Without The Rolling Stones and The Beatles, rock ‘n’ roll as we know it would be vastly different. These iconic British bands brought the genre out of the underground, transforming it into a global phenomenon. Mick Jagger himself has often said that the bands needed each other to truly succeed.
Although the surviving members of each band are close friends today, a friendly rivalry remains. During a 2020 interview with Howard Stern, Paul McCartney described the differences between The Beatles and The Stones. His summary? “The Beatles were better.”
He also pointed out that The Beatles experimented with psychedelia on Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, setting the stage for The Stones’ own exploration in Their Satanic Majesties Request. McCartney made it clear, though, that he has nothing but admiration for The Stones, saying, “They’re a fantastic group…a great, great band.”
The relationship between the two bands was fueled by a competitive drive to be the best. Both knew they couldn’t rest, as the other was always ready to seize the moment. This rivalry, largely amplified by the media, expanded their reach and intensified the excitement around their music.
Beyond the music, The Beatles and The Stones shaped popular culture itself, with a collective influence that went far beyond rock ‘n’ roll. Despite their competitive natures, the two bands shared a genuine respect. While Mick Jagger kept a close ear on each Beatles release, he couldn’t help but wish he’d written some of those songs himself, feeling a mix of admiration and envy.
One Beatles song in particular stood out to Jagger, which he admitted during The Beatles’ Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction in 1988. By then, he felt enough time had passed to openly discuss how deeply he’d felt about the Fab Four’s music—and how it pushed him to elevate The Stones’ own artistry.
The Stones may have exuded rebellion, but the rivalry with The Beatles was never built on animosity. Instead, it was the friendly competition that drove them both to greater heights. The fact that Jagger was asked to induct The Beatles into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame highlights the respect that underpinned this rivalry.
Who better to honor the Fab Four than someone who witnessed their monumental journey firsthand? And if it weren’t for George Harrison, The Stones might not have achieved the same success—he personally urged Decca Records to give them their first deal in 1963 after the label famously passed on The Beatles.
The camaraderie extended to the music, too: The Beatles’ John Lennon and Paul McCartney wrote I Wanna Be Your Man for The Stones, giving them their first charting hit. For Jagger, The Beatles’ influence wasn’t just indirect; they’d given him both his first record deal and his first major song.
In his Rock and Roll Hall of Fame speech, Jagger recalled first hearing about The Beatles, thinking The Stones were unique with their blend of Chuck Berry and blues covers. But that illusion quickly shattered. When he first heard Love Me Do, he felt an instant pang of competition.
“They had a record contract…and they had a record on the charts, with a bluesy harmonica on it, called Love Me Do. When I heard the combination of all these things, I was almost sick,” Jagger admitted.
Love Me Do, released in 1962, was The Beatles’ first track to capture national attention and hinted at the tidal wave of Beatlemania to come. Even before the frenzy hit, Jagger could sense the looming mania and wondered if it would leave The Stones in the dust.
Ultimately, though, there was room for both bands. Each found their own path to greatness, and together, they redefined rock ‘n’ roll for generations to come.
