The Beatles handed the Rolling Stones a hit and accidentally built Jagger–Richards

Tue, 08 Sep 2026 14:48:26 +0000

In September 1963, John Lennon and Paul McCartney finished a song in the corner of a Soho basement while the Rolling Stones watched. The Stones got their first UK top 20, and the idea that they should be writing their own songs.

Two Rolling Stones spent 2026 saying nice things about The Beatles in public, which the music press of 1964 would have found unprintable.

Keith Richards, talking to Zane Lowe on Apple Music around the release of Foreign Tongues, said Paul McCartney “really misses being in a band. And his joy of just being in that context is great.” He added: “He’s a lovely player and I’d like to do more with him.” The clip resurfaced and travelled again at the end of August 2026, with a longer chunk attached in which Richards leaves the door open: if there are more songs to do, he’ll let Paul know.

The Beatles on Real Rock Lab

The Beatles handed the Rolling Stones a hit and accidentally built Jagger–Richards