Two of the greatest bands in rock history had different approaches, but curiously they were friends behind the scenes
Beatles AND Rolling Stones they are often cited as two of the greatest rock bands of all time. Both caused real revolutions in style and also in music as a whole, setting new standards in several aspects.
However – and as expected – there are clear differences between the two groups. One of these, second Paul McCartneywas perfectly summed up by Keith Richards.
The eternal Beatle addressed the topic in a 2020 interview with GQ (go Lontano magazine). On that occasion he was invited to reflect on how unique his position was in the artistic world. Macca responded, quoting the Stones guitarist’s statement:
“I always think about it. I think, ‘Oh my God, what was that?’. The Beatles. Obviously, a lot of people say things too. I remember Keith Richards telling me, ‘You had four singers, we only had one!’
It seems silly, even more so today, but in the 1960s the difference was notable. Paul extends his explanation:
“Little things like that drive me crazy and I think, ‘Wow, that’s pretty weird.’ And it wasn’t just singers: it was four songwriters. You had me and John [Lennon] as composers, and then George [Harrison] he was an incredible composer and so Ringo [Starr] appeared with “The Octopus Garden” and some others… isn’t that strange?”
What leaves Paul McCartney most enchanted in this whole story is the fact that the four musicians met and formed a band, even if Ringo Starr joined later and was contacted precisely because of his previous reputation as a great drummer in the region.
“I had a best friend, Ivanwho knew John, so that’s how I met John. I went to school on the bus and at the next stop a child got on. It was Giorgio. So it was a bit random. And then Ringo was a Dingle guy [área em Liverpool]but we met him in Hamburg [Alemanha] and we thought he was a great drummer. But the idea of all these random people in Liverpool getting together and actually making it work? And look, we were pretty bad at first.”
Beatles and Rolling Stones, in the words of Keith Richards
Keith Richards I’ve already had the opportunity to speak publicly about the differences between Beatles AND Rolling Stones. In a 2010 interview with NPR (go Igor Miranda’s website), the guitarist admitted that his band was intentionally looking for a different image compared to their professional colleagues.
“In terms of image, we made a very clear decision not to be like them. The Beatles were basically a vocal band. They all sang. On one song, John took the main microphone. On the other it was Paul, then George and sometimes even Ringo, in our case we had a frontman, a lead singer.”
Such distinctions even allowed the Beatles and the Rolling Stones to be friends behind the scenes, despite what the media said they were rivals. Liverpool’s Fab Four even wrote their first single for their colleagues: “I Wanna Be Your Man”. Richards points out:
“There was an incredible difference between us and the Beatles. But at the same time, we were there at the same time and dealing with each other. It was a very, very fruitful and fantastic relationship between the Stones and the Beatles. Quite friendly. The thing is that competition has nothing to do with it, at least on our part.”
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Source: Terra
Earl Johnson is a music writer at Gossipify, known for his in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the industry. A graduate of USC with a degree in Music, he brings years of experience and passion to his writing. He covers the latest releases and trends, always on the lookout for the next big thing in music.
