Andrew Watt Safeguards “Best Rock Album” for Rolling Stones at the 2025 Grammys

Producer Defends Rolling Stones’ Grammy Win

Producer Andrew Watt defended the Rolling Stones’ victory for Best Rock at the Grammys earlier this month for their LP Hackney Diamonds 2023.

• Read more: The Rolling Stones – Review of Hackney Diamonds: They still have

The legendary rockers triumphed over Green Day, Idles, Fontaines DC, and Jack White with their comeback album, marking their first full-length release in 18 years and their first since the passing of drummer Charlie Watts.

Controversy Over Their Victory

However, some critics argued that their success was tied to their illustrious musical legacy rather than the album’s quality, leading other nominated artists to feel as if they were “robbed.”

Watt, who produced the album, asserted that the Stones’ songwriting prowess still justified their Grammy accolade.

“They are over 80 years old, they are 82 and 83 years old. Tell me another group in history that made an album in their 80s that was so good, with this level of songwriting and performance?” Watt said in an interview with Katya Stone on the Music is Now podcast.

Acknowledgments and Future Plans

Watt accepted the award on behalf of the group during the ceremony. “Yesterday I talked with Mick (Jagger), and he just wanted to thank the Academy on behalf of the whole group. For a little boy who grew up playing the guitar, it was one of the most amazing events to be next to these musicians,” he reflected at the time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utoG4ZZZH0U

NME awarded “Hackney Diamonds” Four Stars and described it as the first album of original material in almost two decades, calling it an “Absolute Barnstormer.”

In other news, it was reported at the end of last month that the Stones canceled their UK and Europe tours scheduled for 2025.

According to various reports, including Time, the iconic group has opted for a return to touring at the end of this year. This decision emerged following complications surrounding suitable venues and previously existing commitments for other shows throughout Europe.

The remaining members, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, and Ronnie Wood, were presented with numerous options for performances in 2025, but ultimately rejected them due to logistical challenges.