Paul McCartney thinks "The Beatles were better" than The Rolling Stones

Publish Date
Thursday, 23 April 2020, 7:15AM
Getty Images

Getty Images

Paul McCartney hasn't been afraid to share what's on his mind lately. During a recent interview, the rock legend criticized "medieval" Chinese wet markets for being the point of origin for the coronavirus outbreak. In the same interview, Macca gave his thoughts on The Beatles' rivalry with The Rolling Stones.

“The Stones are a fantastic group. I go see them every time they come out ’cause they’re just a great, great band," he said before comparing them to the Fab Four. “Their stuff’s rooted in the blues. When they’re writing stuff, it’s to do with the blues. We had a little more influences.”

Aside from the diversity in sound, McCartney's band also had more versatility in the vocal department — something Keith Richards himself said. “Keith once said to me, ‘You were lucky, man. You had four singers in your band. We got one.'”

However, in Macca's mind the biggest difference between the bands was that The Beatles were always one step ahead. “We started to notice that, whatever we did, The Stones did it shortly thereafter," he divulged. "We went to America, we had huge success. Well then, The Stones went to America. We did Sgt. Pepper, The Stones did a sort of psychedelic album. But we were great friends. Still are… I’m with you. The Beatles were better.”

Macca has been quarantining in the U.K., and recently gave an emotional performance of "Lady Madonna" for the One World: Together at Home special. Before sheltering in place, he left a local busker "speechless" when he casually tipped her outside Charing Cross station. Earlier this month, McCartney's handwritten "Hey Jude" lyrics sold for $910,000 at an auction commemorating the 50th anniversary of The Beatles' breakup.

This article was first published on iheart.com and is republished here with permission

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