Jul 08, 2026 10:35pm IST
The Rolling Stones Guitarist Keith Richards: “Paul McCartney Really Misses Being In A Band” (EXCLUSIVE)
The Rolling Stones recently sat down with Zane Lowe on an episode of The Zane Lowe Show on Apple Music to celebrate the release of their upcoming album “Foreign Tongues”. In a candid and wide-ranging conversation, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood pulled back the curtain on their creative process and reflected on more than six decades of making music together. During the interview, the band discussed getting the group back together to collaborate, the new generation of the Stones, working with producer Andrew Watt and new tracks like "Ringing Hollow". They also touched upon Ronnie Wood joining the band, the story behind writing "Start Me Up", AI and the "In The Stars" music video, and a potential "Foreign Tongues" tour as one of the longest lasting bands in history.
However, one of the biggest talking points centered on their ongoing relationship with Paul McCartney. As a co-founder of The Beatles, McCartney represents a crucial part of a group that transformed global music culture and remains one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in history.
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Opening the conversation, Zane Lowe pointed out that Paul McCartney is now a "two-time offender" on Rolling Stones records. He noted that it is a beautiful time to be a music fan, with the doors now open in multiple directions for artists to come together and collaborate. Lowe then asked what it meant to them personally to have that shorthand with McCartney from Hackney Diamonds to their current project, adding that McCartney had personally told him how much working with the Stones meant to him.
Keith Richards responded by highlighting McCartney's genuine love for the collaborative studio environment, while also looking back at their earliest days in the 1960s.
"You know I've realized that Paul really misses being in a band. And his joy of just being in that context is great. So if there's any more songs to do, I'll let you know, Paul. I've known Paul for well basically since The Beatles started, since we started, but I mean only on the periphery and John and Paul did a couple of backup vocals for us way back when on "We Love You" and "Dandelion," I think way back in like sixty-seven or something like that. But otherwise, it's also great to have somebody from your own era, from way back when. He's a lovely player and I'd like to do more with him."
Lowe then asked how it feels when Paul McCartney fires up in the studio and plays in his own distinct style. He observed that while the band is highly accustomed to playing with their friends who all possess unique styles, McCartney's playing is instantly recognizable, pure McCartney, and could only be him playing that way.
Mick Jagger admitted that McCartney actually surprised them by completely veering away from his signature sound to deliver exactly what the tracks needed.
"Yeah, I don't know. On "Covered in You" he sounds like a funky, base player. I wouldn't recognize his style on that, honestly. And I didn't know he could play punk style, like real simple stuff like we wanted him to play. He just understood this style you know, and so he's obviously got a lot of capacity to change gears."
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