Paul McCartney has been drawn into the much-debated argument which has stood the test of time; who was better, The Beatles or The Rolling Stones?

While fans of both bands have gone back and forth on the discussion until their blue in the face, American radio personality Howard Stern decided to approach the conversation head on by posing the question to the Beatles bassman directly.

Getting straight into it, Stern asked: “I’m not asking you to be pompous about this, The Beatles are better than the Rolling Stones. Am I correct?” with an added touch of humour to his enquiry.

McCartney, sensing the tone, answered: “You know you’re going to persuade me to agree on that one,” he said while politely acknowledging the brilliance of his contemporaries.

He continued: “They are rooted in the blues,” when discussing the Stones. “When they are writing stuff, it has to do with the blues. We had a little more influences. There’s a lot of differences, and I love the Stones, but I’m with you. The Beatles were better.”

Macca went on to discuss the parallels of the two bands and, more poignantly for The Stones attempted to follow The Beatles into the world of psychedelia with Their Satanic Majesties Request, a record that was thought to be largely inspired by Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.

“We went to America and we had huge success,” McCartney said. “Then the Stones went to America. We did Sgt. Pepper, the Stones did a psychedelic album. There’s a lot of that.”

He concluded: “We were great friends, still are kind of. We admire each other. The Stones are a fantastic group. I go see them every time they’re out. They’re a great, great band.”