Keith Richards says The Rolling Stones have enough surplus material to record another album after releasing their first collection of new songs in 18-years. 

The rock veterans surprised fans with the unexpected release of Hackney Diamonds, their twenty-fourth British studio album, on October 20. 

The 12-track long player is their first original output since the release of 2005 album A Bigger Bang and comes just 16-months after the death of drummer Charlie Watts. 

And Richards, 79, says fans won’t need to wait too long for more new music from the band because they demoed numerous tracks while recording Hackney Diamonds.  

‘I think when we recover from Hackney Diamonds, we’ll be giving it a good thought,’ he told Matt Wilkinson on Apple 1. 

Looking ahead: Keith Richards says The Rolling Stones have enough surplus material to record another album after releasing their first collection of new songs in 18-years

They’re back: The rock veterans surprised fans with the unexpected release of Hackney Diamonds, their twenty-fourth British studio album, on October 20

‘But the reason these 12 are on it, these are the best. Also, you’ve got to draw a line somewhere. Some of them, because they’re not totally ready yet, they’re good, but they need a little work. 

‘But there’s another one in there, I think maybe with a few more additions. But like I say, at the moment, let me get this one out the way, man.’ 

The new album comes with a handful of surprise guest appearances, notably from Motown legend Stevie Wonder, pop pioneer Lady Gaga and former Beatle Sir Paul McCartney. 

Reflecting on their collaboration with McCartney,  a close friend since their emergence in the early 1960s, he said: ‘I felt that it was about bloody time. I’ve known Paul for 60 years, just about. Although him and John [Lennon] did do a few backup vocals with us in the sixties. 

‘Great fun to play with. At the end of it, I just said, “well, that’s just like the old days.”‘ 

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While McCartney’s involvement was planned, Gaga’s contribution – the American singer provides vocals to album track Sweet Sounds of Heaven – was completely unexpected. 

‘The thing is, it was such a spontaneous and organic session,’ Richards explained. ‘We knew that Stevie [Wonder] was coming by and I think Gaga only dropped in because she happened to be working in a studio across the hallway and just walked in, in the middle of the take and started to work her way in. 

‘Playing with Stevie is always mind- blowing and I thought that Lady did an incredible job, man. She snaked her way in there and took it over and gave her as good as she got with Mick and it was great fun.’ 

Getting involved: Lady Gaga (pictured onstage with the band) is one of several collaborators to feature on the new album 

Resurgence: Richards says fans won’t need to wait too long for more new music from the band because they demoed numerous tracks while recording Hackney Diamonds

The guitarist, who recently revealed his arthritis was forcing him to change how he strummed, also claimed modern music is too ‘synthesised’.

He told The Independent: ‘The only way to cut a band is to put the boys in a room and play and look in each other’s eyeballs.

‘Don’t get me going on modern-day music. Push-button drums and everything is synthesised. Digital recording is a one-way toilet.’

Richards has been outspoken against electronic music, branding it as ‘cheap’ and ‘rubbish’. He said: ‘I like to hear music by people playing instruments.’

The decision to return to the studio came when front-man Jagger suggested it at the end of the group’s 60th anniversary tour last year. 

‘I’ve got to give Mick hats off for this push,’ said Richards. ‘He said, “Come on, we’ve just got to do something… we’ve got to make a record.”‘