[neverending]

I like them both, but I'm with the monkey- no other band had such an effect on EVERYTHING. First band to insist on doing their own material primarily. Every band afterwards benefited from their lead. Sgt. Pepper's- there's no denying its legacy. It blew everyone away- music fans, music critics, and most of all- MUSICIANS. Every other band after that knew they had to step up their game. From recording techniques, to lyrical content, to thematic inovations- it literally changed the way people listened to music and the way people made and recorded music. To deny its influence simply means YOU'RE NOT PAYING ATTENTION.

You can't compare them in terms of live performance because at the height of their abilities the Beatles quit performing live. I love the Stones. There's no arguing they can rock. In terms of songwriting though, there's just no comparison. The breadth and depth of the Lennon/McCartney cannon is untouchable- and you put Harrison in there as well, and the Beatles legacy is just untouchable.

Ultimately, it's a stupid debate. People make their choices based on what appeals to them, and that's the way it should be. They are two of the greatest bands ever. Measuring influence and legacy is possible, however. Anybody who can look impartially can see the Beatles' reach is much farther.