Keith Richards Questions Future of Rolling Stones Touring, Suggests Residency Shows Instead
The Rolling Stones may not be finished performing live, but according to Keith Richards, the band's days of large-scale international touring could be nearing an end.
In a new interview with Uncut, the legendary guitarist said the physical demands of travel have become increasingly difficult, raising doubts about whether the group will embark on another traditional tour. While Richards stopped short of announcing any definitive plans, his comments offer one of the clearest indications yet that the band may be looking at alternative ways to perform as its members move further into their eighties.
“I don’t know if tours are possible,” Richards said. “It’s the travelling that takes it out of you.”
Rather than spending months moving between cities and countries, Richards suggested the Stones could adopt a residency model similar to the approach embraced by several veteran acts in recent years. Instead of touring, the band could perform a series of shows in a single location, allowing fans to travel to them rather than the other way around.
“I do see the possibility of us doing residency somewhere,” he said. “Wherever it is, London, New York, Paris, anywhere. I’ll play Rome! But I don’t see why they shouldn’t be able to throw some shows together in a new format.”
The comments come as the Rolling Stones prepare for the release of Foreign Tongues, their latest studio album, scheduled to arrive July 10. While the band remains active creatively, questions about its future on the road have intensified since the conclusion of the Stones' most recent tour in 2024, which supported Hackney Diamonds and brought the group across North America.
Speculation about future touring plans has circulated for months. In late 2025, reports emerged suggesting a proposed European and U.K. stadium run had been abandoned. While rumors initially surfaced through British tabloids, a representative for the band later confirmed that the plans had indeed been shelved.
Richards has previously left the door open to future performances. Earlier this year, he suggested discussions about returning to the stage could take place in 2026. His latest comments, however, indicate that if the Stones perform again, the format may look very different from the stadium tours that have defined much of the band's modern era.
Not everyone in the group appears ready to scale back. Mick Jagger recently expressed enthusiasm about returning to live performance, saying he would "absolutely love" to tour again and hoped to do so as soon as circumstances allowed. The contrast reflects a reality facing many long-running acts: balancing the desire to continue performing with the practical challenges that come with age and extensive travel.
Even as touring remains uncertain, the Rolling Stones continue to expand their creative output. Alongside the upcoming album, the band is launching a six-part podcast series, Speaking in Tongues, which will chronicle the making of Foreign Tongues. Narrated by Norah Jones, the series will feature new interviews with Jagger, Richards, and Ronnie Wood, as well as studio recordings, archival material, and previously unreleased tracks from the sessions.
The project also includes appearances from producer Andrew Watt, The Cure frontman Robert Smith, Steve Winwood, and artist Nathaniel Mary Quinn, who created the album artwork.
According to the band, Foreign Tongues was recorded during an intense stretch of sessions at Metropolis Studios in west London. Jagger said the environment encouraged spontaneity and collaboration, while Wood noted that several tracks came together remarkably quickly, with some songs being completed in their first take.
The album carries additional emotional significance because it includes one of the final studio performances recorded by longtime drummer Charlie Watts before he died in 2021. Several tracks that appeared on Hackney Diamonds also originated from those sessions, creating a direct connection between the two albums.
The 14-track project features contributions from an impressive list of guest musicians, including Paul McCartney, Robert Smith, Steve Winwood, and Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith. Longtime Stones collaborators Darryl Jones, Matt Clifford, and Steve Jordan also appear throughout the record. Among the album's most talked-about tracks is a cover of Amy Winehouse's “You Know I’m No Good,” adding another unexpected chapter to the band's extensive catalog.
Promotion for the album began earlier this year with the release of “Rough and Twisted,” a limited-edition vinyl single issued under the pseudonym the Cockroaches. That was followed by “In the Stars,” accompanied by a video featuring actress Odessa A’zion and digitally altered archival footage of the band. A third single, “Jealous Lover,” is scheduled for release on June 26.
