“There was an element of truth in it,” the Rolling Stones frontman admitted.

Mick Jagger puts decades-old Rolling Stones-Beatles rivalry rumors to rest, once and for all

"There was an element of truth in it," the Rolling Stones frontman admitted.

By Marina Watts

Marina Watts

Marina Watts is a news writer for with seven years experience covering entertainment, pop culture and celebrity news. Her previous work appears in PEOPLE, Bustle and Newsweek.

EW's editorial guidelines

June 15, 2026 1:13 p.m. ET

Leave a Comment

Mick Jagger and Keith Richards in Frankfurt, Germany in 1976; George Harrison and John Lennon in London in 1964. Credit:

Gijsbert Hanekroot/Redferns; David Redfern/Redferns

- Mick Jagger addressed feud rumors between his Rolling Stones and the Beatles on Sunday.

- Though he admitted there "was an element of truth in it," there was some marketing involved in the fabled rivalry as well.

- The Rolling Stones' new album *Foreign Tongues *comes out on July 10.

Mick Jagger can't get no satisfaction over these long-standing feud rumors.

The Rolling Stones frontman addressed whether there was ever a rivalry between his band and The Beatles.

"I think there was an element of truth in it," Jagger admitted during *Today* show's Sunday Sitdown with Willie Geist. "But I think there was an element of PR in it, too. But it was also London [versus] Liverpool, so it's a bit like L.A. [and] New York. Obviously, that was a good talking point for press to get on."

The two U.K.-based bands rose to prominence in the 1960s and influenced rock music for decades.

Bill Wyman, Brian Jones, Keith Richards, Mick Jagger, and Charlie Watts in 1964.

Mark Hayward Archive/Redferns

If there ever was a rivalry between the bands, it's ancient history at this point. Beatles legend Paul McCartney collaborated on a song for the Rolling Stones' upcoming album, *Foreign Tongues*. McCartney previously joined the Stones for their 2024 *Hackney Diamonds *track "Bite My Head Off," playing bass.

Jagger called the song McCartney played on for *Foreign Tongues* "a melodic rap song."

"He plays really good, he's really in the groove. Very different because on the last album, he played what was more or less a punk tune. But this is more like a soul tune, kind of groove," Jagger said.

Lady Gaga joins the Rolling Stones on new album

Paul McCartney says feud with John Lennon before the Beatles broke up felt 'like sticking little daggers in me'

"He's really got abilities to swap styles and he's a really good bass," added Jagger, mentioning that McCartney and fellow Beatle John Lennon had sung with the Rolling Stones for a couple of songs in the 1960s. "We were going through a really hard time and they were supportive and we were making a record."

Jagger went on to say that he's never written with McCartney. "I don't think he really writes with anyone else," Jagger said, though others have recommended he write something with him. "But we never got around to it," he said.

***Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our ******EW Dispatch newsletter*****.**

Fans have debated through the years which band is better, and the respective bands have made remarks here and there.

McCartney asserted in 2020 that "the Beatles were better," during an appearance on *The Howard Stern Show*. Jagger fired back that "there's obviously no competition" on Apple Music's *The Zane Lowe Show*.

"The Rolling Stones [are] a big concert band in other decades and other eras, when the Beatles never even did an arena tour, Madison Square Garden with a decent sound system. [The Stones] started doing stadium gigs in the '70s and [are] still doing them now," Jagger said.

Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr in Liverpool in 1962.

Michael Ochs Archives/Getty

"That's the real big difference between these two bands. One band is unbelievably, luckily still playing in stadiums, and then the other band doesn't exist," Jagger added.

*Foreign Tongues *comes out on July 10.

Watch Mick Jagger address the Rolling Stones-Beatles debate below.

- Celebrities & Creators

- Celebrity Feuds & Controversies

Original Article on Source

Source: “EW Celebrities”