The Rolling Stones have unveiled a music video for their single "In the Stars" that employs digital de-aging technology. The clip features a youthful version of the band and a guest appearance by A’zion.

A’zion and the Warehouse Performance of 'In the Stars'

The music video for "In the Stars" places The Rolling Stones in a warehouse setting, surrounded by a crowd of dancing fans and fellow musicians. according to The Hollywood Reporter, the production features a striking moment where the star, A’zion, licks the digitally rejuvenated face of frontman Mick Jagger.

For A’zion, the opportunity to appear alongside The Rolling Stones was a career milestone. The artist described the experience as a dream, noting that the band's music had been a foundational influence on their own listening habits from the very first record they ever owned.

Deep Voodoo’s Portfolio from Kendrick Lamar to Billie Joel

The technical execution of the video was handled by Deep Voodoo, a firm specializing in high-end deepfake technology. As The Hollywood Reporter reported, Deep Voodoo has a track record of high-profile musical collaborations, including the 2022 video for Kendrick Lamar’s "The Heart Part 5," which famously morphed the rapper’s appearance into figures like Kobe Bryant and O.J. Simpson.

This project follows a similar trajectory to the work Deep Voodoo performed for Billie Joel in the 2024 music video for "Turn the Lights Back On." By consistently applying these tools to legacy artists, Deep Voodoo is attempting to create cinematic experiences that maintain immersion without the visual glitches that often plague lower-budget AI effects.

The Mystery of the AI Data Wrangler and Body Doubles

While the final product appears seamless, the production credits reveal a hybrid approach to the de-aging process. the credits for The Rolling Stones' video list specific body doubles for Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, and Ronnie Wood, suggesting that the AI was layered over human performers rather than generated entirely from scratch.

Further intriguing is the inclusion of an "AI data wrangler" in the Deep Voodoo credits. This role highlights a critical but often invisible part of the deepfake pipeline: the curation and cleaning of the massive datasets required to train an AI on the specific facial movements of artists from decades ago. It remains unclear exactly how much of the performance was captured from the current band members versus the body doubles.

Capturing the Late 1970s Aesthetic for Jagger and Wood

The visual goal of the "In the Stars" video was to replicate the appaerance of Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, and Ronnie Wood as they looked in the late 1970s. The result is described as a near-perfect replica, though some observers find the effect slightly uncanny, a common hurdle in high-fidelity digital rejuvenation.

Beyond the visual spectacle,the release of "In the Stars" coincides with the debut of another track, "Rough and Twisted," as The Rolling Stones continue to blend their historic legacy with cutting-edge promotional tools. The use of such technology suggests a desire by the band to bridge the gap between their current era and their most iconic visual periods.