It’s an age-old comparison: the Beatles versus the Rolling Stones.

And even Keith Richards can’t keep quiet on the subject, according to the September issue of Esquire, in which the Stones guitarist candidly shares his opinion of the competition and what is generally considered one of their greatest albums.

“The Beatles, chicks worse those guys out. They stopped touring in 1966 – they were done already. They were ready to go to India and s**t” says Richard.

(It should be noted that, almost 50 years later, the Rolling Stones have just wrapped up their North American Zip Code tour and Richards is about to release his next project, a new solo album.)

“There’s not a lot of roots in that music. I think they got carried away,” he continues about the Beatles’ 1967 album, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. “Some people think it’s a genius album, but I think it’s a mishmash of rubbish.”

BACKSTAGE ACCESS: The Rolling Stones – We Should All See Them One More Time!

Maybe it was something about 1967. The Stones’ answer to the Sgt. Pepper that year was Their Satanic Majesties – the band’s first and only foray into psychadelia.

“If you can make a load of s**t, so can we,” the 71-year-old declares.

We’re not sure we agree, but how can you argue with Keith Richards himself?

Richards’ solo album, Crosseyed Heart is due out September 18th. Pre-order it on Amazon now.