Butch Walker Joins Stones for 'Bitch' in Atlanta; 'Mess It Up' Gets First Live Airing

The Rolling Stones’ 2024 Hackney Diamonds tour hit Atlanta’s State Farm Arena on June 4, and the show brought two notable firsts. Local hero Butch Walker—a Georgia-born singer, songwriter, and producer who’s worked with everyone from Taylor Swift to Green Day—walked onstage during the encore to trade verses on the 1971 classic “Bitch.” The choice was fitting: Walker’s own raspy rock style meshes perfectly with the Stones’ swagger, and the song’s horn-driven funk felt like a nod to his Atlanta roots.

More significant for hardcore fans was the live debut of “Mess It Up,” a track from the 2023 album Hackney Diamonds. The song, driven by a chugging guitar riff and a rare falsetto from Mick Jagger, had never been performed onstage before. Its inclusion signaled the band’s willingness to push newer material into the setlist—something they’ve historically done sparingly. The crowd’s response was a test of whether the album’s songs could hold their own beside the warhorses, and by all accounts “Mess It Up” earned its spot.