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3.29am
21 February 2024
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“Bite My Head Off” is a song written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, and released on The Rolling Stones’ 2023 album “Hackney Diamonds“. It features Paul McCartney on bass, making it the first Rolling Stones song Paul has contributed to since “We Love You” in 1967.
Paul was invited to join the recording session for the track by producer Andy Watt, who was simultaneously working with him on his new album and producing the new Rolling Stones album.
I think this is classic Rock and Roll. This will be a legendary song in future and time will treat it very nicely, like Helter Skelter or something….
As Paul and I were becoming friends, I decided to get him a gift. I got him another lefty ’64 Hofner, similar to the one he played in the Beatles. However, I added a twist: my guitar tech installed a Univox Super Fuzz circuit on the Hofner that could be activated with a switch.
When I gave it to Paul, he said, “This is an incredibly thoughtful gift, but why? I already have my Beatles Hofner — why another one?” I was like, “Just plug it in and give that extra switch a try.” Suddenly his eyes widened, and he just started ripping on it. I told him to bring it to the recording session, and he couldn’t stop laughing.
I shared the song with Paul the day before, and when we entered the studio with the band, he brought out the bass. During the breakdown section of the song, he activated the Super Fuzz switch, and it was complete carnage! Everyone was like, “What the f**k was that?” It was hilarious and so cool. I think we recorded just three takes of that song, but almost immediately, Keith and Ronnie were on their feet, and Mick dragged the mic into the middle of the room and the roof left the building.
I think Paul really enjoyed that he was just a guy in a band again with friends that he’s known for 60 years. It had been a long time since he was with equals, just plugging in his bass and doing a session. I couldn’t wipe the grin off my face for a very long time.
—–Andy Watt (Producer)
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4.44am
7 November 2022
Offline That quote from Mick is a little confusing. His first sentence implies he only recently became friends with Paul…
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1.14pm
21 February 2024
Offline As I said earlier, the bass solo is KILLER. When I first heard it, I was like, “Oh, good. If you have Beatle Paul playing for you, ya GOT to let him show off.
I believed he said either of these after Mick egged him on; “Come on, Paul, let’s hear some thing”
– “Yeah! Bite My Head Off”
– “Yeah! F**k Off!”
I must say this is one of the highlights – Top 2 on the album.
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1.39pm
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20 August 2013
Offline Yes, you’re correct, @Sea Belt. That quote is confusing when it seems like it is from Mick Jagger. Paul and Mick have been friends for decades. Good catch-made me look it up.
That quote is from Andrew Watt, not Mick Jagger.
When asked about the origins behind Bite My Head Off’s low-end part, Watt recalled, “As Paul and I were becoming friends, I decided to get him a gift.
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5.43am
7 November 2022
Offline Thanks @Ahhh Girl — now it makes sense.
On a related note, I remember watching the music video recently from someone here linking it, and I was disappointed in how brief Paul’s contribution was, and also that he seemed to be zooming it in from elsewhere.
Now today I find, you have changed your mind
11.40am
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20 August 2013
Offline In that Guitar World article it says: “All became clear once McCartney was told to “plug it in and give that extra switch a try,” and it wasn’t long before Macca did just that in the studio, alongside Ronnie Wood, Keith Richards, and Mick Jagger.”
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11.12pm
7 November 2022
Offline The video I saw seems to be a promo — in that, they have a black guy playing bass then quickly interspersed with Paul playing from another location. Very briefly they show stills of Paul apparently in the studio with the band, so maybe Paul was separated only for the promo.
Now today I find, you have changed your mind
11.40pm
6 May 2018
Offline Sea Belt said
On a related note, I remember watching the music video recently from someone here linking it, and I was disappointed in how brief Paul’s contribution was, and also that he seemed to be zooming it in from elsewhere.
The video predominantly comprises a gig at Racket, NYC featuring The Rolling Stones with their usual bassist Darryl Jones, who has been playing with the band since 1993. During the appropriate section of the video, Paul is shown playing (not just stills) in a pre-recorded inset view.
As AG posted (above), Paul was playing in the studio with Mick, Keith and Ronnie when the song was recorded.
I wouldn’t reasonably expect Paul to be part of their gig, although it could be interesting. One person remarked in the comments on YouTube: “Imagine when the Stones are playing this song during a concert, Paul McCartney comes out on stage to join them. That would be totally epic.”
Regarding Darryl Jones, here’s a great article:
Bassist Darryl Jones Celebrates 30 Years With the Rolling Stones: ‘I Did What I Dreamt of Doing’
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4.58am
7 November 2022
Offline I hadn’t been following the Stones in latter decades, so I didn’t know about Darryl Jones. I also didn’t realize that was a real concert (assumed it was just staged for the sake of a video promo). That would have been epic if Paul walked out!
Now today I find, you have changed your mind
7.11am
21 February 2024
Offline Is anyone else curious to see more footage of Paul in studio… If that’s a studio, it looks like a condo with open patio in the black and white footage.
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America is SAFE Again! 47
7.03pm
7 November 2022
Offline LucyInTheSkyWithHackneyDiamonds said
Is anyone else curious to see more footage of Paul in studio… If that’s a studio, it looks like a condo with open patio in the black and white footage.
Well, you know, Lucy, it’s 2024, so people still don’t have ready access to film cameras…
Now today I find, you have changed your mind
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