Singer Mick Jagger has taken issue with music legend Paul McCartney’s recent assertion that ‘The Beatles’ were superior to ‘The Rolling Stones’ and that the latter copied much of the former’s style during their rivalry in the 60s and 70s.
Comprising of Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr, The Beatles were active from 1960 to 1970, producing numerous hit albums before disbanding. On the other hand, The Rolling Stones, consisting of Keith Richards, Mick Jagger, Ronnie Wood, and Charlie Watts, continues to perform as a band to this day.
In a recent interview on DJ Howard Stern’s radio show, Paul McCartney remarked: ‘I love the Stones, but The Beatles were better.
‘Their music is rooted in the blues, while we had a more diverse range of influences.’
‘Keith (Richards) once told me, “You were lucky, man. You had four singers in your band. We only had one.”‘
McCartney, 77, also suggested that The Rolling Stones started emulating The Beatles, saying: ‘We noticed that whatever we did, the Stones would follow suit shortly thereafter.
‘After achieving huge success in America, the Stones also made their mark there.’
‘We released Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, and then the Stones put out a psychedelic album. There was a lot of that,’ he added.
Now, Mick Jagger (seen above performing with his band at age 76) has responded to McCartney’s assertions, stating that there was ‘clearly no competition’ between the two groups.
During an appearance on Zane Lowe’s Apple Music show, Mick, 76, remarked: ‘He [Paul] is a sweetheart, and I’m a politician.
‘The significant difference is that The Rolling Stones has been a big concert band in multiple eras and regions, whereas The Beatles never embarked on an arena tour.
‘They disbanded before the era of extensive touring business… They did perform at Shea Stadium [in 1965]. However, the Stones continued.’
‘We commenced stadium shows in the 1970s and are still doing them today.
‘That is the fundamental disparity between these two bands. One band is fortunate to still be playing in stadiums, while the other band no longer exists.’