Keith Richards is never shy about sharing his blunt opinions, and his take on The Who is no exception. Calling Roger Daltrey “all flash,” Richards has made a habit of speaking his mind, a behavior that may stem from the early rivalry between The Rolling Stones and The Beatles. While this outspokenness may seem outrageous, it’s earned him respect—after all, he’s been rocking out for decades.
The rivalry between The Rolling Stones and The Beatles became iconic in the 1960s. As The Beatles’ popularity surged, Richards and his bandmates knew they had to stand out in a world dominated by the Fab Four. They took a path of rebellion, rejecting the clean-cut image The Beatles were known for. In his book Life, Richards reflected on their strategy, noting, “We were the dynamite, Andy Oldham the detonator.”
Richards recalled that their manager, Andrew Oldham, initially thought their rough and unpolished image would be a disadvantage, contrasting with The Beatles’ pristine and uniform look. But Richards disagreed, seeing it as a perfect way to create a distinct identity: “To us, it didn’t make sense to be like them.”
This desire to stand out wasn’t just about style—it went deeper. Richards pointed out that while The Beatles were known for their harmonized vocals, with each member taking turns as lead singer, The Rolling Stones had one frontman: Mick Jagger. Richards explained the key difference in their setups, saying, “The Beatles were a vocal band… ours was a band with one lead singer.”
Despite their rivalry, Richards has always held The Beatles in high regard. He acknowledged that without them, The Rolling Stones might not have become the legendary band they are today. Richards even expressed his admiration for the Fab Four’s early hits, calling “Please Please Me” a standout track: “I just love the chimes,” he said. “It was beautiful.”
In the end, while Richards may have made The Stones the anti-Beatles, he has never denied the influence The Fab Four had on his music.
