George Harrison took swipe at Mick Jagger over Beatles connection

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Throughout the 1960s, The Beatles and The Rolling Stones were frequently depicted as competing forces in British rock music. This narrative seemed logical, considering both bands achieved considerable success and garnered worldwide attention during that era. However, amidst the perceived Beatles vs. Rolling Stones rivalry, members of both groups often interacted and collaborated behind the scenes.

Unexpected Encounters: The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and Transcendental Meditation

According to one recollection, Beatles guitarist George Harrison humorously suggested that Stones frontman Mick Jagger frequently appeared during some of the Beatles’ private moments.

The Bangor Seminar

Harrison recounted a specific occurrence in 1967 when The Beatles journeyed to Bangor, Wales, to participate in a seminar on transcendental meditation led by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.

During this period, Harrison developed a strong interest in spirituality and was eager to introduce his bandmates to the Maharishi’s teachings. This trip occurred during a transitional phase for the group, following their manager Brian Epstein’s death and amidst growing explorations of Indian philosophy and music.

Ringo Starr’s Recollection

Ringo Starr, The Beatles’ drummer, recalled the trip’s spontaneous nature in The Beatles Anthology: “At that time [my wife] Maureen was in hospital having Jason, and I was visiting. I came home and put on the answerphone, and there was a message from John: ‘Oh, man, we’ve seen this guy, and we’re all going to Wales. You’ve got to come.’ The next message was from George, saying, ‘Wow, man – we’ve seen him. Maharishi’s great! We’re all going to Wales on Saturday, and you’ve got to come.’”

The seminar was scheduled in Bangor for the following day, and The Beatles chose to travel by train. Harrison elaborated: “Maharishi happened to be having a seminar in Bangor and had said, ‘Come tomorrow and I’ll show you how to meditate.’ So, the next day we jumped on a train and went.”

Jagger’s Presence

“Mick Jagger was also there. He was always lurking around in the background, trying to find out what was happening. Mick never wanted to miss out on what the Fabs were doing,” he added, highlighting Jagger’s interest in The Beatles’ activities.

Spiritual Devotion and Collaboration: Beyond the Perceived Rivalry

In an interview with Rolling Stone magazine, titled “Remembering George,” following Harrison’s passing in 2001, Jagger noted that Harrison’s dedication to spirituality remained consistent throughout the years: “He very much concentrated on the spiritual side of his life, and it was more than a passing fancy. It looked like it was a sort of faddish thing at the time, but it stayed with him.”

“You got the feeling that most people were dabbling in spirituality, but for George it was perhaps the major part of his life once he discovered it. And it’s very easy to ridicule someone who does that, and he was ridiculed, there’s no doubt about that, especially in England, for being like that. But he did follow through on the courage of his convictions. He stayed with it and never rejected it.”

Debunking the Rivalry Narrative

Despite the rumors of intense competition, the relationship between the artists was not antagonistic, as Paul McCartney explained in a book: “The idea of our being rivals with The Rolling Stones was newspaper talk. It was natural that we would seem to be rivals, but in fact George got them their recording contract. He was at a party with Dick Rowe, the man famous for having turned The Beatles down for Decca.”

Musical Interplay

Since then, The Rolling Stones and Beatles members have collaborated in various capacities, including:

• Songwriting
• Backing vocals
• Playing on each other’s albums

Notable examples include the Stones’ cover of ‘I Wanna Be Your Man,’ penned by Lennon/McCartney, and the Beatles’ contributions to the Stones’ ‘We Love You’. These instances underscore the mutual respect and collaborative spirit that existed between The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, despite media portrayals of rivalry.

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