Angry

The Zoo Crew is spinning "Angry," the lead single from The Rolling Stones' 2023 album Hackney Diamonds, for all the Zoo Freaks tuning in. This track, released on September 6, 2023, marks the band’s first original music since their 2020 single "Living in a Ghost Town." Mick Jagger revealed in an interview that "Angry" was loosely inspired by the 2006 film Night at the Museum, adding a playful nod to its lyrical vibe. The song’s rollout was teased with a cryptic website, dontgetangrywithme.com, which debuted a snippet of the track on September 2, 2023, but intentionally featured glitches and errors, sparking fan speculation about whether it was a marketing stunt. The official music video, premiered after a livestream with Jimmy Fallon, stars actress Sydney Sweeney cruising through Los Angeles in a red convertible, with the Stones performing from animated billboards, blending retro swagger with modern flair. The Telegraph gave it a glowing five-star review, calling it the band’s best single in four decades, driven by a “defiantly dumb” riff and Jagger’s “extravagant, leering defiance.”

The promotion for "Angry" was a masterclass in hype. On August 29, 2023, The Rolling Stones’ Instagram and X account shared images of their iconic lip logo projected onto global landmarks, building anticipation. A fake ad for a glass repair company named Hackney Diamonds appeared in the Hackney Gazette, embedding lyrics from Stones classics and a phone number that played a recorded message: “Don’t get angry, get it fixed.” The band’s YouTube livestream on September 6, hosted at London’s Hackney Empire Theatre, drew 53,000 viewers at its peak, where Fallon unveiled the album’s tracklist and guest stars like Lady Gaga and Paul McCartney. Despite some mixed reviews—Far Out called it “distinctly average”—the song’s raw energy and Grammy-nominated status for Best Rock Song cemented its impact.

The Rolling Stones formed in London in 1962, evolving from a group of blues-obsessed youths into rock’s most enduring band. Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, childhood friends who reconnected in 1960, bonded over shared loves of Muddy Waters and Chuck Berry. They joined forces with Brian Jones, a multi-instrumentalist who initially led the group, and began playing covers in small clubs like the Marquee. By 1963, drummer Charlie Watts and bassist Bill Wyman solidified the lineup, with Ian Stewart on keyboards. Their early gigs focused on raw R&B and blues, but Jagger and Richards soon started writing original songs, with hits like “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” in 1965 catapulting them to global fame. Their rebellious image and electrifying live shows set them apart, paving the way for decades of genre-defying music, from psychedelia to disco-infused rock.

Stay connected with The Rolling Stones through their Facebook, Instagram, and X accounts for the latest updates. Fans can dive deeper at It’s Only Rock’n Roll (IORR), a long-running fan site with tour news and forums, or join discussions on the Rolling Stones Fans Facebook group, where Zoo Freaks and other devotees share their passion for the band’s timeless sound.