advertisement
Rock

The Rolling Stones Throw Back to Legendary 1977 Concert at Toronto's El Mocambo For Rollout of New Album 'Foreign Tongues'

One of the new songs “Rough & Twisted” was secretly released on vinyl on Record Store Day (April 18) under the Cockroaches alias, referencing their secret Toronto show as The Cockroaches in 1977.

Ronnie Wood, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones of The Rolling Stones perform onstage during the No Filter Tour at SoFi Stadium on Octover 14, 2021 in Inglewood, California.
Ronnie Wood, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones of The Rolling Stones perform onstage during the No Filter Tour at SoFi Stadium on Octover 14, 2021 in Inglewood, California.
Christopher Polk/Variety

The Rolling Stones are back, and there’s a Toronto connection behind their latest rollout.

Today (May 5), the British rock legends announced their forthcoming album Foreign Tongues, set for release on July 10, via an album trailer uploaded to YouTube.



Along with the trailer, the band released two new singles. “In the Stars” is a bright rock cut featuring smooth “ooh” riffs and guitar melodies that merge with Mick Jagger’s signature vocals, while “Rough & Twisted” is a grittier, bluesy cut. Although both tracks are new to streaming, "Rough & Twisted" has quietly been out to the public for a few weeks now.

advertisement

The single was released in a limited run of 1,000 vinyl records under the artist name The Cockroaches and sold at record shops on Record Store Day 2026 (April 18).

The Stones famously used the same alias to promote a secret show at the historic El Mocambo venue in Toronto on March 4, 1977. It was billed as an April Wine show with the Cockroaches as openers, but the Canadian band ended up opening before the Rolling Stones revealed their true identity and played the headlining set. It's still one of the most famous concerts ever played in Toronto, the stuff of local lore.

El Mocambo only holds 300 people, making for an extremely intimate show from one of the world’s biggest bands. The stint was recorded and released as a live album titled El Mocambo 1977 in 2022, almost fifty years later.

A promotional website for the Cockroaches was put up ahead of the new album Foreign Tongues, where the live album’s artwork appears as a poster on the wall. Clicking and flipping the Cockroaches vinyl on the site reveals the coordinates of the three Canadian record stores where the limited record was sold: Sonic Boom in Toronto, Neptune Records in Vancouver and Le Noise Records in Longueuil, Quebec.

advertisement

Foreign Tongues is the band’s 25th studio album and its first in three years since Hackney Diamonds (2023). It will include 14 tracks and feature fellow rock legends such as Beatles superstar Paul McCartney, Steve Winwood, Robert Smith of The Cure and Chad Smith of the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Check out both new singles below.


advertisement
Billboard Canada Partners with MMF Canada for Managers to Watch x Honour Roll 2026
Management

Billboard Canada Partners with MMF Canada for Managers to Watch x Honour Roll 2026

For the second consecutive year, Music Managers Forum Canada will award its Honour Roll recipients during Billboard Canada's Managers to Watch celebration, which takes place at SOUNDSTAGE at the W Toronto on June 11.

Billboard Canada and Music Managers Forum Canada (MMF Canada) are teaming up once again to celebrate the people behind the scenes driving the success of some of the most impactful Canadian music careers.

Today (May 5), Billboard Canada announces its partnership with MMF Canada for a second consecutive year to present its Honour Roll recognition as part of the 2026 Billboard Canada Managers to Watch ceremony. This year's edition of the event, which honours the unsung architects of the Canadian music industry, will take place during NXNE festival at SOUNDSTAGE at the W Toronto on June 11.

keep reading Show less
advertisement