It would be reasonable to expect that touring with the Rolling Stones involves a lot of sex, drugs, and rock and roll, but according to backup singer Chanel Haynes, it’s a lot more like shepherd’s pie, daydreaming, and red room parties.
The vocalist shared her experience working with the Stones in an August 2024 interview with Rolling Stone magazine, and honestly, it’s a lot more wholesome than you might expect.
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What The Rolling Stones’ Backup Singer Says It’s Like
Chanel Haynes is certainly no stranger to the spotlight, but few spotlights shine quite as bright as the one illuminating the Rolling Stones. The former girl group member and actor began working with the legendary rock band in 2022 and later accompanied them on their Hackney Diamonds Tour in 2023.
Haynes told Rolling Stone that touring with the Stones was incredibly rewarding—and not just because of their tremendous star power. The singer described how every crew member, including the band, worked hard to ensure everyone felt safe, supported, and prepared for the show.
When things got too overwhelming, Haynes said she often dipped back to her dressing room for “red-room parties.” “My room is always red,” she explained. “I always travel with red light bulbs, and we’ll have snacks, drink wine, hang out, and listen to music. It has just really been a blessing.”
Hanging out with guitarist Keith Richards was another favorite pre-show ritual of Haynes. “We’d have a little bit of shepherd’s pie [before the show],” she explained. “He always has it, and I am sort of a foodie. Sometimes, there’s a lot going on backstage and can be a little unsettling, but Keith is the calmest. So, whenever I’m around him, I just really feel so grounded watching him strum his guitar while I totally devour his shepherd’s pie.”
The Touching Connection Between Haynes and Jagger
While Chanel Haynes undoubtedly landed the role as the Stones’ most prominent backing vocalist due to her talent, she has an interesting connection to frontman Mick Jagger. Prior to working with the Stones, Haynes played Tina Turner in the West End production of Tina: The Tina Turner Musical. Turner, of course, was one of Mick Jagger’s early influences and a long-time friend.
It’s not hard to imagine Haynes’ Turner-esque energy drew Jagger to her, and their onstage chemistry confirms that notion. But of course, it’s not all luck. Haynes told Rolling Stone she spent weeks studying previous Stones vocalists, analyzing each one for what made their chemistry with Jagger palpable or notably lacking. This was especially useful on iconic tracks like “Gimme Shelter,” where the women’s vocals define the entire song.
She spent plenty of time visualizing nearly every other aspect of the job, too. “I let my body and my heart feel it so that when I showed up, I was living in my dream,” Haynes recalled. “For example, every note, every flight on that jet, every dinner, every rehearsal, soundcheck, my dressing room, walking with security from the stage to the motorcade, I already fantasized that all these things would happen, so that when it did, I was like a kid in the candy store. I was like, ‘It’s really happening.’”
Haynes’ work clearly paid off, allowing the audience, in turn, to feel like wide-eyed kids in candy stores themselves. “The sound they made was like trees in a jungle in a storm,” the vocalist remembered. “It’s primal, like a war. I had to hold and possess all of that. It was a magnificent gift. I’m still savoring it.”
Photo by ITV/Brian Ritchie/Shutterstock
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