Paul McCartney and Keith Richards in New York City in 2000.Photo:Kevin Mazur/WireImage
Kevin Mazur/WireImage
Keith Richardswas ready forPaul McCartneyto finally joinThe Rolling Stonesin the studio.
The legendary UK rock band teamed up with the former Beatle for the song “Bite My Head Off” on the new albumHackney Diamonds,and Richards opened up toMatt Wilkinson on Apple Music 1for a new interview about the collaboration.
“I felt that it was bloody time,” said the 79-year-old Rolling Stones guitarist of working with McCartney, 81, for their first official collaboration. “I’ve known Paul for 60 years, just about. Although him and John [Lennon] did do a few backup vocals with us in the ’60s. Great fun to play with.”
“Bite My Head Off” features McCartney on bass guitar and appears on The Rolling Stones' first album of new material since 2005’sA Bigger Band. “At the end of it, I just said, ‘Well, that’s just like the good old days,'” Richards recalled of the “Hey Jude” singer-songwriter’s studio session withMick Jagger,Ronnie Woodand himself.
Hackney Diamonds, which dropped Friday,also boasts guest appearances from Stevie Wonder and Lady Gaga on the song “Sweet Sounds of Heaven.” Elsewhere in the Apple Music 1 interview, Richards detailed how the two superstars joined forces with The Rolling Stones.
Ronnie Wood, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards backstage before The Rolling Stones surprise set in celebration of their new album ‘Hackney Diamonds’ on Oct. 19, 2023 in New York City.Kevin Mazur/Getty
Kevin Mazur/Getty
He continued, “Playing with Stevie is always mind-blowing, and I thought that Lady did an incredible job, man. She snaked her way in there and took it over and gave [the session] as good as she got with Mick, and it was great fun.”
“Charlie had an incredible stamp on what he did. I’m actually at the moment still saying, ‘Thank God there’s a Steve Jordan,’ because Charlie Watts recommended Steve to us many years ago,” said Richards, noting that Jordan “was about the only other guy that I could think that could fill that spot, man.”
The Rolling Stones perform in New York City on Oct. 19, 2023.Kevin Mazur/Getty
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
The guitarist explained what it’s like to perform without Watts following decades with the late drummer. “Steve and I have been laughing that sometimes on the last couple of tours, every now then and I turn around and for some reason I expect to see Charlie,” he said.
Richards added, “I guess because sometimes Steve can play so much like Charlie that I’m fooled that I turn around, and there’s Steve Jordan. We play around with that. But hell, early days… Steve’s only been with us two years, this band’s been going 60.”
source: people.com
