More than six decades after forming, the Rolling Stones are still writing new music and looking ahead to their next chapter. As they prepare to release their upcoming album Foreign Tongues, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood have opened up about the secret behind one of the longest-lasting partnerships in rock history, explaining that longevity depends just as much on personal relationships as musical talent.

Very few bands have managed to remain creatively active for more than 60 years while preserving both their identity and their relevance. The Rolling Stones continue to defy expectations, preparing to release Foreign Tongues, the 25th studio album of their remarkable career, while already discussing future touring plans for 2027.

Rather than reflecting on retirement, the legendary rock band remains focused on creating new music and building the next chapter of a journey that began in the early 1960s.

Speaking with Apple Music's Zane Lowe ahead of the album's release, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood offered rare insight into the relationship that has kept the band together through decades of success, personal differences and constant evolution.

Instead of presenting a complicated formula, their answers centered on something surprisingly simple: giving each other space while always returning to the music.

Ronnie Wood explained that one of the band's greatest strengths is that its members do not spend every day together. Each has built an independent personal life outside the group, allowing them to return to rehearsals and recording sessions refreshed rather than exhausted by constant proximity.

According to Wood, whenever they reunite, it feels as though no time has passed at all. The atmosphere resembles a group of lifelong friends picking up exactly where they left off, driven by the same curiosity, humor and creative energy that first brought them together decades ago.

Keith Richards offered perhaps the most memorable description of all.

"The Rolling Stones are like a marriage," he said with a smile, suggesting that labels matter far less than the bond itself. For Richards, the extraordinary chemistry between himself and Mick Jagger has never been something that can be fully explained.

He admitted that throughout the years he has often tried to understand why their partnership has endured for so long, eventually concluding that its greatest strength may be the fact that it cannot be logically defined. Shared musical instincts, mutual respect and an enduring passion for rock music have allowed them to build something far greater than either could have achieved alone.

Mick Jagger approached the question from a more practical perspective.

He acknowledged that success played an important role in keeping the band together. Had the Rolling Stones experienced repeated commercial failures, their history might have unfolded very differently.

Jagger also resisted the temptation to romanticize the band's past. He openly admitted that not every album reached the same artistic level, but emphasized that the group never lost its desire to keep writing music or its confidence in what they could still create.

That honesty, he suggested, has been just as important as any hit record.

The conversation arrives at a significant moment in the band's career.

Foreign Tongues follows the acclaimed Hackney Diamonds, an album that reminded audiences worldwide that the Rolling Stones remain an active creative force rather than simply a legendary legacy act. The band clearly views the new record not as a farewell, but as the beginning of another chapter.

Their enthusiasm naturally turned toward live performances.

Ronnie Wood said he is ready to hit the road again whenever the opportunity arises, while Mick Jagger admitted he is eager to perform the new songs in front of audiences around the world. Keith Richards also expressed optimism about 2027, suggesting that future touring plans remain very much on the table.

Jagger even spoke about his desire to return to countries such as Argentina, reinforcing the band's commitment to traditional world tours instead of limiting themselves to extended residency shows in a single city.

He also explained why he has reservations about long-term residencies, arguing that they often force fans to travel long distances and significantly increase the overall cost of attending concerts.

Ultimately, the Rolling Stones believe their longevity has never been about avoiding disagreements or preserving an untouchable legacy.

Instead, they continue to operate like a working band—writing songs, debating ideas, planning tours and looking forward to performing together again.

The "marriage" Keith Richards described is not built on perfection. It survives because its members continue choosing the same destination every time they come together: a recording studio, a stage and the shared desire to create another great rock song.

More than 60 years after they first began making music together, that simple commitment may remain the greatest secret behind one of the most extraordinary careers in rock history.