大象传媒

by Bob Stanley of

Some time last year, Brian Matthew shocked me over a cup of 大象传媒 coffee by admitting he was much more likely to reach for a Stones album than a Beatles album these days.

Some time last year, Brian Matthew shocked me over a cup of 大象传媒 coffee by admitting he was much more likely to reach for a Stones album than a Beatles album these days. In the decade when it was pretty much forbidden to say you liked both groups equally, Brian "thought very much I was on the Beatles side of the coin."

While the Stones barely deigned to speak to Brian - unless Mick Jagger had something snarky to say - the Beatles always had time for him. "The Beatles were very extrovert - they were all pretty good. I never knew where I was with Lennon! Who did? But Paul was always very forthcoming. And I had one long conversation with George in a dressing room in Chicago, and I thought 'this guy's got a lot more than he's allowed to say.' I don't mean not allowed but... the kind of general attitude was John and Paul did all the chat, and Ringo would make the odd comment from the background - he was always all right. But George..." he trails off wistfully.

"I hadn't seen any of them for twenty years until fairly recently. Paul was in to be interviewed by one of my colleagues on Radio 2. He saw me, waiting to go into my studio, rushed across, threw his arms around my neck and said "Ohhh! Great to see you! Remember all those great old shows we used to do down at the Playhouse Theatre? Let's all do it again!" And I said 'You don't mean it, but it's nice of you to say so." It would be lovely, I suppose, but I think I said "what, all both of you?" Which it would have to be, sadly."