The Beatles and The Rolling Stones discuss ideas for business ventures

The Beatles may link up with the Rolling Stones

THE Beatles and the Rolling Stones may merge to form a new record production outfit. The company would launch new groups and undiscovered artists. There have been informal talks between Paul McCartney for the Beatles and Mick Jagger for the Stones.

Paul McCartney said yesterday: “At the moment we are just exchanging views to see whether we can work something out between us.”

But the two groups can’t record together — they have long-term contracts with rival companies. There is nothing to prevent them from forming an independent company.

From Sunday Mirror – October 15, 1967

The Beatles and Stones as partners?

THE BEATLES and the Rolling Stones — the world’s leading pop groups — are discussing a joint business venture.

This was revealed last night by a spokesman for Nems Enterprises, the company that manages the Beatles.

Beatle Paul McCartney and Mick Jagger, the Stones’ leader, have already talked over ideas for joint recording studio — a multi-thousand-pound project They may also launch an independent recording company to handle their own records and those of up-and-coming groups.

Both groups have recording contracts — the Beatles with EMI and the Stones with Decca — and any ideas for recording themselves are therefore long term.

The Nems spokesman emphasised that there was no intention of the two groups merging. “They have been close friends for some time and getting together like this in a limited way seemed logical,” he said.

From The Observer – October 15, 1967

BEATLES-STONES LINK UP

THE BEATLES and the Rolling Stones are planning to get together on a business venture. They are looking for new studios in London — probably to record unknown pop groups. And they may make aims together. There is no question of the two pop groups merging. And no member of one group would make a record with any members of the other. Their contracts forbid it. The Beatles are under contract to EMI and the Stones to Decca.

The Beatles’ Press officer, Tony Barrow. said last night: “There’s nothing to stop the boys producing films together or recording other groups.”

The get-together follows informal talks between the Stones’ leader, 23-year-old Mick Jagger, and Beatle Paul McCartney, 25. The two have become close friends lately. Jagger lives in Marylebone Road and Paul just around the corner in St John’s Wood in North-West London.

Ideas raised by the two in friendly conversations are now being bandied about on a business basis by the rest of the two groups. Mick and fellow Stone Keith Richard have been frequent visitors at Paul’s £40.000 house which has its own recording studio.

The proposed link-up would be a natural development for the Beatles, whose talent is spreading in all directions. Paul has just written a trad jazz number for trombonist Chris Barber called “Catcall”.

All four Beatles, Jagger and his girlfriend Marianne Faithfull — and Frank Sinatra’s wife Mia Farrow — are planning to go to India soon for a month’s meditation in the Himalayas with mystic Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.

From The People – October 15, 1967

STONES: NO BEATLE LINK YET

THE Rolling Stones pop group said in a statement yesterday that any talk of a business merger with the Beatles was “premature.” The statement added that Stones leader Mick Jagger and Beatle Paul McCartney had discussed opening a recording studio at some unspecified date. But the conversations were “purely exploratory.”

From Daily Mirror – October 18, 1967

Paul, Mick plan talent school project for future

THE proposed Beatles-Stones merger — revealed at the weekend by Jonathan King on his ITV programme Good Evening — is almost certain to take place in the future. But it will be a business merger between the two groups and will not lead to any form of “Rolling-Beatles” records. Beatles press officer Tony Barrow told the MM: “It’s highly possible that the two groups wilt get together for fresh business ventures but there is no chance of any sort of cooperation on a record, as the two groups are contracted to rival record companies. One idea that they are discussing is obtaining a recording studio where they can each make their own records and possibly record other artists. And there is a possibility of future intriguing schemes.” These could include a “talent school.“

But any discussions are in the very early stages. Paul McCartney and Mick Jagger have discussed ideas for business ventures and the rest of the two groups agree on preliminary ideas. A Rolling Stones spokesman said this week: “The conversations between Mick and Paul were of a purely exploratory nature. They discussed the possibility, or advisability, of opening a recording studio. But these conversations have not been resolved.“

A new Beatles single — from the Magical Mystery Tour — is expected at the end of November. No decision has been made about an EP release from the TV show.

From Melody Maker – October 21, 1967

STONES-BEATLES LINK: STARS GIVE THEIR BACKING

POP’S biggest merger — the proposed link-up between the Beatles and the Rolling Stones — received full showbiz backing this week as other top names voiced their views.

Who spokesman Pete Townshend, firm personal friend of the two groups, said: “This is a great idea. We virtually record ourselves anyway — but the Beatles and the Stones between them should be able to get one of the best-equipped studios in London, which will help the small groups they take on immensely.

These small groups will be able to have the best instead of the rubbish they often have to put up with. I know of one very promising group who used to get fed up because their recording company would only allow them an hour to do a session – which is hopeless. The Beatles/Stones idea will end all that business.”

It s widely-known that individual members of the two top groups are already recording independently. Mick Jaeger has talked of working with Marianne Faithfull in the studio, also P. P. Arnold; and Bill Wyman manages groups of his own.

News of the giants joining forces was leaked last Saturday by Disc columnist Jonathan King on his “Good Evening” TV show. He said this week: “It’s a very stimulating idea which will do a lot of good things for the business. Personally, I suspect they’ll go into behind-the-scenes business — setting an example to a lot of other groups. They’re a unique power in pop, virtually free to do as they please, and also close friends. I see it as a big business merger.”

But a statement from the Stones’ publicist. Les Perrin, on behalf of the group, stressed that the widely-publicised merger talks between Mick and Paul McCartney were “purely exploratory.”

The full statement says “In view of statements made over the weekend, but not emanating from the Rolling Stones, that a business merger between them and the Beatles is imminent, it is felt that the position should be clarified. MICK JAGGER STATES THAT PREPARATORY CONVERSATIONS OF A PURELY EXPLORATORY NATURE WERE HELD BY HIM WITH PAUL McCARTNEY. Discussed was the possibility, or advisability, of opening a recording studio at some unspecified future date. These conversations have NOT been resolved and any assumption to the contrary should be considered premature. It should also be pointed out that the report indicating that the Stones are without management is incorrect. Mr. Allen Klein, of New York City, has been the business manager for the Stones for the past two years. The situation remains unaltered. The European agent for the Rolling Stones remains Mr. Tito Bums, of Harold Davison Ltd, London.”

Beatles press officer, Tony Barrow, said of the Mick-Paul talks: “They want to organise recordings in a studio of their own — and also record other tatent. But this venture, of course, would not interfere with the present recording commitments. The talks were very much of an exploratory nature.”

Graham Nash of the Hollies said: “I think the whole thing sounds a very good idea. There’s certainly a lack of a lot of facilities on the recording scene here. There are often a lot of problems to overcome before you get what you want. We’ve already formed our own record production company — for ourselves and to record other people. The business could only benefit from what the Beatles and Stones plan.”

From Disc And Music Echo – October 21, 1967