I need to confess that I really do expect them to do a surprise small gig
in London sometime this month. FWIW.

Also I think I may have discovered where they have been recording/
rehearsing in London. I'm not going to say, because I think they're
still there. But here's a hint: it is referenced in the title of one of
their albums

This Sun/Mirror article is a near-perfect compilation of the
nonsense/disinfo that has been published in the iorr fan forum
over the last six months, all based on supposed leaks. For lack
of a better term, let's call it the mainstream narrative...

And then you have the alternative at-least-plausible narrative
that I've put forth in this thread, based on reasoned analysis.

Hmm. Mainstream narrative versus alternative narrative...

Just like with everything everywhere these days.

One funny footnote: While the Mirror article is just a slight re-write
of the Sun original, the Mirror headline is all their own, using
a stunning leaked quote from a source...

Stones "ready to release surprise album"

This is hilarious for two reasons: 1) no such quote or claim appears in
the article, and 2) this entirely made-up clickbait quote is the only true
thing in the entire piece (only its not the album they've been working
on currently, its the one they finished up in february)

bv has just given the Sun/Mirror article his full endorsement...

1) bv said they would put out an album spring 2023. i said no, not til
christmas time. it came out at christmas time.
2) bv said they would tour 2023. i said they wouldnt. they didnt.
3) bv said they would tour 2024. i agreed. they did.
4) bv said they would tour Europe 2025. i said they wouldnt. they didnt.
5) now bv is saying we're getting a new album. i said that 6 months ago.
when? this year. october.
6) now bv is saying they are going to tour 2026. they aren't. but there
will be gigs here and there, starting this year, some small some large.
Taking the passion where they find it.
7) bv says this year's album will include the recent sessions. it won't.
it will include the things they finished up Nov24-Feb25 (i've put, in
bold above, bv's correct reference to these sessions)
8) bv, like the Sun, says the current sessions have been at Metropolis.
they havent. its still a secret where. only some vocal overdubs at Metropolis
9) THIS IS IMPORTANT. This year's album Diamond Dust is not
"leftovers". They intentionally put aside stronger HD material for the
follow-up (except for "angry". you can't get stronger than that).
10) remember, Hackney Diamonds are just glass. Diamond Dust is made
of the real thing.
11) bv: "The Rolling Stones i.e. Mick, Keith and Ronnie, plus several of
their support musicians" My guess remains: Steve and Darryl are as of
now officially Stones. Contracts signed. The announcement before Oct.
12) So far I'm the only one anticipating gigs in England soon

The Independent has basically repeated The Sun's and bv's and
georgelicks' album (mis)info, except they have added the following FWIW...

And now FWIW microsoft/MSN has made the supposed UK gigs the headline...