ACTUALLY TRUE: The Beatles and Rolling Stones Are Reportedly Working On A New Album Together
The Telegraph - Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr will set aside rivalry with the Stones to appear on a upcoming record, according to a report.
Beatles Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr are reported to be collaborating with the Rolling Stones on a new album, putting aside a decades-long rivalry between the two legendary bands.
Recording sessions took place in Los Angeles in recent weeks, showbiz website Variety reported on Tuesday.
McCartney is said to have recorded bass parts for the forthcoming Rolling Stones project, while Ringo is due to record in the studio soon.
The publication reports that the album is getting close to its mixing phase, but it is not clear when it will be released.
Despite their long - though mostly friendly - competition, members of the Beatles and Rolling Stones have rarely collaborated musically.
I seriously can't believe this is actually happening. Or maybe I shouldn't be surprised? I can't decide.
Back in the day, the media created this narrative that the bands didn't like each other, to drum up a rivalry and create shit to write about. Especially in the British tabloids.
This, despite the facts that in 1967, McCartney and bandmate John Lennon sang backing vocals on the Stones’ single "We Love You".
That same year, the Stones’ Brian Jones played saxophone on a Beatles track that ultimately became the B-side, "You Know My Name (Look Up the Number)".
In 2021 McCartney did however jokingly say of the Stones, “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.” Just a few weeks later, Mick Jagger, 79, shot back at the group’s Los Angeles concert that McCartney was in the audience and would “join us in a blues cover.”
Frontman Mick Jagger said in 2021 that the group has “a lot of tracks done,” and guitarist Keith Richards said in a New Year’s Instagram post last month that “There’s some new music on its way.”
Now one of the things artists like Billy Joel have been criticized for over the years is not putting out anything new in 30 years, and touring on the same played-out material for 40 years. Elton John has killed him over this. (And being a drunk).
Which on its face might seem a pretty decent argument and point to make.
But as a fan, would you rather see your favorite artist play their hits, and their best material, or would you rather watch them limp around on one leg just for the sake of saying something's "new"?
Getting great new material from legendary artists isn't totally unheard of. In 2006 Tom Petty released his final album, Highway Companion after a 12 year hiatus, and although it wasn't Wildflowers, it was still pretty damn good.
"Saving Grace" for example…
So as much as this might seem like a big old money grab by the remaining two Beatles, and the immortal Rolling Stones, I have hope we actually get something good out of it. Especially when you factor in who's working on this album.
The album’s producer is said to be Grammy Award-winning Andrew Watt, who has worked with stars including Ozzy Osbourne, Iggy Pop and Dua Lipa.
Andrew Watt. Ever heard of him?
Those are just SOME of the hits this guy is responsible for. Just some of the biggest hits of the last ten years. No big deal. Besides, Jack Antonoff, he's arguably the hottest producer in the world right now.
The 80-year-old rocker was asked in a Q&A posted on his official website what he was looking forward to in 2023: “I’ve been recording with a couple of people, so I’m looking forward to doing even more. I’ve started working with this producer called Andrew Watt, and he’s very interesting — we’ve had some fun,” he said.
And for all the olds complaining this young buck will ruin the legendary bands' sound with his new pop bullshit, let me point out that Watt is also responsible for the last two Ozzy Osbourne albums, Iggy Pop's last, Eddie Vedder's last solo project, Elton John's last album, and Rick Rubin is a fan of his. So relax.
The fact this project made it to the mixing-phase and we're just hearing about it is I think the most astounding thing of all. Talk about tight lips. Especially in this day in age. Well done.
And as for Charlie Watts? Mick confirmed they have his stuff in the can, and we haven't heard the last of him.
Whatever form the Stones’ next studio album takes, it is very likely to include songs recorded with the group’s legendary founding drummer Charlie Watts, who passed away in 2021 at the age of 80. While the group has since toured with longtime friend and collaborator Steve Jordan on drums, Jagger and Richards confirmed in a 2021 Los Angeles Times interview that Watts — who missed just one concert in nearly 60 years as the Stones’ drummer — had recorded his parts for a number of songs before his death. “Let me put it this way,” Richards said. “You haven’t heard the last of Charlie Watts.”
The Beatles + Rolling Stones making new music in 2023. The simulation is alive and well.