Keith Richards In The Studio With Jack White

Is Jack White going to produce the next Rolling Stones album?

That’s the rumor that’s caught fire since guitarist Keith Richards revealed that he recently recorded some songs with the White Stripes frontman.

“I couldn’t fuel that rumor any more than to say Jack and I are in touch,” Richards told Rolling Stone, adding that he hopes to get the band back together this year for a new album.

Those that can’t wait for new material will be tied over with the soon-to-be-released deluxe version of 1972’s Exile on Main Street, which Richards said contains outtakes that even caught the Stones off-guard.

“Mick and I were looking at each other like, ‘Ah, did we do that?’ ”

Whatever happens, fans can rest assured that drummer Charlie Watts will be part of all future Stones-related activities despite reports from the Australian website Undercover that suggested he was ready to hang up his sticks.

"Contrary to a fabricated story that ran this morning on a small music web site in Australia, drummer Charlie Watts has not left The Rolling Stones," the group said in a statement.