The Cockroaches (aka The Rolling Stones) "Rough and Twisted" single
This past April 11th, the Rolling Stones released a limited edition, white-labeled 12-inch vinyl single titled "Rough and Twisted", under the pseudonym The Cockroaches. This one-sided single was limited to 1,000 numbered copies worldwide. As of four days later, the song has still not been released to streaming services, and the single is being sold for big bucks on eBay and Discogs.
Why the fake name? The Cockroaches was a name that the superstar rock band sometimes used in the 1970's, when they wanted to secretly perform a gig in a low-profile venue away from the spotlight. The distribution of this single was done in a similarly secretive way. Signs began to appear around London, advertising a mysterious band called the Cockroaches, with a QR code that connected visitors to their official website. This website featured a graphic of the disc's plain white cover, and when a "flip" link was clicked, it listed GPS coordinates referring to locations of stores where the record could be purchased.
This single reportedly is meant to promote a forthcoming Rolling Stones album (which will presumably be released under their much more famous name) titled Foreign Tongues, expected on July 10th. Even if "Rough and Twisted" is included on the album, which it likely will be, the single will still remain highly collectible, especially due to the pseudonym.
So, how does the song sound? Surprisingly, it sounds like a throwback to the blues-rock of the Stones' late-'60's and early-'70's period, when they had returned to a dirtier blues-based sound after they had transitioned to pop-rock in the mid-'60's. Mick Jagger's lead vocal is unmistakable here, no matter what name the band are using. The twin attack of Keith Richards' distorted guitar and Ron Wood's slide give the track a hard, raunchy sound, and more blues texture is added by the use of harmonica and a lyrical reference to Muddy Waters (whose 1950 song "Rollin' Stone" inspired the Stones' name). "Rough and Twisted" is a good, vintage-sounding rock and roll song. If the Stones are about to drop an entire album on this level, it could show them to still be great at what they have long been known for, more than 60 years into their history.
The Cockroaches "Rough and Twisted" (single) (Universal International Music B.V. 5742912) 2026
Track Listing:
a. Rough and Twisted
Why the fake name? The Cockroaches was a name that the superstar rock band sometimes used in the 1970's, when they wanted to secretly perform a gig in a low-profile venue away from the spotlight. The distribution of this single was done in a similarly secretive way. Signs began to appear around London, advertising a mysterious band called the Cockroaches, with a QR code that connected visitors to their official website. This website featured a graphic of the disc's plain white cover, and when a "flip" link was clicked, it listed GPS coordinates referring to locations of stores where the record could be purchased.
This single reportedly is meant to promote a forthcoming Rolling Stones album (which will presumably be released under their much more famous name) titled Foreign Tongues, expected on July 10th. Even if "Rough and Twisted" is included on the album, which it likely will be, the single will still remain highly collectible, especially due to the pseudonym.
So, how does the song sound? Surprisingly, it sounds like a throwback to the blues-rock of the Stones' late-'60's and early-'70's period, when they had returned to a dirtier blues-based sound after they had transitioned to pop-rock in the mid-'60's. Mick Jagger's lead vocal is unmistakable here, no matter what name the band are using. The twin attack of Keith Richards' distorted guitar and Ron Wood's slide give the track a hard, raunchy sound, and more blues texture is added by the use of harmonica and a lyrical reference to Muddy Waters (whose 1950 song "Rollin' Stone" inspired the Stones' name). "Rough and Twisted" is a good, vintage-sounding rock and roll song. If the Stones are about to drop an entire album on this level, it could show them to still be great at what they have long been known for, more than 60 years into their history.
The Cockroaches "Rough and Twisted" (single) (Universal International Music B.V. 5742912) 2026
Track Listing:
a. Rough and Twisted
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