Fresh off their massively successful, and number one charting, record Hackney Diamonds, Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones revealed what it was like recording with The Beatles bassist and singer Paul McCartney. McCartney lent his playing talents on the song, “Bite My Head Off” and Richards admitted there was a sense of nostalgia about the former Beatle joining in on the recording sessions.

The Beatles and The Rolling Stones spear-headed the ‘British Invasion’ which swept through the UK and, perhaps most importantly, the US in the early 1960s. Although the two bands always remained on friendly terms, the musicians never actually directly featured on each other’s work with their respective bands. A fact Richards lamented after McCartney finally guest spotted on a Rolling Stones track.

Speaking in an interview with Apple 1 Music about the collaboration, Richards said, “I felt that it was bloody time…I’ve known Paul for 60 years, just about. Although him and John [Lennon] did do a few backup vocals with us in the ’60s. Great fun to play with. At the end of it, I just said, ‘Well, that’s just like the good old days.’”

The collaboration has proven to be an inspired one as well, as McCartney had the chance to flex his guitar playing muscle, delivering a memorable and distinctive bass line for “Bit My Head Off.” Richards spoke about his friendship with McCartney and how easy he finds playing with him.

Further elaborating on the guest spot with The Telegraph, Richards said, “Paul happened to be in town…And we couldn’t keep him away, bless his heart. And hey, if you can get one of the Beatles on your track, you know, you do it. Paul’s a very amiable cat to play with; we’ve been great friends forever.”

The Rolling Stones guitar virtuoso also said the late John Lennon and George Harrison would have slotted into the Stones rather easily. “I don’t think John Lennon would have had much problem fitting into the Stones, or George, if you can imagine that sort of thing happening. We were the same generation, and we all loved the same music. When we first heard The Beatles, we were relieved that there was some other band in England on the same track that we were on. And within a few months, that track was the main track.”

The Rolling Stones continue to experience amazing success, well into the band’s 6th decade. Hackney Diamonds has thus far proven to be another critical and commercial success for the band. The Beatles, for their part, recently announced that they will be releasing their final song “Now And Then” in November.