The Rolling Stones or The Beatles?

It's 2009!

Isn't it?

No, sorry but that was a debate in the 60's, like Blur or Oasis in the 90's.

At the time you had to choose,

Now we can calmly say BOTH - and I do.

Beatles

Stones...exile on main street...they dont come much better than that...

[cite]Posted By: 24 Red[/cite]When they were head-to-head in a Blur/Oasis fashion it was the Beatles, no contest. The Stones peak came when the Beatles were splitting up. Stones can't match the Fabs for impact but Beggars/Bleed/Sticky/Exiles - what a run of albums.

I agree with this.
Up to and including Sgt. Pepper everybody, including the Stones, followed where the Beatles lead them (often with hilarious consequences cf. "Their Satanic Majesties").
Even "Aftermath" arguably the Stones best mid-period album, came out the same year as "Revolver".
Of course, the Stones singles were always mustard; but it was only when they stopped mimicking the Beatles and forged their own musical identity starting with Beggars Banquet that they really came into their own.
Also Mick adopted the personna of the character he played in "Performance" as his ongoing public image and soon "the greatest rock'n'roll band in the world" was born.
Ultimately though, as Spiced Addick says, you gotta love them both.

The Who!!!!!!!!


Whoops, off topic alert, off topic alert!

The Beatles.....no contest

Now then, John or Paul (or George or Ringo)?

Paul for me. At the end of the day it's all about the tunes and Macca sure could write them.

Stones, without a shadow of a doubt

BUT, one of my all time favourite songs is The Beatles "And your bird can sing"

I was a child of the sixties, born in January 1948, as such I was smack bang in the middle of the whole sixties phenomina.....I will go to my grave thanking the almighty for that..........how bloody lucky can you get!
The Beatles were undoubtedly the greatest musical influence that the world of rock or pop has ever seen...they alone were responible world wide for millions of kids to pick up a guitar and become (for a few minutes at least), budding pop/rock stars.
It's worth remembering that The Beatles themselves, during their Cavern and Hamburg days were very very rocky and ballsy....real high energy stuff, so don't have this perception that they were entirely main stream.
The Stones have stood the test of time and although 'never' as popular, I(and I suspect many from my generation) retain a sense of pride that they came out of the sixties and still to this day can fill major venues anywhere in the world..and long may it continue.
The Beatles song writing was simply astounding, can there ever have been a duo (Lennon & McCartney) who were so prolific and over such a short space of time.
They laid down the ground rules from which pop/rock bands still to this day aspire in some obscure and odd way.
The Stones would 'never in a million years' have had the success they have had were it not for The Beatles having laid the groundwork.......and as much as I respect The Stones, it must be said that it would never have been the case the other way around.
As I type, Magic Radio are playing "The Long and Winding Road"....now how prophetic is that...that's the magic of The Beatles for you...........god bless them!

Stones for the variety and modernity of their sound. I genuinely think they've influenced more bands today than the Beatles. Obviously two great bands, but.. Main Street, Sympathy, Paint it Black are all tunes that are both brilliant and stand the test of time. If you listen to great Beatles tracks, you can immediately tell that they belong to a bygone era, whereas I think if you heard Paint it Black for the first time, now you could be forgiven for thinking that one of today's bands had suddenly upped their game.

Oasis

but then the Beatles were massively influenced by Buddy Holly and the Crickets

now I'm sober........

The Beatles couldn't have written Sympathy for the Devil or Tumbling Dice, The Stones couldn't have written For No One or Elanor Rigby. Impossible to compare, only a preference. A bit like 'what's better, beer or wine?'

Me, I prefer whisky.

Rolling Stones.