Like what you see? Help keep it going! This site runs on the support of readers like you. Your donation helps cover costs and keeps fresh Rolling Stones content coming your way every day. Thank you!

Rolling Stones quotes: Paul McCartney on The Rolling Stones (2009)

MCARTNEY ON THE STONES
Paul McCartney spills the tea on The Rolling Stones: he loves the band, digs their music, but notes they often followed the Beatles’ moves a year later. From groundbreaking songs to U.S. tours, the Beatles set the pace, pushing the Stones to ditch pure blues covers and start writing their own hits. It’s a peek behind the scenes of friendly rivalry, influence, and how even legends inspire each other to step up their game.

“The Stones are a great group and I love them. I love what they do. But when I look at their history, they always did what the Beatles did, a year later. When we started writing our own songs, you started to see everyone else doing that. The Stones had always been a blues cover band, but then they realised they had to write their own. You had Sgt. Pepper and then Satanic Majesties; our initial tour of America and then, six months later, the Stones tour of America. Even people who don’t admit to it, and who found their roots in other types of music, couldn’t help but be influenced by the success of the Beatles”

*Click for MORE ROLLING STONES QUOTES THROUGH THE YEARS

The Beatles’ Spark and The Stones’ Response

Paul McCartney’s 2009 reflections on The Rolling Stones reveal a mix of admiration and historical insight. He calls the Stones “a great group” and expresses genuine love for what they do, but notes an intriguing pattern: the Stones often followed the Beatles’ lead, sometimes a year later. From the Beatles’ innovative songwriting to their U.S. tours, McCartney points out how these milestones prompted the Stones to evolve from a blues cover band into creators of their own original material, showing how influence can be both subtle and transformative.

From Covers to Originals

Early in their career, the Rolling Stones were firmly rooted in blues covers, paying homage to the music that shaped them. McCartney observes that necessity and ambition pushed them toward original songwriting. Witnessing the Beatles’ creative breakthroughs — from Sgt. Pepper to their American tour — the Stones realized that originality was essential to make a lasting impact. This transition wasn’t mere imitation; it was an evolution, a testament to their adaptability and growing artistic identity.

Legacy and Interwoven Influence

McCartney’s reflections highlight how even legendary bands exist in dialogue with one another. The Beatles’ successes shaped the musical landscape, inevitably influencing peers like the Stones. Yet this influence fostered growth rather than rivalry alone, demonstrating a shared journey of innovation. Through admiration, friendly competition, and mutual inspiration, both bands left indelible marks on rock history, creating a legacy that continues to resonate across generations of musicians and fans alike.

Like what you see? Help keep it going! This site runs on the support of readers like you. Your donation helps cover costs and keeps fresh Rolling Stones content coming your way every day. Thank you!

COPYRIGHT © ROLLING STONES DATA
ALL INFORMATION ON THIS WEBSITE IS COPYRIGHT OF ROLLING STONES DATA. ALL CONTENT BY MARCELO SONAGLIONI.
ALL SETLISTS AND TICKET STUBS TAKEN FROM THE COMPLETE WORKS OF THE ROLLING STONES. 
WHEN USING INFORMATION FROM ROLLING STONES DATA (ONLINE OR PRINTED) PLEASE REFER TO ITS SOURCE DETAILING THE WEBSITE NAME. THANK YOU.