In July 2026, the Rolling Stones released their newest record, “Foreign Tongues.” The album has musical contributions from Steve Winwood, Paul McCartney, Bruno Mars, and contains a song recorded prior to the death of drummer Charlie Watts.
Here is the 60 second video teaser for the new recording: The Stones In The Studio. Shure microphones appear a minimum of twelve times in the footage.
0:02 SM7 Keith Richards
0:05 SM7 Keith Richards
0:10 SM7 Ron Wood
0:12 SM58 Ron Wood
0:20 SM7 Keith Richards
0:23 SM7 Mick Jagger
0:28 SM58 Mick Jagger
0:33 SM58 Control Room
0:34 SM7 Mick Jagger
0:42 SM7 Mick Jagger
0:43 SM7 Keith Richards
0:44 SM7 Ron Wood
Next is a video of Conan O’Brien conducting a live interview with Jagger, Richards, and Wood. The Rolling Stones with Conan O’Brien. The interview begins at 2:58. Each participant uses a Shure wireless handheld transmitter with an SM58 mic element.
Finally, there is the video for the new song “In The Stars.” Our Model PE585 is featured, first appearing at 0:20 and throughout the video. Alas, the Shure logo was turned away from the camera. [The mic clip is not correct for the era being depicted.] The PE585 is an interesting choice as your author cannot recall a single photo of Mick Jagger using that mic.
At 1:31, the mic connector is shown. It appears to be an Amphenol MC1F (Mic Connector – One conductor – Female) indicating the mic output was unbalanced, high impedance, and meant to connect to a guitar amplifier input. Though a “garage band” may have used this connection scheme, the Rolling Stones would not. But, hey, it’s a music video made to entertain…not educate.
The Rolling Stones and Shure are closely intertwined throughout the decades as the following images illustrate.
Why have the Rolling Stones relied on the Unidyne III for over 60 years? It must be because Shure microphones have provided…satisfaction.
Related information: Wikipedia article about “Foreign Tongues”
Next week’s Tech Tip will provide more information about the Shure PE line.
Arcana – mysterious or specialized knowledge
Mick Jagger is typically “double-miked” with a Shure SM7 and a Neumann U47 or U87 during recording sessions. At mix down, the decision is made about which mic makes Mick’s vocal track sound better. Sources close to the Stones say the SM7 often wins the competition.
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Here is the Unidyne A PE585A with its original cable, mic clip, and plastic carrying case.
“A” after the model number indicated high impedance, unbalanced.
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A YouTube video was filmed recently inside the anechoic chamber at Shure. Be certain to hear the balloon exploding. During the final minute, there is a brief segment in which your author appears.
Video from inside Shure’s anechoic chamber
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