The Beatles vs. Rolling Stones: The Rock House Derby

Image Courtesy: Strike Tallahassee

The Beatles vs. The Rolling Stones is a rock and roll debate as old as time. Hopefully, you read that first sentence and recognized these two bands, but if not:

#1: Shame, shame, shame. 

And… 

#2: Educate yourself. How can you consider yourself a productive human of society without even understanding the two most influential bands of all time?   

Just kidding, don’t fret. Honestly, I picked this topic because I know the infamous traditions left behind by the Beatles and still carried out by the Stones are depleting (and now and more than ever with the newer generations). I wanted to spark dialogue that emphasizes the preeminence that each band had to the culture of rock and roll.

First things first– who were The Beatles? 

(1960-1970) www.beatles.com

Well, you’ll only have to remember four names: John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr– all descending from Liverpool, England. Their premiere album Please Please Me was released in 1963 and compromised of some of their most danceable tracks, Love Me Do, Twist and Shout, and Do You Want to Know a Secret?. These are also probably their most dated tracks– the kind of songs you imagine your grandparents dancing to when they were teenagers. Their adolescent albums were mainly pop releases, simple tunes about love, emphasizing their “good-boy” persona. 

The more albums they made, the more they explored their creativity. In 1966, when they released their seventh album, Revolver, they had entered a psychedelic phase, testing out classical Indian instruments – something they would center their albums like The White Album and Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band around. In 1969, they released their most famous album, Abbey Road, containing some of their best-known hits, such as Here Comes the Sun, Come Together, and Something.

Image Courtesy: DW

Now on to the infamous break-up… After nearly a decade of playing together and conquering the world of rock and roll, The Beatles’ members separated ways, mainly because they just grew into different versions of themselves. In May of 1970, The Beatles released their closing studio album Let It Be, shortly after Paul stated he was leaving the band. The Beatles broke up at their peak, while the Stones have stayed together for the long run. 

The Rolling Stones

(1962-present) www.RollingStones.com

The Rolling Stones are the longest-performing band of all time, greatly influencing rock and roll throughout the decades. Their original members consisted of Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts, Brian Jones, Ian Stewart, and Bill Wyman (current members, plus Ron Woods). Starting as part of the British Rock Invasion of the 1960s, The Stones rapidly became the “bad-boy” band with their impression of sex, drugs, and wild behavior. They cut their first single, Chuck Barry’s Come On, in 1963, hitting #21 on the UK singles chart. Their new sound, a mixture of rebellion and irreverence using clamorous guitars, vigorous harmonicas, tribular drums, and sexually tensed vocals, entranced the young and unnerved the old. Two years after they released their first single, they hit their first mega-hit, (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction, which hit #1 worldwide. 

Image Courtesy: This Day in Music

Now, with a little history under our belts, let’s open up for debate.

The Rolling Stones have most definitely seen their ups and downs; however, they have been together for far longer than the Beatles. The Beatles were only together for a mere eight years whereas The Rolling Stones have been together ever since 1962, still performing to this day. The Beatles broke up at their peak, leaving the world with only their primal work. They produced 19 #1 albums, 20 #1 singles, won 10 Grammys, and have sold over 1 billion records worldwide. The Rolling Stones fell short on each of these comparisons, even though they have had more time to override The Beatles in every category. Both bands undoubtedly hold the greatest influence on rock and roll, but the facts don’t lie. Overall, the Beatles are the clear winner of this debate and will forever be the most culturally influential rock band of all time. According to Rolling Stone Magazine, The Beatles recorded four of the 'Top Ten Greatest Albums of All Time', with three ranking in the top five. The Beatles most definitely left their mark as a band on rock culture, and I believe their legacy will be everlasting. 

Strike Out, 

Writer: Skye Fox

Editor: Karina McCarthy

Graphic Designer: Abbey Fleming

Tallahassee