Andrew Watt reveals Paul McCartney’s reaction to The Rolling Stones collaboration

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https://ultimateclassicrock.com/andrew-watt-The Rolling Stones song "Bite My Head Off" features Paul McCartney, and producer Andrew Watt of Hackney Diamonds has shared his thoughts on the experience.

Watt had a key role in The Stones' reunion with McCartney, who provides the bass guitar for the Hackney Diamonds song. The producer couldn't postpone his scheduled studio sessions with the former Beatle, even though he had cleared his schedule to work with The Rolling Stones. As a result, McCartney spent a day in the studio with his old rivals.

Watt has discussed how the punk-infused song was recorded in a recent interview with Rolling Stone. "So Paul comes in, learns the song, everyone's playing around a little bit, we start going for takes, and Paul stands up," the producer remembered. Suddenly, Mick drags a microphone into the fucking center of the room, Ron and Keith stand up, and I swear to God, the roof falls off the fucking building.

"It was the Stones and the Beatles, but I can't explain what that feels like," he went on. For them, it was a fucking blast rather than heavy. Paul kept smiling, and his smile became wider and wider. We performed that three or four times. As Paul flips the switch during his bass solo, Mick genuinely exclaims with a Liverpool accent, "Come on, Paul, let's hear something." You really can't fake it. Everybody was ablaze. We were having so much fun that we performed another song.

McCartney had to forfeit one day of his allotted studio time, but the experience of working with The Rolling Stones was worthwhile. Watt clarified, saying, "I just played fucking bass with the Stones—and I'm a fucking Beatle.'" Paul said this to Watt as he was leaving. He said those exact words. You can hear it on the tape; these guys were acting like they were eighteen again. It is fierce.

The Rolling Stones were the first band to achieve a new number one album in six successive decades with Hackney Diamonds, shattering chart records. The group has now released 14 albums that have peaked at number one in the UK charts with this latest album—just two fewer than The Beatles, who now hold the record for the most number ones.

"It's impossible not to get a kick out of these elder statesmen of rock and roll putting their best collective foot forward to see what remains of their creativity," Far Out said in a three-star review of Hackney Diamonds. Whatever name you choose, Hackney Diamonds must be considered a success.