The Beatles vs The Rolling Stones
The Beatles vs The Rolling Stones - tracing origins, styles, achievements, and cultural impact.

The Beatles were formed in 1960. John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and George Harrison were the founding members. Together since 1958, they went through several drummers in the formation of The Beatles until Ringo Starr joined them in 1962. That young rabble of artists would become one of the most legendary bands ever, genre irrelevant. Two years after the formation of The Beatles, another musical juggernaut was formed.

The Rolling Stones came together in 1962. Like The Beatles, they eventually became one of the biggest bands of that era. Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Brian Jones, Bill Wyman, and Charlie Watts were the original lineup.

So these are two great bands from the same era that sent shockwaves so massive the whole world felt it. Of course, there will be plenty of debate about who was greater. In this article, I?ll compare both bands. Join me as I talk about their origin story, musical style, achievements and legacy, and some key differences.

Origin Story

The Beatles

John Lennon started as a member of The Quarrymen. Then he and his friends, McCartney and Harrison, became Johnny and the Moondogs. Stuart Sutcliffe joined in January 1960 and they became the Beatals. The name changed again and the group became The Silver Beetles before they finally settled on The Beatles. Pete Best was the final piece to the puzzle, he joined in August 1960.

The Beatles started their career performing in clubs wherever they were given a chance. Their singing took them to Hamburg where they played night after night. Malcolm Gladwell used them as an example in his book, Outliers, when talking about the sheer amount of practice they had playing in those clubs.

By 1962, they were signed to EMI Records, and the rest is history.

The Rolling Stones

Brian Jones pulled his friends together to form The Rolling Stones in 1962, around the time The Beatles were getting their EMI Records contract. Two years later, they were rubbing shoulders with each other. Like The Beatles, their early career consisted mostly of playing clubs and touring before any actual studio albums. They eventually signed former Beatles manager Andrew Oldham to help take them to the next level.

Oldham started to copy the Beatles model, but soon realized they were too popular already to be toppled at their thing. So he made The Rolling Stones the opposite. Where The Beatles would appear in suits looking like gentlemen, The Rolling Stones never wore matching outfits and always looked like they were up to no good.

You could say the rivalry started there.

Achievements

The Beatles

The Beatles did more than just topple records, they changed the norm. They became the standard. They dominated English charts and crossed the Atlantic to dominate the American market too. They ushered in a new era where physical albums became the prime means of getting music. This era lasted until the arrival of the internet and streaming platforms. They?re also credited with setting off the British Invasion, a period where British bands began to take over the American music scene.

The Beatles won seven Grammys among many other awards, and four of the five were knighted by Queen Elizabeth in 1965. They?ve sold over 600 million records and are recipients of the 2014 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Grammys. You can read more about their awards and achievements.

The Rolling Stones

The Rolling Stones have released over 340 songs in their long career, including an astonishing 53 albums racking over $1.5 billion in revenue between 1989 and 2002. Yes, that?s a ?b? not an ?m?. Their ability to reinvent themselves kept them relevant for several generations. It wasn?t a case of parents and kids listening to different artists, but different Rolling Stone albums. They only won 3 Grammys from 12 nominations but received the Lifetime Achievement Award long before The Beatles in 1986.

Billboard ranks The Rolling Stones as the second most successful artist of all time. Such is their impact that scientists named seven fossil stoneflies after the band members. Pretty cool, if you?re a nerd like me.

Major Differences

Evolution

The Beatles were true rock stars but as they progressed, they experimented. They were travelers, not just for tours but also in music styles. They?ve even been accused of cultural appropriation by many. They had Indian music styles, psychedelia, and even classical music infused into their music at one point or the other.

The Rolling Stones, on the other hand, learned how to reinvent their music while remaining within the confines of blues, rock, and RnB music. They didn?t experiment with new sounds as much as The Beatles, but they found a way to stay relevant in different eras.

Impact

The Beatles made a heavy cultural impact. Almost every form of art in their time was influenced by the British band. Their influence spread from the UK across the Atlantic, kickstarting the British Invasion. Their influence touched everything from literature to fashion. If the Beatles did it, it was cool, They became the standard. They reinvented pop music.

The Rolling Stones, on the other hand, were the antithesis. They weren?t making any nice songs for good boys and girls. Their music was all about rebelling against the norm. They were not making pop music. They went for the unpopular opinion, spoke freely about sexual themes, and thrived in their reputation as bad boys. One might call them indie artists.

How it ended

The Beatles are arguably the most successful band ever, but it?s scary that their achievements were cut short by their split in 1970. Isn?t it incredible that they exerted such a huge influence on the world in just ten years of making music together? Imagine how much more they would?ve achieved if they had managed to remain together. In the end, the conflict was too much to navigate.

The Rolling Stones, however, managed to stay together despite their internal problems. They continued to make music for about six decades. How awesome is that? They?re still working together and we might get some new music from them soon. Their longevity is insane.

Final Thoughts

In summary, I can?t tell you which of the bands is more legendary. As an indie music lover, I probably enjoy the style of the Rolling Stones more. That said, The Beatles were an absolute force of nature. I strongly believe that any debate about their status as the greatest band of all time is only valid because they split up after a decade.

The truth remains that both bands are among the best we have ever seen. You would do well to take several leaves out of their book to see how they achieved such heights. The times are different, I agree, but the principles are the same.

As the saying goes, ?Nothing changes under the sun?.