Paul McCartney has branded The Rolling Stones a ‘blues cover band’ in a new interview, after insisting he thought the Beatles were ‘better.’
The music legend, 79, said he felt that his band’s net was ‘cast a bit wider’ than the iconic rock group.
Speaking to The New Yorker, Paul said: ‘I’m not sure I should say it, but they’re a blues cover band, that’s sort of what the Stones are. I think our net was cast a bit wider than theirs.’
Outspoken: Paul McCartney has branded The Rolling Stones a ‘blues cover band’ in a new interview, after insisting he thought the Beatles were ‘better’
In the chat with The New Yorker, Paul also spoke about how the Beatles began to become weary of touring by 1966, and the group eventually split in 1970.
‘It had been sort of brewing, you know, this distaste for schlepping around and playing in the rain with the danger of electricity killing you,’ he said.
‘You kind of just look at yourself and go, ‘Wait a minute, I’m a musician, you know. I’m not a rag doll for children to scream at.”
Onstage: Speaking in a new interview, the music legend said he felt that his band’s net was ‘cast a bit wider’ than the iconic rock group (pictured in 1964)
Views: Paul had previously told Howard Stern in April 2020 that he believed The Beatles (pictured in 1963) were an overall better group than The Rolling Stones
Paul had previously told Howard Stern in April 2020 that he believed The Beatles were an overall better group than The Rolling Stones.
‘They are rooted in the blues,’ McCartney said. ‘When they are writing stuff, it has to do with the blues. We had a little more influences.
‘There’s a lot of differences and I love the Stones, but I’m with you. The Beatles were better.’
Still going strong: The Beatles famously split in 1970, while The Rolling Stones (pictured above on Monday) have continued to tour and perform to fans worldwide
In an appearance on Apple Music’s The Zane Lowe Show later that month, Mick Jagger touched on the issue, saying he felt McCartney is a ‘sweetheart’ and that there was ‘obviously no competition’ between the iconic musical groups.
Jagger also compared the dynamics of the two bands in terms of touring.
‘The big difference, though, is, and sort of slightly seriously, is that the Rolling Stones is a big concert band in other decades and other areas when the Beatles never even did an arena tour, or Madison Square Garden with a decent sound system,’ Jagger said. ‘They broke up before that business started, the touring business for real.’
Mick also noted how the Beatles played a concert at New York’s Shea Stadium in 1965, while The Rolling Stones ‘started stadium gigs in the 1970s and are still doing them now.’
‘That’s the real big difference between these two bands,’ Jagger said. ‘One band is unbelievably luckily, still playing in stadiums and then the other band doesn’t exist.’
The Rolling Stones have recently hit the road once again on their No Filter tou, following the death of the band’s drummer Charlie Watts in August.
The London-formed group will perform to 70,000 fans at SoFi Stadium, California, on Thursday and Sunday.
Views: Mick Jagger (pictured in an Instagram post on Wednesday) responded at the time that there was ‘obviously no competition’ between the groups
Sir Mick recently said he finds it ‘strange’ performing without Charlie Watts, who passed away on August 24 at the age of 80.
The Rolling Stones kicked off their North American tour earlier this month, but the Sympathy for the Devil hitmaker admitted he and his bandmates are still not used to being on stage without the late drummer.
Mick told SiriusXM DJ Howard Stern: ‘Every time we get together now and rehearse, we say, ‘Oh, Charlie would say this, then he would do that.’
An official cause of death has not been revealed but he suffered from a series of health problems in recent years, including a diagnosis of throat cancer in 2004.
‘We did so many shows with him and so many tours and so many recording sessions, it’s strange being without him. And he said, when he was sick, he said, ‘You’ve gotta just carry on and do this tour. Don’t stop because of me.’ So we did.’
The Paint It Black singer also described Charlie as the ‘heartbeat’ of the group.
He said: ‘Charlie was the heartbeat for the band, and also a very steady personality. He was not to be perturbed. He was a very reliable person, wasn’t a diva — that’s the last thing you want in a drummer.’
Taking to the stage: The Rolling Stones have recently hit the road once again on their No Filter tour, following the death of the band’s drummer Charlie Watts in August
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