Cooperation of the giants: Ex-Beatle Paul McCartney can be heard as bass player on the next album by the British rock band Rolling Stones. The 80-year-old recorded the bass part for one of the songs, the British news agency PA reported on Wednesday. Stones frontman Mick Jagger and guitarist Keith Richards meanwhile mixed other songs. Contrary to other reports, Beatles drummer Ringo Starr is not there, said a Stones spokesman.

The album, which is yet to be named, is due out this year. Stones drummer Charlie Watts, who died in 2021, can still be heard on about half of the songs, PA reported. The other songs were recorded with drummer Steve Jordan, who has been with the group since Watts' death.

Although the Beatles and Rolling Stones, as the most famous British bands of their time, have often been portrayed as rivals, the musicians have always collaborated. In 1968, Beatle John Lennon performed as part of a "supergroup" called The Dirty Mac on the Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus show. Stones founding member Brian Jones played guitar on the Beatles' song "You Know My Name (Look Up The Number)". McCartney and John Lennon wrote the song "I Wanna Be Your Man" for the Stones, which was later recorded by the Beatles.