Clapton plays the blues with Stones

KEITH Richards has confirmed that Eric Clapton will appear on the Rolling Stones’ new blues-inspired album.

Singer and guitarist Clapton “dropped by for a couple of numbers” while they were recording the album, Richards said.

The new record was confirmed by the band earlier this year and will be their first studio album since 2005’s A Bigger Bang.

Speaking ahead of documentary Keith Richards – The Origin Of The Species, the 72-year-old rocker told BBC 6 Music: “It was great fun to record... it was like old times down in Richmond.”

Clapton’s former band The Yardbirds used to play at the Crawdaddy Club in Richmond, Surrey, as did the Rolling Stones.

Richards said he had heard a “whisper” the album will be out in the autumn, adding that it includes songs by Little Walter and Howlin’ Wolf.

The Rolling Stones could also play gigs in Europe next year after Richards revealed it was “on the menu” and he was hoping to bring the band back to the UK.

Director Julien Temple’s documentary tells the story of Richard’s formative years in the post-war period as part of the BBC Music My Generation season.

Speaking to Everitt, Richards said he believed the abolition of national service had made the Rolling Stones possible. The end of conscription was announced in 1957, with national service ending in 1960.

He said: “My generation, you grew up automatically expecting to go to national service, or go in the army or something at 18. But then my luck – right on the cusp they knocked it on the head.” He added: “If I’d had to go in the army, there would have been no Rolling Stones.”

Keith Richards – The Origin Of The Species documentary will air on BBC Two tonight at 9pm.