted Signature Stripe tongue logo front and centre.
The vinyl will be available to pre-order from 13 October 2023 and will be released to coincide with the official album launch on 20 October 2023. A limited number of vinyls signed by Paul will also be available.
