Mick Jagger Recalls Paul McCartney’s Surprise Rolling Stones Studio Session And It Took Just 10 Minutes
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Sir-Paul-McCartney-and-Mick-Jagger-070126-f12347a793d64f6eb1f97945c75f464d.jpg)
Paul McCartney joining The Rolling Stones in the studio sounds like the kind of rock-star collaboration that would require weeks of planning.
According to Mick Jagger, it was anything but complicated.
The former Beatle returned to the bass for “Covered In You,” a track from The Rolling Stones’ 2026 album Foreign Tongues. And when Jagger looked back on the session, he revealed just how quickly McCartney understood what the song needed.
“He did exactly what was needed in, like, 10 minutes,” Jagger recalled.
McCartney already had history with the Stones
“Covered In You” becomes part of Foreign Tongues
“Covered In You” wasn’t the first time McCartney had played on a Rolling Stones recording.
He previously contributed bass to “Bite My Head Off,” which appeared on the Stones’ 2023 album Hackney Diamonds.
The latest collaboration came from the same period of recording, bringing McCartney back into the studio with Jagger, Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood.
Despite their decades-long friendship and musical history, there was still something unusual about hearing McCartney’s bass become part of a Rolling Stones track.
This wasn’t simply a famous musician dropping by for a cameo. The band needed a very specific sound.
Jagger wanted something raw
According to Jagger’s recollection, “Covered In You” called for an aggressive, overdriven bass sound that matched its punk-influenced character.
The idea wasn’t to make McCartney’s contribution overly polished or complicated. It needed to be direct.
Jagger remembered discussing whether McCartney would be comfortable playing the part with producer Andrew Watt.
The answer apparently came as soon as McCartney picked up his bass.
In roughly 10 minutes, he had delivered what the song required.
For a musician whose bass playing helped define some of the most famous recordings in popular music, the session demonstrated something Jagger clearly appreciated: McCartney didn’t need to overthink the assignment.
He simply listened, played and got the job done.
McCartney was still excited to be playing with the Stones
The collaboration also carried plenty of significance for McCartney himself.
Despite being one of the most celebrated musicians in history, he reportedly approached the session with genuine excitement.
After decades of knowing the Stones, there was still something surreal about looking around a studio and realizing he was actually playing bass alongside Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood.
His attitude was refreshingly simple.
He was there to play bass, contribute to the song and, as the story goes, avoid getting in the way.
That sense of enthusiasm makes the collaboration particularly memorable. For McCartney, this wasn’t simply another recording session — it was an opportunity to play alongside musicians who had been part of the same extraordinary musical generation.
The Beatles and Rolling Stones have shared history
The collaboration also adds another chapter to the long relationship between the two bands.
In the 1960s, The Beatles and The Rolling Stones were frequently presented as fierce rivals, representing two competing sides of Britain’s rock explosion.
But behind the rivalry was a much closer musical connection.
McCartney and John Lennon wrote “I Wanna Be Your Man,” which the Rolling Stones recorded and released as a single in 1963.
Jagger later contributed backing vocals to The Beatles’ “Baby, You’re a Rich Man.”
More than six decades later, McCartney was no longer simply helping write a song for the Stones.
He was actually standing in their studio, bass in hand, playing alongside them.
Another milestone for the Stones
Foreign Tongues, released in July 2026 according to the supplied article, follows Hackney Diamonds and features a wide range of guest musicians.
McCartney’s appearance on “Covered In You” is joined by contributions from artists including Steve Winwood, Robert Smith of The Cure and Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith.
The album also includes previously recorded material featuring the late Charlie Watts.
But amid all those collaborations, McCartney’s appearance carries a special historical weight. For decades, The Beatles and The Rolling Stones were treated as opposing forces at the heart of rock music. Now, the image is very different.
Paul McCartney walks into a Rolling Stones studio session, Mick Jagger tells him exactly what the song needs — and one of rock’s most famous bassists apparently gets it done in about 10 minutes.