Why Mick Jagger Underestimates The Beatles Live Performances

The Beatles and The Rolling Stones are often grouped together in rock history — two British powerhouses that defined an era. But while they changed the world side by side, that didn’t mean they were always each other’s biggest fans. Mick Jagger had a few sharp opinions when it came to The Beatles, especially regarding their live shows.

Not Impressed with Their Stage Presence

In a 1995 chat with Rolling Stone magazine, Jagger was asked point-blank whether The Beatles lived up to their reputation as the best band ever. His answer? Candid as ever.

“They certainly were not a great live band,” Jagger said. “Maybe they were in the days of The Cavern, when they were coming up as a club band.” The Cavern Club was a famous venue in Liverpool where the Beatles got their early start.

“I’m sure they were hilariously funny and all that,” he added. “And they did have this really good onstage persona. But as far as the modern-day world, they were not a great performing band.” Still, Jagger acknowledged their cultural significance: “But do they deserve the fantastic reputation? They were The Beatles. They were this forerunning, breakthrough item, and that’s hard to overestimate.”

Remembering John Lennon

Though he wasn’t overly impressed by The Beatles’ live performances, Jagger held deep affection for John Lennon. The singer reflected on how devastating Lennon’s death in 1980 was to him personally.

“I just felt very sad for the loss of someone that I loved very much,” Jagger said. “It was all so horribly ironic.” He was likely referencing Lennon’s peace activism and the violence of his murder. Jagger added, “I didn’t write it up as a piece in The Guardian. I think journalists have this temptation to keep marking timelines. [Laughs] There are wall charts for children: dinosaurs end here, wooly mammoths here, and John Lennon dies here. You know?”

His Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Tribute

Despite his mixed feelings, Jagger showed nothing but respect when he inducted The Beatles into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1988. He recalled how embarrassing British pop had been before the Fab Four came along. Then came “Love Me Do” — a bluesy tune that actually irritated him at first because it sounded too much like something The Stones might do.

Still, Jagger was thankful for The Beatles’ influence — and especially grateful for their early help. “I Wanna Be Your Man,” written by Lennon and McCartney, became one of The Rolling Stones’ first singles. Jagger remembered the camaraderie between the two bands, admitting there was some rivalry, but mostly friendship.

Jagger might not have been The Beatles’ biggest fan when it came to live shows, but he clearly admired their talent and the history they made together.