Back in the 1960s, many music fans and critics drew a line between The Beatles and The Stones. The Beatles, with their catchy pop-rock melodies, attracted one crowd; the Stones, with their blues-driven rock, attracted another. People tended to pick sides. You were either a Beatles fan or a Stones fan — not both.
This “versus” vibe was more about public perception and culture than about actual attitudes between the bands.
Behind the scenes: friendship and collaboration
Surprisingly, the two bands didn’t always live up to their rivalry. Instead, they often worked together — trading songs, lending vocals, swapping instruments. Here are a few examples:
In 1963, The Beatles wrote a song for the Stones: I Wanna Be Your Man. The Stones released it as a single, and soon after, The Beatles recorded their own version.
In 1967, during a Stones recording session, John Lennon and Paul McCartney provided backing vocals for the Stones’ song We Love You.
On the flip side, a founding Stone — Brian Jones — played saxophone on a Beatles track, You Know My Name (Look Up the Number), which appeared as a B-side to their final single.
So even if their public images and musical styles were different — and often pitted against each other — in reality there was mutual respect, friendship, and real collaboration.
Tension, but no real feud
That said, it wasn’t always smooth. Some of the more experimental work by the Stones — their psychedelic-era album and songs — was criticized by people connected to the Beatles. Some felt the Stones’ approach borrowed too heavily from what the Beatles had done.
For instance, after hearing the Stones’ album Their Satanic Majesties Request, one Beatles member reportedly dismissed it as derivative.
So yes — sometimes there was friction. But that tension never turned into a deep, bitter feud.
What really matters: shared history, shared influence
Looking back now, the “Beatles vs Stones” rivalry feels a little overblown. While fans and media may have loved to compare them, the two bands often crossed paths in meaningful ways. They shared songs, helped on each other’s recordings, and supported each other — even when they were chart-competitors.
Both bands shaped rock music in their own way. The Beatles influenced millions with harmony, melody, and pop-rock, while the Stones soaked in blues and grit. Their differences helped build diversity in rock. And rather than being enemies, they were more like creative neighbours — sometimes borrowing, sometimes sharing, sometimes just coexisting.
In the end, whether you love one band or both, there’s no denying: the relationship between The Beatles and The Rolling Stones is part of what made 1960s rock so vibrant and legendary.