For more than sixty years, The Beatles and The Rolling Stones have stood as the two towering giants of rock history. Fans have spent decades arguing over which band reigns supreme, but behind the scenes, the musicians themselves have always shared a deep respect for one another.
Despite years of friendship and occasional vocal collaborations dating back to the 1960s, one thing had surprisingly never happened: a true instrumental collaboration in the studio.
That finally changed when Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger invited fellow rock legend Paul McCartney to join the band as a session bass player.
Jagger Had His Doubts
Speaking to NME about the sessions that began during the recording of Hackney Diamonds and continued into the Stones’ latest album Foreign Tongues, Jagger admitted he wasn’t entirely sure how the collaboration would work.
After all, McCartney is one of the greatest songwriters in music history and is famously used to leading sessions and shaping arrangements himself. The Stones, however, needed someone to play a specific role: straightforward, hard-hitting bass lines that served the song.
“Obviously, I’ve known Paul for ages, he’s not a stranger, but he’d never played bass with us before,” Jagger explained. “It’s a different thing.”
The band wanted McCartney for two particularly aggressive tracks: the punk-fueled “Bite My Head Off” from Hackney Diamonds and the groove-heavy “Covered In You” from Foreign Tongues.
Jagger even admitted he warned producer Andrew Watt about his concerns.
He wondered whether McCartney would embrace the fast pace and raw, overdriven sound the songs demanded.
According to Jagger, Watt’s response was simple:
“No, no, no, Paul can do that.”
Ten Minutes Was All It Took
When McCartney finally stepped into the studio, any doubts disappeared almost instantly.
Rather than trying to reshape the songs or take control of the session, the former Beatle simply plugged in and delivered exactly what the Stones needed.
“He did exactly what was needed in like 10 minutes,” Jagger recalled with a laugh.
For McCartney, the experience was equally enjoyable because it allowed him to step away from his usual role as bandleader and simply focus on playing bass.
“It was exciting,” McCartney said. “All I had to do was play bass and not make mistakes.”
Seeing Jagger, guitarist Keith Richards, and Ronnie Wood working together in the studio still gave him the same thrill that fans around the world feel.
A Star-Studded Album
McCartney’s appearance on “Covered In You” is only one part of the ambitious vision behind Foreign Tongues.
Produced by Andrew Watt at Metropolis Studios in London, the album features an impressive list of collaborators, including Robert Smith, Chad Smith, Steve Winwood, and even Bruno Mars.
Perhaps most touching of all are the archival contributions from late Stones drummer Charlie Watts, whose presence gives the project an added sense of history and emotion.
Proof That Rock Legends Can Still Surprise Us
The collaboration between Paul McCartney and The Rolling Stones is more than just a headline-grabbing moment. It is proof that even after six decades at the top of the music world, legendary artists can still push themselves into new territory and discover fresh creative sparks.
For fans who spent generations choosing sides in the Beatles versus Stones debate, the idea of McCartney laying down bass for a Rolling Stones record once felt impossible.
Now, it’s part of rock history.