Why Lemmy Thought The Rolling Stones Were “Shit” Compared to The Beatles

Few rivalries in rock history have endured like the debate over The Beatles vs The Rolling Stones. Fans, critics, and musicians have spent decades comparing the two cultural giants. But when it came to Motörhead frontman Lemmy Kilmister, there was no contest: The Stones were “shit” compared to the Fab Four.

In his trademark blunt style, Lemmy tore apart the myth of The Rolling Stones and explained why The Beatles, in his view, were the only true revolutionaries of 1960s rock.

“The Beatles Were Hard Men”

Lemmy, writing in his 2004 memoir White Line Fever, emphasized that despite their polished image under manager Brian Epstein, The Beatles came from a tough, working-class background.

“The Beatles were hard men. Brian Epstein cleaned them up for mass consumption, but they were anything but sissies. They were from Liverpool, which is like Hamburg or Norfolk, Virginia – a hard, sea-farin’ town… Ringo’s from the Dingle, which is like the fucking Bronx.”

For Lemmy, The Beatles’ authenticity and roots gave them a grit that powered their originality, humor, and groundbreaking music.

The Stones as “Mummy’s Boys”

By contrast, Lemmy saw The Rolling Stones as pretenders, crafting an image of rebellion without truly living it.

“The Rolling Stones were the mummy’s boys. They were all college students from the outskirts of London. They went to starve in London, but it was by choice, to give themselves some sort of aura of disrespectability.”

According to him, The Stones lacked the raw authenticity that The Beatles carried naturally, both onstage and in their songwriting.

“Shit on Stage”

While Lemmy acknowledged that The Stones produced some “great records,” he was merciless in his assessment of their live performances.

“They were never anywhere near The Beatles – not for humour, not for originality, not for songs, not for presentation. All they had was Mick Jagger dancing about… Fair enough, the Stones made great records, but they were always shit on stage, whereas The Beatles were the gear.”

Lemmy even recalled attending the Stones’ Hyde Park concert in 1969, describing it as a disaster:

“They were awful, completely out of tune. Jagger wore a frock.”

Why The Beatles Won Lemmy’s Respect

Despite his harsh words for The Stones, Lemmy did admit they wrote memorable songs—even covering “Sympathy for the Devil” himself. But when comparing them to The Beatles, he felt it was an insult to even put them in the same sentence.

“The Beatles changed the world. They really did. The generation that was with them, which includes me, we believed that we can make the world better.”

He admired Paul McCartney in particular, naming him one of his favorite bassists. For Lemmy, The Beatles weren’t just a band—they were a cultural force that shaped his life and an entire generation.