McCartney's Preference
A recent radio program hosted by the outspoken Howard Stern unavoidably turned to the age-old debate between the Beatles and the Stones. Stern said he preferred the Beatles over the Rolling Stones.
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Surprisingly, Paul McCartney, Beatles bassist and one of its lead singers, endorsed Stern’s viewpoint. McCartney said the Beatles had a wider range of musical influences since they explored many genres and experimented with their sound. According to Sir Paul, the Beatles’ adaptability offered them an advantage and made them his preferred choice.
Mick Jagger Weighs In
The dynamic Rolling Stones vocalist Mick Jagger graciously reacted to McCartney’s point of view. The age-old “battle of the bands” naturally came up during an appearance with fellow band member Keith Richards for an interview with Zane Lowe on Apple Music.
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Jagger proudly stressed the Rolling Stones’ long-standing connection to touring. He bragged about the Stones’ live prowess, emphasizing their history of appearing in big stadiums and concert halls for several decades. The Stones have a longer history of live performances than the Beatles.
One World Concert and Recent Releases
Despite their rivalry, the two bands sharing the spotlight for the One World: Together At Home concert special was a memorable experience for music enthusiasts. McCartney gave a moving performance of “Lady Madonna.” For the Stones part, Mick and the lads jammed out to “You Can’t Always Get What You Want.”
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The Rolling Stones recently released the track “Living in a Ghost Town.” Although there has been a range of reactions to the release, this hasn’t prevented the song from surging to the top of the iTunes charts.
A Loving Tribute in Album Covers
The two groups share similar album covers on the Rolling Stones’ Their Satanic Majesties Request and the Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, both released in 1967. Many believed that the Rolling Stones were copying the Beatles since the Beatles released their record first.
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But rather than being a snide imitation of the Beatles, album cover was a loving homage to them. According to Adam Cooper, the son of Stones photographer Michael, the cover had obscured pictures of John, Paul, George, and Ringo.