The Rolling Stones have released a proper version of “Bad Luck Hideaway,” a song recorded with their late drummer Charlie Watts, and attached it to the “Mr. Charm” video as a B-side. The Stones themselves don’t appear in the Henry Scholfield-directed clip. Instead, it stars Alexander Skarsgård, who continues to hold it down for tall, blonde middle-aged white guys.
Foreign Tongues, the band’s new album, came out in July. Its rollout isn’t finished yet. The LP did not feature “Bad Luck Hideaway,” one of the songs the band recorded with Watts, who passed away in 2021. The song did appear as a bonus track on digital editions, but it wasn’t on streaming services. Now it is, paired with the Foreign Hands track “Mr. Charm.”
The Song That Finally Got Out
“Bad Luck Hideaway” is a strutting Mick Jagger/Keith Richards duet. It was one of the songs the band recorded with Watts. The LP did not include it. Instead, it appeared as a bonus track on digital editions, where it sat quietly until now.
Yesterday, the Stones gave it a proper release. It’s the kinda-sorta B-side of the Foreign Hands track “Mr. Charm.” The pairing is odd. One is a posthumous tribute to a man who died before the record was finished. The other is a song about charm, delivered by a man who has spent years proving he can deliver it.
The Digital Editions Bonus Track
The bonus track format has a long history in the rock era. Bands often included extra material on physical copies while holding back the same tracks from streaming platforms. In this case, the Stones put “Bad Luck Hideaway” on digital editions of Foreign Tongues but kept it off streaming services entirely.
That meant listeners who bought the physical album or downloaded it could hear the song. Everyone else had to wait. The proper release changes that arrangement. Now the song is available on every platform, paired with “Mr. Charm.”
The Video Starring Skarsgård
The “Mr. Charm” video takes place at one of those sweaty old-school desert-highway diners that only seem to exist in movies, commercials, and music videos. Skarsgård dances around with all the other extravagantly hot people on the premises. If he’s the titular character, he’s well cast.
The video doesn’t feature the Stones. That’s not unusual for this band. They’ve been using foxy movie stars in their clips for years. The last one was the “In The Stars” clip with Odessa A’zion. This time it’s Skarsgård.
A Very Busy Year For Skarsgård
Skarsgard is having a very busy year. He has already hosted SNL and starred in Pillion and Charli XCX’s The Moment. He’ll soon appear in Wicker and something called The Wolf Will Tear Your Immaculate Hands. Pillion is technically a 2025 movie, but it didn’t get wide release until this year.
He’s got a music-video history too. He’s starred in clips from Lady Gaga, Cut Copy, and most recently These New Puritans. That resume is notable. It suggests a man who knows how to fill a frame without saying a word.
The Desert Diner Setting
The video takes place at one of those sweaty old-school desert-highway diners that only seem to exist in movies, commercials, and music videos. Skarsgård dances around with all the other extravagantly hot people on the premises.
If he’s the titular character, he’s well cast. The diner is a familiar setting. It’s the kind of place where a tall, blonde man can dance without looking out of place.
The Pairing With “Mr. Charm”
The release of “Bad Luck Hideaway” pairs a posthumous tribute with a song about charm. The Stones are still finding ways to release material. The video is a reminder that the band can still draw attention.
The pairing is strange. But it works. The B-side concept is alive. The Stones have been doing this for a long time. They know how to package a release. They know how to make it feel like an event.
What To Watch Next
If you want to see Skarsgård dance, the video is the place to start. It’s a sweaty, fun clip. It’s the kind of thing that makes people smile.
The Stones have a lot of material. The band has been releasing new music for decades. This is just the latest chapter. The video is a reminder that the band can still draw attention.
Here’s how the rollout breaks down:
- “Bad Luck Hideaway” appeared as a bonus track on digital editions of Foreign Tongues.
- It did not appear on streaming services until now.
- The Stones released it properly yesterday, paired with “Mr. Charm.”
- The “Mr. Charm” video stars Skarsgård and takes place at a desert diner.
The video is a reminder that the band can still draw attention. The Stones have been doing this for a long time. They know how to package a release. They know how to make it feel like an event.
See the video the story is built around at Stereogum.
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