Why the Righteous Brothers' Bill Medley Says Opening for the Rolling Stones Was 'More Fun' than Opening for the Beatles

Mar. 15, 2025

Bill Medley; The Rolling Stones.Photo:Bryan Steffy/Getty; Kevin Mazur/Getty

Bryan Steffy/Getty; Kevin Mazur/Getty

The Righteous Brothers opened for both theBeatlesand theRolling Stonesearly in the legendary bands’ careers — but singerBill Medleysays his experience with one group was a bit more fun.

Bill Medley of The Righteous Brothers in Los Angeles in 1966.Archive Photos/Getty

Archive Photos/Getty

In an interview withBillboard, Medley joked that the interviewer wanted “to get me in trouble” when asked which was more fun, though he admitted it was a “pretty simple answer.”

“The Beatles, when we opened for them, it was the first American Beatles tour — and the kids were just screaming and crying, yelling out, ‘John, John,Ringo!’ Whatever,” he recalled. “A lot of times when we were on, they’d be clapping and screaming, ‘We want The Beatles!’”

The Stones, on the other hand, who had just released the album12 x 5, were a bit more unknown at the time — meaning their fanbase was slightly calmer.

Rock and roll band Beatles pose for a portrait in circa 1964. (L-R) Paul McCartney, John Lennon, Ringo Starr, George Harrison.Michael Ochs Archives/Getty

Michael Ochs Archives/Getty

“They hadn’t really made it yet. I think the next weekend after we worked with them, they became huge,” he said. “So that was at least more musical, opening for them, so that was really more fun. But being with The Beatles was, obviously, more historic.”

Mick Jagger, Brian Jones (1942-1969), Bill Wyman, Keith Richards and Charlie Watts of the Rolling Stones in 1964.Mark and Colleen Hayward/Redferns

Medley and Hatfield, meanwhile, founded the Righteous Brothers in the early 1960s, and Medley launched a solo career in 1968. The duo was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2003, the same year Hatfield died at age 63.

On Feb. 21, Medley — who still tours as the Righteous Brothers with Bucky Heard — will releaseStraight from the Heart, a collection of country songs that marks his first new album in nearly 20 years.

“Country songs give you the flexibility to do them the way you want. I’m 84, I’m not a country singer — but I love country blues songs,” he toldBillboard. “I’ve always thought George Jones was one of the great blues singers in the world.”

source: people.com