Credit: Dave Hogan

Credit: Dave HoganAs The Rolling Stones prepare to hit the road for the 2019 U.S. leg of their No Filter Tour, guitarist Keith Richards tells Rolling Stone that the band will first spend about a week in the studio working on its next studio album.

“I’m preparing more than anything else, putting material together,” he says of the upcoming recording sessions.

Keith reveals to the magazine that he spent part of his holidays trying to determine what worthwhile material The Stones have to work with, if anything.

“Sometimes it’s not as much writing as listening to what’s been written and figuring it out, and honing and all kinds of stuff,” he explains of the process. “It’s very boring. It’s like a carpentry shop.”

He adds that this time prior to the tour, which kicks off April 20 in Miami Gardens, Florida, is “perfect timing” to get together to collaborate on new songs.

Richards also admits he’s looking forward to tour the U.S. with The Rolling Stones for the first time in five years.

“To play back in the States again, it’s fantastic,” he tells Rolling Stone. “I always think of it as our really early hunting grounds. Although we had already done it in England, to work over a whole continent was pretty astounding. So I’ve always had a soft spot for working in America.”

Keith also says he’s hoping The Stones will play a surprise club gig to kick off the trek — something they haven’t done in a while.

“We haven’t in the last couple of tours,” he notes. “I think it was a matter of logistics. Finding the right venue or whatever didn’t happen. So it’s definitely on the menu…Hors d’oeuvres!”

Richards adds that he glad that the whole band still is enthusiastic about continuing to tour.

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