Synopsis

The Rolling Stones perform "Hang Fire" in a dark studio setting, with the camera cutting between energetic close-ups and wider views of the band. Mick Jagger delivers the song with theatrical swagger while Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood, Charlie Watts, and Bill Wyman play behind him. Enlarged artwork from the Tattoo You campaign decorates the space, giving the otherwise straightforward performance clip a bold visual identity. The video favors attitude, movement, and fast editing over a narrative storyline.

Factoids & Trivia

• The promotional video was filmed at S.I.R. Studios in New York City on June 30, 1981.

• The same studio session also produced promotional clips for "Start Me Up" and "Worried About You."

• Unlike the location-based "Waiting on a Friend," "Hang Fire" uses a conventional performance format, with the band miming to a backing track.

• Enlarged illustrations associated with the Tattoo You cover campaign appear as part of the studio decoration.

• "Hang Fire" was originally developed under the working title "Lazy Bitch." The song's basic recording dates from the 1978-79 sessions, while additional work was completed for Tattoo You in 1981.

• Released as the third US single from Tattoo You in 1982, "Hang Fire" reached No. 20 on the Billboard Hot 100.

• The song's upbeat rock-and-roll arrangement contrasts with lyrics about unemployment, social stagnation, and Britain's economic decline.