Almost 60 years after their first meeting, The Rolling Stones appear to be making music with the remaining members of The Beatles, reports Variety.
The magazine writes that they have spoken to several sources who claim that Paul McCartney (80) has recorded bass parts for an upcoming project for the rock band, which is being made in collaboration with Grammy-winning producer Andrew Watt (32).
According to the magazine, Ringo Starr will also play on the yet-to-be-announced album.
Revealed that there was new music on the way
The recording has taken place in Los Angeles in recent weeks. It is currently unknown what the fans will hear, as it is unclear which songs will be included on the album in question, and whether McCartney and Starr are on the same song or whether there are several songs.
The album should now be in its final stages, with only mixing remaining.
In 2021, Mick Jagger told Los Angeles Times that they had already finished several songs for the upcoming album.
In January, Keith Richards could also say via his own Instagram that new music is on the way.
No original material released since 2005
The 32-year-old producer working on the album is known for having produced a great deal of pop material for artists such as Justin Bieber, Dua Lipa, Shawn Mendes and Miley Cyrus.
In recent years, however, Watt has moved more and more into the world of rock, producing for stars such as Ozzy Osbourne, Pearl Jam and Iggy Pop.
Variety has tried to get a comment from The Rolling Stones, McCartney and Starr, so far without success.
HITMAKER: Producer Andrew Watt has made a name for himself in the world of music in recent years. Photo: Chris Pizzello
The rock band has not released an album of original material since “A Bigger Bang” came out in 2005. They have, however, occasionally released new songs as singles or as part of a long series of “Greatest Hits” compilations.
Their last album of newly recorded material was “Blue & Lonesome” – a blues cover collection released in 2016. Eric Clapton was also involved on two tracks.
– You haven’t heard the last from Charlie Watts
The magazine writes that the album will most likely include songs recorded with the group’s founder, Charlie Watts, who passed away at the age of 80 in 2021.
GONE: Original drummer for The Rolling Stones, Charlie Watts, passed away in 2021. Photo: ETHAN MILLER
After the death in 2021, the band has toured with their long-time friend and collaborator Steve Jordan (66) on drums.
Mick Jagger and Keith Richards confirmed in a 2021 interview with the Los Angeles Times that Watts had recorded several parts to a number of songs before his death.
– Let me put it this way: You haven’t heard the last of Charlie Watts, Richards said at the time.
Rivalry
Despite their long acquaintance, the members of The Beatles and The Rolling Stones have rarely collaborated musically. The latter’s second single (and first hit) was a cover of the Lennon/McCartney composition “I Wanna Be Your Man” in 1963.
Four years later, Lennon and McCartney sang on The Rolling Stones’ single “We Love You”.
Although the rock artists now appear to be collaborating on a new album, the rivalry has been going on for a number of years.
– They are a blues cover band, that’s sort of what the Stones are. I think our net caught a little wider than theirs,” McCartney said of The Rolling Stones in a interview as late as 2021.
Just a few weeks later, Jagger countered during a concert in Los Angeles, where McCartney was in the audience:
– He will help us. He wanted to join in on a blues cover later, Jagger is said to have said, according to the report Variety.
