Paul McCartney
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| Paul McCartney
<tr style="text-align: center;"><td colspan="3">Image:Paul McCartney on stage in Prague.jpg </td></tr> | ||
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| Background information
<tr><td>Birth name</td><td colspan="2">James Paul McCartney</td></tr><tr><td>Born</td><td colspan="2">June 18, 1942 |
Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE, (born June 18 1942, Liverpool) is an English songwriter, musician and singer, who is best known as a former Beatle, a member of Wings (with Linda McCartney) and as a solo artist. Following the announcement of his departure from The Beatles on 10 April 1970, McCartney launched a successful solo career, and then formed Wings. McCartney has also worked in the classical music field (with works such as Liverpool Oratorio) and ambient/electronic music (under the pseudonym of The Fireman). He has released a large catalogue of songs as a solo artist, and has taken part in many other musical projects to financially assist international charities.
McCartney is listed in The Guinness Book Of Records as the most successful musician in popular music history, and the most successful popular-music composer ever, with sales of 100 million singles and 60 gold discs. McCartney's song "Yesterday" is listed as the most covered song in history and it has been played more than 7,000,000 times on American TV and radio. After its release - in 1977 - the Wings single "Mull of Kintyre" became the highest-selling record in British chart history, and remained so until 1984. McCartney's company (MPL) owns the copyrights to more than three thousand songs, including all of the songs written by Buddy Holly, and owns the publishing rights to musicals such as Guys and Dolls, A Chorus Line, and Grease.
Aside from his musical work, McCartney is a painter, a strong advocate for animal rights, vegetarianism, music education (LIPA), and is active against landmines, and Third World debt.
McCartney was awarded the MBE on October 16 1965, by Queen Elizabeth II, and on 11 March 1997, he was knighted (Knight Bachelor) for his services to music.
[edit] Early years: 1942-1957
James Paul McCartney was born, in the Walton General Hospital in Liverpool, England, where his mother Mary had worked as a nursing sister in the maternity ward, while his father was a firefighter in Liverpool during World War II.<ref name="SpitzPage75"> “Spitz”. p75</ref> His brother, Michael, was born nearly two years later (7 January 1944).<ref name="MilesPage4"> Miles. p4.</ref> McCartney was baptized as a Roman Catholic, but was raised non-denominationally; his mother was a Roman Catholic and his father, James 'Jim' McCartney, was a Protestant.<ref name="MilesPage4"> Miles. p4.</ref> Like many in Liverpool, McCartney has some Irish heritage,<ref name="parents3"> Miles. p3.</ref> owed to his maternal grandfather, Owen Mohin/Mohan who was born in 1880, in Tullynamalrow, County Monaghan, Ireland, and who married Mary Theresa Danher (from Toxteth, Liverpool) in 1905.<ref name="MilesPage4"> Miles. p4.</ref>
In 1947, when Michael was three years old, Mary McCartney became a domiciliary midwife.<ref name="MilesPage5"> Miles. p5.</ref> forcing her to be on-call at all hours of any day or night.<ref name="MilesPage5"> Miles. p5.</ref> Her job, however, allowed the McCartney family to move to Sir Thomas White Gardens, off St. Domingo Road in Everton, to live in a rent-free flat, that was supplied by her employers.<ref name="MilesPage5"> Miles. p5.</ref> They moved again shortly after, to 72 Western Avenue in Speke,<ref name="MilesPage5"> Miles. p5.</ref> and then to 12 Ardwick Road - also in Speke <ref name="MilesPage9"> Miles. p9.</ref> - which was part of a new estate in the suburbs of Liverpool. McCartney remembered lots of mud on the unfinished roads and the feeling of being "on the edge of the world, like Christopher Columbus".<ref name="MilesPage5"> Miles. p5.</ref> It was noted in those early days that McCartney, with his dark hair and expressive eyes, "could charm the skin off a snake"; meaning that he could talk and charm his way out of an uncomfortable situation when involved in any kind of mischief.<ref name=" SpitzPage80-81"> Spitz. pp80-81</ref> It was while the McCartneys were living in Speke that the young Paul McCartney would often wander off to local woods and streams, and read "book after book".<ref name="SpitzPage81"> Spitz. p81</ref>
Money was always a problem in the McCartney house, as Jim McCartney only earned up to £6.00 a week working for the A. Hannay cotton company - which was less than his wife,<ref name="MilesPage5"> Miles. p5.</ref> and because of this the McCartney family did not own a television until The Queen's coronation in 1953, and never owned a car.<ref name="MilesPage6"> Miles. p6.</ref>
After leaving the Stockton Wood Road Primary school,<ref name="Beatlesschools">Photos of Beatles schools Retrieved: 25 November, 2006 </ref>in All Saints Road, Speke, McCartney went to the Joseph Williams Junior School, in Naylorsfield Drive, Liverpool.<ref name="Beatlesschools"/><ref>Site of Joseph Williams School in Naylorsfield Drive Multimap.com </ref> Paul took the 11-plus exam in 1953, and passed.<ref name="MilesPage9"> Miles. p9.</ref> Of the 90 children from the Joseph Williams school that took the exam, only three others passed, earning them places at the Liverpool Institute in Mount Street, which was Liverpool's top grammar school.<ref name="MilesPage9"> Miles. p9.</ref> He befriended future bandmate George Harrison on the bus back home,<ref name="SpitzPage125"> Spitz. p125</ref> as they lived only a block away from each other - Harrison was then living at 24 Upton Green, Allerton.<ref name="MilesPage9"> Miles. p9.</ref> Passing the 11-plus exam meant that McCartney and Harrison would not have to go to a Secondary modern school, where most pupils only attended until they were eligible to work,<ref name="SpitzPage82"> Spitz. p82</ref> but it also meant that pupils who were offered a place at a grammar school lost all their friends - such was the division between the two school systems.<ref name="SpitzPage83"> Spitz. p83</ref>
In 1955, the McCartney family moved again, to 20 Forthlin Road;<ref>Photo of Forthlin Road</ref> a council house in Allerton.<ref name="MilesPage14"> Miles. p14.</ref> The house is now owned by The National Trust. Mary McCartney - who was a heavy smoker - <ref name="SpitzPage77"> Spitz. p77</ref> had to ride a bicycle in all weathers to the houses where she was needed as a midwife,<ref name="SpitzPage77"> Spitz. p77</ref> and one of McCartney's earliest memories is of her setting off to deliver a baby at someone's house when it was snowing heavily.<ref name="MilesPage6"> Miles. p6.</ref> Mary McCartney died of an embolism<ref name="SpitzPage90"> Spitz. p90</ref> - after a mastectomy operation that was carried out to try to curb her breast cancer - on 31 October 1956,<ref name="MilesPage20"> Miles. p20.</ref> when McCartney was 14. It later created an additional bond between him and John Lennon, whose mother Julia Lennon died on 15 July 1958 when Lennon was 17.<ref name="MilesPage31"> Miles. p31.</ref>
McCartney came from a musical family, as his father was a self-taught trumpet player and pianist who had his own band called "Jim Mac's jazz Band" in the 1920s,<ref name="MilesPage22"> Miles. p22.</ref> and encouraged his two sons to be musical. Jim had an upright piano in their front room that he had bought from Harry Epstein's store in Everton,<ref name="SpitzPage71"> “Spitz”. P71</ref> and McCartney's grandfather, Joe McCartney, played an E-flat tuba; the bass instrument in a brass band.<ref name="MilesPage23-24"> Miles. pp23-24.</ref> McCartney said that his father used to point out the different instruments in songs on the radio, and often took Paul to brass band concerts in Sefton park.<ref name="MilesPage23-24"> Miles. pp23-24.</ref> Jim McCartney gave Paul a nickel-plated trumpet after the death of his wife Mary,<ref name="SpitzPage86"> Spitz. p86</ref> but when skiffle music became popular, McCartney swapped the trumpet at Rushworth and Dreapers<ref name="MilesPage21"> Miles. p21.</ref> (the largest musical instrument suppliers on Merseyside at the time) for a £15 Framus Zenith (model 17) acoustic guitar, which he still owns.<ref name="MilesPage21"> Miles. p21.</ref>
McCartney, being left handed, found the guitar impossible to play.<ref name="MilesPage21"> Miles. p21.</ref> He had never seen a left-handed guitarist, until he saw a poster advertising Slim Whitman<ref name="MilesPage21"> Miles. p21.</ref> (who was playing at the Liverpool Empire) and realised that Whitman played left-handed, and also noticed that his guitar was strung the opposite way to a right-handed player.<ref name="MilesPage21"> Miles. p21.</ref><ref name="Guitars">Early guitars McCartney played</ref><ref name="Larkin">Larkin, Colin. The Guinness Who's Who Of Country Music: Slim Whitman entry, Guinness Publishing, 1993. ISBN 085511276.</ref> McCartney wrote "I Lost My Little Girl" on the Zenith, which was his first song.<ref name="MilesPage21"> Miles. p21.</ref> McCartney played his father's Framus Spanish guitar when writing early songs with bandmate John Lennon.<ref name="Guitars"/> He later started playing piano (using his father's upright piano) and composed the melody to "When I'm Sixty-Four".<ref name="MilesPage23"> Miles. p23.</ref> His father advised him to take some music lessons, which he did, but McCartney realised that he preferred to learn 'by ear',<ref name="MilesPage22-23"> Miles. pp22-23.</ref> as he never paid attention in music classes.<ref>McCartney never paid attention in music classes FemaleFirst - 2 October 2006 </ref>
[edit] 1957-1960: The Quarrymen and The Silver Beetles
Ivan Vaughan introduced the fifteen-year-old Paul McCartney to John Lennon and The Quarrymen at the Woolton (St. Peter's church hall) fête on 6 July 1957.<ref name="SpitzPage93"> Spitz. p93</ref> McCartney played "Twenty Flight Rock", "Be-Bop-A-Lula", and a medley of Little Richard hits to Lennon and the band in the scout hut after the fête.<ref name="MilesPage25"> Miles. p25.</ref> According to Colin Hanton, there is no truth to the myth that Lennon - or any other members of the band - had been drinking alcohol that day, before meeting McCartney.<ref name="SpitzPage94"> Spitz. p94</ref> A few days later McCartney was invited by Quarryman Pete Shotton to join the group as a guitarist,<ref name="MilesPage26"> Miles. p26.</ref> and McCartney's first gig with The Quarrymen was on October 18 1957 for a Conservative Club social, at the New Clubmoor Hall in Norris Green, Liverpool.<ref name="SpitzPage108"> Spitz. p108</ref><ref name="MilesPage29"> Miles. p29.</ref> At the start of their friendship Lennon's Aunt wangi disapproved of McCartney because he was, she said, "working class", and called McCartney, "John's little friend".<ref name="MilesPage44"> Miles. p44.</ref> McCartney's father told Paul that John would get him "into trouble",<ref name="MilesPage32"> Miles. p32.</ref> although he later allowed The Quarrymen to rehearse in the front room at 20 Forthlin Road.<ref name="MilesPage38"> Miles. p38.</ref><ref name="ForthlinRoadSite">Inside ForthlinRoad 12 November 2006 </ref> Jim McCartney's fears about Lennon's influence on Paul were realised when Lennon encouraged McCartney to shoplift/steal cigarettes, candy, or books from shops, although McCartney was never caught,<ref name="SpitzPage113"> Spitz. p113</ref> and they both found a shared interest in playing pranks on band members, and teachers.<ref name="MilesPage107"> Miles. p107</ref>
McCartney formed a close-working relationship with John Lennon and they collaborated on many songs - Lennon called it "writing eyeball-to-eyeball",<ref name="MilesPage107"> Miles. p107</ref> or "playing into each other's noses".<ref name="SpitzPage133"> Spitz. p133</ref> Lennon and McCartney's first compositions were written at 20 Forthlin Road, at Mimi's house at 251 Menlove Avenue, or at the Liverpool Institute.<ref name="MilesPage34"> Miles. p34.</ref> McCartney wrote the chords and words down in a schoolbook, and prefaced each one with lines like, "A Lennon-McCartney original", or, "Another Lennon-McCartney original". <ref name="MilesPage36"> Miles. p36.</ref> Their first songs were heavily inspired by The Everly Brothers, and Buddy Holly,<ref name=" SpitzPage131-132"> Spitz. pp131-132</ref> and they often invited friends to Forthlin Road, such as George Harrison, Nigel Whalley, Barbara Baker, and Lennon's art school colleagues, to listen to their performances of new songs.<ref name="SpitzPage135"> Spitz. p135</ref>
After Lennon's disagreement with McCartney that Harrison should join the Quarrymen<ref name=" SpitzPage126-127"> Spitz. pp126-127</ref> (because of Harrison's young age) he was impressed with Harrison's playing after a rehearsal (specifically arranged by McCartney) on March 12 1958.<ref name=" SpitzPage126-127"> Spitz. pp126-127</ref> Harrison joined later (after further pressure on Lennon by McCartney that Harrison should join the band)<ref name=" SpitzPage126-127"> Spitz. pp126-127</ref> as lead guitarist.<ref name="MilesPage47"> Miles. p47.</ref> He was followed by the addition of Lennon's art school friend, Stuart Sutcliffe, on bass,<ref name="MilesPage50"> Miles. p50.</ref> whom McCartney later bickered with about Sutcliffe's musical ability.<ref name="CynthiaLennonJohnPage94"> Cynthia Lennon “John”. p94.</ref> By May 1960, they had tried several new names, including the "Silver Beetles", before changing it to The Beatles for their performances in Hamburg in August 1960.<ref name="CynthiaLennonJohnPage67"> Cynthia “John”. P67.</ref><ref name=" Kaiserkellerposters ">Original Posters from the Kaiserkeller </ref>
[edit] 1960-1970: The Beatles
The Beatles released studio and film soundtrack albums in the 1960s: Please Please Me, (1963) With the Beatles, (1963) A Hard Day's Night, (1964) Beatles for Sale, (1964 ) Help! (1965 film soundtrack) Rubber Soul (1965) Revolver (1966) Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1966) The Beatles (1968) Yellow Submarine (1969 film soundtrack) Abbey Road (1969) and Let It Be (1970 released with a TV special/film)
Allan Williams started managing The Beatles in May 1960, and booked them into Bruno Koschmider's Indra club in Hamburg,<ref name="MilesPage56"> Miles. p56.</ref><ref name="HamburgBeatleClubs">Photos of Clubs in Hamburg </ref> and Pete Best joined them on drums as soon as the Hamburg season was confirmed.<ref name="MilesPage57"> Miles. p57.</ref> Pete Best's mother ran the Casbah Club in Liverpool,<ref name="TheCasbahClub ">Photos of The Casbah Club </ref> where The Beatles had played a few times in August 1959.<ref name="MilesPage57"> Miles. p57.</ref>
McCartney's father was reluctant to let the teenage Paul go to Hamburg, until Paul pointed out how much money he would earn there, which was £2.50 per day, per musician. As this was more than his father earned, Jim finally agreed.<ref name="MilesPage57"> Miles. p57.</ref> They first started playing at the Indra<ref name="HamburgBeatleClubs"/> club - sleeping in small, dirty rooms in the Bambi Kino<ref name="HamburgBeatleClubs"/> - and then later moved (after the closure of the Indra) to the Kaiserkeller,<ref name="HamburgBeatleClubs"/> which was much bigger.<ref name="MilesPage57-58"> Miles. pp57-8.</ref> In October 1960, they left Koschmider's club and worked at the "Top Ten Club",<ref name="CynthiaLennonJohnPage93"> Cynthia Lennon “John”. p93.</ref><ref name="HamburgBeatleClubs"/> which was run by Peter Eckhorn.<ref name="MilesPage71-72"> Miles. pp71-72.</ref> When McCartney and Pete Best went back to the Bambi Kino to get their belongings they found it in almost total darkness.<ref name="MilesPage72"> Miles. p72.</ref> As a snub to Koschmider, they found a condom, attached it to a nail on the concrete wall of their room, and set fire to it.<ref name="MilesPage72"> Miles. p72.</ref> There was no chance of it causing any great damage, but Koschmider reported them for attempted arson, and McCartney and Best spent three hours in a local jail. This led to George Harrison being deported back to the UK for being under the age limit of 18 and working, and Best and McCartney were also later deported.<ref name="MilesPage72-73"> Miles. pp72-73.</ref>
Although they returned to Hamburg (when Harrison became 18-years-old) Sutcliffe had left the band, and Paul was coerced into playing bass.<ref name="MilesPage74"> Miles. p74.</ref> He played Sutcliffe's bass guitar, and then bought a Höfner bass, which the left-handed McCartney was able to turn upside down without the volume controls restricting his playing.<ref name="MilesPage74"> Miles. p74.</ref><ref>Sculpture in Hamburg </ref> He later bought a left-handed Hofner bass.<ref>Left-handed Hofner bass at the Cavern </ref>
Upon their return from Hamburg to Liverpool, The Beatles played their first of many concerts at the Cavern club, on February 9 1961.<ref name="Page80"> Lewisohn. p80</ref> McCartney knew that other bands were playing the same songs that they played, which prompted him and Lennon to write more of their own material.<ref name="MilesPage81-82"> Miles. pp81-82.</ref> It was at the Cavern that Brian Epstein first saw The Beatles playing live,<ref name="MilesPage85"> Miles. p85.</ref> and later signed them to a management contract. Epstein managed his family's NEMS record shop, and was known as being a homosexual, but it never personally bothered McCartney.<ref name="MilesPage88"> Miles. p88</ref> McCartney explained that Epstein used to take them to after-hours late-night drinking clubs that they had previously never had access to, and greatly encouraged them when record companies refused to give them a contract.<ref name="MilesPage88"> Miles. p88</ref> McCartney knew what being gay meant, but he was never propositioned, and didn't see it as any problem at all.<ref name="MilesPage88"> Miles. p88</ref> McCartney played at the Cavern Club again, in 1999, with David Gilmour and Ian Paice,<ref>McCartney plays the Cavern bbc.co.uk 14 December, 1999</ref> in aid of the "Linda McCartney Centre",<ref>Linda McCartney Centre Retrieved: 2 November 2006</ref> which is a specialist cancer unit at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital.<ref name="LindaCentre">Linda McCartney Centre bbc.co.uk - 6 September, 2002 </ref>
The Beatles signed a record contract that Epstein had arranged on May 9 1962, with Parlophone records,<ref name="MilesPage90"> Miles. p90</ref> having previously been auditioned - but turned down - by Decca records, whose A&R manager, Dick Rowe, told Epstein that "Groups of guitars are on the way out, Mr Epstein - you really should stick to selling records in Liverpool."<ref name="MilesPage89"> Miles. p89</ref> "Love Me Do" was released on October 5 1962,<ref name="MilesPage90"> Miles. p90</ref> and featured McCartney singing solo on the chorus line.<ref name="MilesPage91"> Miles. p91</ref>
All the Lennon-McCartney songs on the first pressing of Please Please Me album (recorded in one day on February 11 1963)<ref name="MilesPage93"> Miles. p93</ref> as well as the single "From Me to You", and its B-side, "Thank You Girl", are credited to "McCartney-Lennon", although this would later be changed to "Lennon-McCartney".<ref name="Daybyday">The Beatles : Day-by-Day, Song-by-Song, Record-by-Record, by Cross, Craig, iUniverse.com, 14 May 2005, ISBN 0595346634 </ref> For McCartney, the move to London, from Liverpool, was an exciting one,<ref name="MilesPage100"> Miles. p100</ref> and he made many trips to Charing Cross Road, just to visit the plethora of guitar shops there, even though he couldn't afford to buy a new guitar at the time.<ref name="MilesPage100"> Miles. p100</ref> McCartney and Lennon wrote their songs - during the sixties - in many places, when they had time to spare.<ref name="MilesPage149"> Miles. p149</ref> They only needed an hour or two to finish a song, which were finalised in hotel rooms after a concert, at Wimpole Street, at Cavendish Avenue,<ref name="MilesPage149"> Miles. p149</ref> or at Kenwood (John Lennon's house).<ref name="MilesPage171"> Miles. p171</ref> McCartney also wrote songs for other artists, such as Billy J. Kramer, Cilla Black, Badfinger, and Mary Hopkin.<ref name="MilesPage180-181"> Miles. pp180-181</ref>
After recording sessions, Lennon, Harrison and Starr retreated to secure country houses in the so-called 'stockbroker belt' <ref name="MilesPage166-167"> Miles. pp166-167</ref><ref>Stockbroker belt explanation </ref> of southern England, but McCartney continued to live in central London: in Jane Asher's parents' house in the centre of town (57 Wimpole Street) and then at Cavendish Avenue, St John's Wood - a short distance from the Abbey Road Studios.<ref name="MilesPage166-167"> Miles. pp166-167</ref> It was at Cavendish Avenue that McCartney bought his first Old English Sheepdog called "Martha" - which he later wrote about - <ref name="MilesPage262"> Miles. p262</ref> and three cats called Jesus, Mary and Joseph.<ref name="MilesPage263"> Miles. p263</ref>
McCartney often went to nightclubs alone, which offered 'dining and dancing until 4.00 a.m.', and featured cabaret acts.<ref name="MilesPage129"> Miles. p129</ref> McCartney would get preferential treatment everywhere he went, which he readily accepted,<ref name="MilesPage130-131"> Miles. pp130-131</ref> - even once accepting an offer from a Policeman to be allowed to park McCartney's car. <ref name="MilesPage129"> Miles. p129</ref> He later took to going to gambling clubs after 4.00 in the morning, such as 'The Curzon House' (in Curzon Street, London) where he would often see Brian Epstein.<ref name="MilesPage131"> Miles. p131</ref> The Ad Lib club - above the Prince Charles Theatre at 7 Leicester Place - was later opened to cater for the emerging 'Rock and Roll' crowd of musicians, and tolerated their unusual lifestyle.<ref name="MilesPage132-133"> Miles. pp132-133</ref> After the Ad Lib fell out of favour, McCartney moved on to the Scotch of St James,<ref name="Scotch of St James">Friends of the Scotch of St James 11 November 2006</ref> at 13 Masons yard.<ref name="MilesPage134"> Miles. p134</ref><ref name="ClubsinLondon">Scotch of St. James, 13 Masons Yard </ref> He also frequented The Bag o'Nails club<ref>The Bag o’Nails bbc.co.uk: 13 May, 2003 16 November 2006</ref> at 8 Kingly Street in Soho, London, which is where he met Linda McCartney.
The Beatles stopped touring in mid-1966, after their last concert in Candlestick Park, San Francisco, on August 29 1966. The other three Beatles had often advocated the idea of stopping touring, but McCartney had resisted. After the Candlestick Park concert, and after having played so many concerts where they couldn't be heard, and being totally exhausted, he finally agreed with the rest of the band that they should stop playing live concerts.<ref name="MilesPage293-295"> Miles. pp293-295.</ref>
McCartney was the first to be involved in a musical project outside of The Beatles, when he composed the score for the feature film The Family Way, in 1966. The soundtrack was later released as an album (also called The Family Way), and won the Ivor Novello Award for Best Instrumental Theme. Also, in 1966, he was asked by Kenneth Tynan to write the songs for the National Theatre's production of As You Like It by William Shakespeare, starring Laurence Olivier, but declined.<ref name="MilesPage124"> Miles. p124</ref> McCartney also wrote songs for and produced other artists including Mary Hopkin, Badfinger, and The Bonzo Dog Band.
During the recording of Sgt. Pepper a rumour (or Urban legend) emerged that McCartney had died in a car crash, and was replaced by a look-alike; Paul is dead.
McCartney later attempted to convince The Beatles to return to the stage, suggesting the project "Get Back", which evolved into the film and album Let It Be. The Beatles had had a tense meeting to sign a new contract with Capitol Records, and during the meeting McCartney suggested "going back to our roots", and performing on stage again, to which John Lennon replied, "I think you're mad!"<ref name="WingspanPage9"> “Wingspan”. p9</ref>
Although all the other members had previously left The Beatles at various times (and then returned) McCartney was the one who publicly announced the break-up on 10 April 1970,<ref name="Party"> DiLello, Richard: The Longest Cocktail Party, Canongate Books Ltd, 16 June 2005, ISBN 1841956023 </ref> a week before releasing his first solo album, McCartney. It included a press-release inside with a self-written interview explaining the end of The Beatles and his hopes about the future. The Beatles' partnership was legally dissolved after McCartney filed a lawsuit on 31 December 1970.
[edit] 1970s: Paul McCartney & Wings
In the 1970s, McCartney released: McCartney, (1970 - solo) Ram, (1971 - with Linda McCartney). Albums with Wings: Wild Life, (1971 Red Rose Speedway, (1973) Band on the Run, (1973) Venus and Mars, (1975) Wings at the Speed of Sound, (1976) Wings over America, (1976 – live album) Thrillington, (1977 – instrumental cover of Ram) London Town, (1978) Wings Greatest, (1978 – hits compilation) London Town, (1978) and Back to the Egg, (1979)
As Phil Spector was putting the finishing touches to Let It Be and as The Beatles were breaking up in 1970, McCartney was working on his debut solo album, McCartney. He played all the instruments: bass, drums, acoustic guitar, lead guitar, piano, Mellotron, organ, toy xylophone, bow and arrow,<ref>http://www.paulmccartney.fm/downloads/maccafm1w.PDF Paul McCartney PDF FileRetrieved: 14 November 2006 </ref> and sang all the lead vocals. Backing vocals were provided by his wife, Linda, whom he had married the previous year. Along with "Every Night", the album also contained "Maybe I'm Amazed" - one of McCartney's many love songs for Linda - <ref name="Page12"> Lewisohn. p12.</ref> and was called "one of the best songs McCartney has ever written"<ref name="AMGWingSpan>Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. Wingspan: Hits and History. All Music Guide. Retrieved: -11-06.</ref> and is #338 on the List of Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.<ref>338) Maybe I'm Amazed, Rolling Stone #963, 2004-12-09. Retrieved on 2006-11-06.</ref> He followed his debut album with a solo single on 19 February 1971, entitled "Another Day". McCartney's second solo album, Ram, was credited to both Paul and Linda McCartney. Later that year the McCartneys formed a new band called Wings, with ex-Moody Blues guitarist Denny Laine and drummer Denny Seiwell, and released their debut album, Wild Life. McCartney insisted - from the beginning of their marriage - that his wife should be involved in his professional life and later tour in his band, so that they did not have to be apart during those periods.<ref name="Page48"> Lewishon, p48.</ref>
In 1972, Paul and Linda McCartney took their new band on an unplanned tour of British universities and small European venues - turning up unannounced - and collected a small entry fee at the door for their performances.<ref name="MPL">Paul McCartney biography(2003). MPL Communications. Retrieved on 2006-11-06.</ref> In February 1972 Wings released a single called "Give Ireland Back to the Irish",<ref>BBC Radio Leeds interview Retrieved: 21 November 2006 </ref> which was written after the events of Bloody Sunday, that was banned by the BBC.<ref name="Singlesbanned">The seven ages of Paul McCartney, BBC News, 2006-06-17. Retrieved on 2006-11-06.</ref> McCartney said,
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Wings also embarked on the 26-date Wings Over Europe Tour, with added lead guitarist Henry McCullough.
In 1973, Wings released Red Rose Speedway, and during the same year, McCartney starred in a TV 'special' (a variety show) called James Paul McCartney.<ref>James Paul McCartney (TV), Internet Movie Database. Retrieved on 11 June 2006.</ref> Later that year, the band released Band on the Run,<ref name="Bandontherun">McGee, Garry (2003). Band on the Run: A History of Paul McCartney and Wings. Taylor Trade Publishing. ISBN 0878333045.</ref> which won two Grammy Awards<ref name=Page88> Lewishon. p88</ref> and is Wings most lauded work. A contemporary review by Jon Landau in Rolling Stone (issue #153) described the album as "the finest record yet released by any of the four musicians who were once called The Beatles".<ref>Landau, Jon. Wings:Band on the Run review, Rolling Stone #153, 1974-01-31. Retrieved: 11 June 2006.</ref> In retrospective reviews, Q magazine placed the album at #75 in its list of the 100 Greatest British Albums Ever, and it was ranked #418 on Rolling Stones list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.<ref>418)Band on the Run, Rolling Stone #963, 2004-12-09. Retrieved: 11 June2006.</ref>
In late 1973, McCartney wrote the theme song for the James Bond film, Live and Let Die.<ref name="MPL"/> On December 5, Wings released the single "Jet,"<ref>“Jet” chart postion Retrieved: 16 November 2006 </ref> and in 1974, "Band on the Run" and "Junior's Farm".<ref>http://www.connollyco.com/discography/paul_mccartney/index.html</ref> In 1975, and 1976, the band embarked on the ambitious Wings Over the World tour, which was released on the album Wings over America. A jam session, involving Lennon and McCartney, reportedly took place in California, in 1974, and was released on the bootleg, A Toot and a Snore in '74.
In 1977, Wings released "Mull of Kintyre"; a song about McCartney's Scottish home. McCartney explained how the song came into being:
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McCartney's relationship with John Lennon after The Beatles split in 1970 was troubled, although the pair reconciled before Lennon's death.<ref name="MilesPage587"> Miles. p587</ref> Lennon took up residence with Yoko Ono in New York City's Dakota building in 1973, and McCartney would often call him, but was never sure what reception he would get,<ref name="MilesPage588"> Miles. p588</ref> such as when McCartney once called Lennon and was told, "You're all pizza and fairytales!"<ref name="MilesPage588"> Miles. p588</ref> McCartney realised that he couldn't phone Lennon and only talk about business, so they often talked about cats, baking bread, or babies.<ref name="MilesPage590"> Miles. p590</ref> Lennon was taking care of Sean Lennon at the time, which gave rise to his own title for himself as "house-husband".<ref name="MilesPage593"> Miles. p593</ref>
Before Christmas of 1979, McCartney released his Wonderful Christmastime single.<ref>Wonderful Christmastime Retrieved: 27 November 2006 </ref>
[edit] Solo
[edit] 1980s
McCartney released studio albums, a film soundtrack, and a compilation album in the 1980s: McCartney II, (1980 studio album) Tug of War, (1982) Pipes of Peace,(1983) Give My Regards to Broad Street, (1998 film soundtrack) Press to Play (1986) All the Best (1987 hits compilation) Снова в СССР (1988 only released in Russia – World, 1991) and Flowers in the Dirt (1986)
Wings resumed activity in the autumn of 1980, but McCartney was arrested for being in possession of cannabis in Tokyo whilst on tour with Wings, and was held in custody for ten days before being deported to the UK.
In a 1980 interview with Playboy magazine,"<ref name="Playboy">Playboy interview with John Lennon and Yoko Ono. "The Beatles Ultimate Experience Database". Playboy Press (1980). Retrieved: 11 June 2006.</ref> Lennon said that he hadn't seen any of The Beatles for "I don't know how much time." He also said that the last time he had seen McCartney they had both watched the episode of Saturday Night Live - in May 1976 - where Lorne Michaels made his $3,200 cash offer to get The Beatles to reunite on the show. McCartney and Lennon had seriously considered going to the studio as a joke, but were too tired.<ref name="MilesPage592"> Miles. p592</ref>
On the morning of 9 December 1980, McCartney woke to the news that Lennon had been murdered outside his Dakota building home.<ref name="FentonBresler">Bresler, Fenton (1990). Who Killed John Lennon?, reprint ed., St. Martin's Press, ISBN 0312923678.</ref> Lennon's death caused an outpouring of grief around the world and a media frenzy around the surviving members of The Beatles.<ref>The Last Day in the Life</ref> On the evening of 9 December, when McCartney was outside an Oxford Street recording studio, he was surrounded by dozens of reporters and was asked for his reaction about Lennon's death, he said, "I was very shocked, this is terrible news." He also said that he had spent part of the day in the studio listening to some material because he "just didn't want to sit at home."<ref name="MilesPage593"> Miles. p593</ref> When asked why, he replied, "I didn't feel like it." He later added, "It's a drag, isn't it?"<ref>ABC News (1980), Paul McCartney interview [videotape news report], London. Retrieved: 11 June 2006.</ref> When publicised, his "drag" remark was criticised, and even McCartney himself regretted the remark.<ref name="MilesPage594"> Miles. p594</ref> In a later interview, McCartney insisted he had intended no disrespect whatsoever and simply could not say more, given the shock and sadness he felt over Lennon's murder.<ref name="MilesPage594"> Miles. p594</ref>
In a Playboy interview in 1984,<ref name="1984PlayboyInterview">McCartney’s 1984 Playboy Interview Retrieved: 14 November 2006 </ref> McCartney talked again about the death of Lennon. He said that night he had gone home and watched the news on television - whilst sitting with all his children - and had cried all evening. McCartney also said that his last telephone call to John, which was just before Lennon and Yoko released Double Fantasy, was a very happy one. During the call, Lennon said (laughing) to McCartney, "This housewife wants a career!"<ref name="1984PlayboyInterview">McCartney’s 1984 Playboy Interview Retrieved: 14 November 2006 </ref> which referred to Lennon's "house-husband" years, whilst he was looking after Sean Lennon. McCartney carried on recording after the death of Lennon, but did not play any live concerts for some time. He explained that this was because he was nervous that he would be "the next" to be murdered.<ref name="MilesPage594"> Miles. p594</ref><ref name="Musicexpress">Bonici, Ray. Paul McCartney Wings It Alone, Music Express issue #56, 1982. Retrieved: 11 June 2006.</ref> This led to a disagreement with Denny Laine who wanted to continue touring, and subsequently left Wings.<ref name=" Musicexpress"/> Wings later disbanded in 1981.<ref name="Page168"> Lewisohn. p168.</ref>
McCartney II was released in May 1980. As with McCartney before it, Paul played every instrument on the album himself, with an emphasis this time on synthesizers instead of acoustic guitars.<ref>Holden, Stephen. Paul McCartney: McCartney II review. Rolling Stone #322, 1980-07-22. Retrieved: 11 June 2006.</ref><ref>Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. McCartney II review. All Music Guide. Retrieved: 11 June 2006.</ref> The accompanying single, "Coming Up", reached #2 in the British chart and (in a live version) #1 in the USA.<ref>“Coming Up” chart posotion Retrieved: 16 November 2006 </ref>
McCartney's next album reunited him with Beatles producer George Martin. 1982's Tug of War,<ref>Calkin, Graham. Tug of War. Graham Calkin's Beatles Pages. Retrieved: 11 June 2006.</ref> and McCartney sang a duet, "Ebony and Ivory", with Stevie Wonder.<ref name="UKtop40database"> UK top 40 database</ref> Two further duets followed, this time with Michael Jackson: "The Girl is Mine",<ref name="UKtop40database"/> and "Say Say Say,"<ref name="UKtop40database"/> on 1983's "Pipes of Peace" (from the album of the same name).
McCartney wrote and starred in the 1984 film Give My Regards to Broad Street. The film and soundtrack featured the US and UK Top 10 hit<ref>“No more Lonely Nights” chart position in US Retrieved: 16 November 2006 </ref> "No More Lonely Nights", but the film did not do well commercially<ref>“Broad Street” a flop bbc.co.uk: 17 June 2006 </ref> and received a negative critical response. Roger Ebert, for example, awarded the film a single star and wrote "you can safely skip the movie and proceed directly to the sound track".<ref>Ebert, Roger (1984-01-01). Give My Regards to Broad Street review. RogerEbert.com. Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved: 11 June 2006.</ref>
In the second half of the decade McCartney would find new collaborators. Eric Stewart had appeared on McCartney's Pipes of Peace album,<ref>Pipes of Peace, 9 August 1993, Catalogue number: CDP7892672</ref> and he co-wrote most of McCartney's 1986 album, Press to Play<ref>Press to Play, 9 August 1993, Catalogue number: CDP7892692</ref>. McCartney returned the favour by co-writing two songs for Stewart's band, 10cc - "Don't Break the Promises" (...Meanwhile, 1992), and "Yvonne's the One" (Mirror Mirror, 1995).
McCartney released All The Best in 1987, which was a compilation album of McCartney's and Wings' hits. In 1998 McCartney released Снова в СССР, which was a collection of old rock and roll hits - written by others - that McCartney had admired over the years. It was originally released in 1988 only in the USSR, but with the addition of one extra track, the album had an international release in 1991.
McCartney also began a musical partnership with singer-songwriter Elvis Costello (Declan Macmanus).<ref name="Costello">Interview with McManus-Costello about McCartney </ref> The resulting songs would appear on several singles and albums by both artists, notably "Veronica" from Costello's album Spike, and "My Brave Face" from McCartney's Flowers in the Dirt, both released in 1989.<ref> McCartney and Costello collaborations </ref> Further McCartney/Macmanus compositions that were originally slated for "Flowers in the Dirt" would surface on the 1991 album Mighty Like a Rose (Costello) and 1993's Off the Ground (McCartney). Costello talked about their collaboration:<ref name="Costello"/>
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[edit] 1990s
McCartney released live, studio and classical albums in the 1990s: Tripping the Live Fantastic, (1990 Live album) Unplugged (The Official Bootleg), (1991) Off the Ground,(1993), Paul is Live, (1993 Live album) Flaming Pie (1997), and the 1999 covers album, Run Devil Run. The decade also saw him venture into classical music, with 1991's Liverpool Oratorio followed by Standing Stone (1997) and Working Classical (1999).
The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Society wanted to celebrate its 150th year in existence, and in 1991, they commisioned a musical piece by McCartney.<ref name="CAO">Contemporary Authors Online, Thomson Gale, 2006.</ref> McCartney collaborated with Carl Davis to release a latin-language musical piece named Liverpool Oratorio.<ref>"McCartney seeks chorus of approval for Latin piece", Vancouver Sun, August 3, 2006. Retrieved on 2006-11-10. (in English)</ref> EMI Classics recorded the premiere of the oratorio and released it on a 2-CD album.<ref name="Worldbio">"Paul McCartney." Encyclopedia of World Biography Supplement, Vol. 24. Thomson Gale, 2005.</ref>
In 1994, McCartney worked with Youth, a former member of Killing Joke, to write ambient music. Under the name of The Fireman, they released an album named Strawberries Oceans Ships Forest, in 1993.<ref name="Worldbio"/> His interest in writing classical music was still high just a few years after the release of the 'Oratorio',
and under the label EMI, he released The Leaf (1995), which is a solo piano piece played by the Royal College of Music gold-medal winner, Anya Alexeyev.<ref>Anya Alexeyev’s web page Retrieved: 28 November 2006 </ref> Subsequently, the Prince of Wales honoured McCartney with the prestigious title of Fellow of The Royal College of Music.<ref name="Worldbio"/>
In the early 1990s, the three surviving Beatles — McCartney, Harrison and Starr — reunited to work on Apple's The Beatles Anthology, a comprehensive retrospective consisting of a documentary series; three double albums of alternative takes, live recordings and remixes of Beatles songs (the first of which, Anthology 1 was released in 1995); and a photobook (released in 2000). They also created two new Beatles songs, "Free as a Bird" (1995) and "Real Love" (1996) by layering new music onto unfinished tracks Lennon had made before his death fifteen years earlier.
During the filming of The Beatles Anthology, McCartney and Lennon's widow, Yoko Ono set to work in his home-studio on an extreme avant-garde musical piece called "Hiroshima Sky". The McCartney-Ono tape consists of E-minor chords played by Linda on keyboards, with Paul playing double bass, with Sean Lennon and younger members of McCartney’s family playing whatever they could lay their hands on, whilst Yoko sang.<ref name="TheUnknownPaulReview">“The Unknown Paul McCartney” review bbc.co.uk Retrieved: 16 November 2006 </ref> The tape has never been officially released.<ref name="TheUnknownPaulReview">“The Unknown Paul McCartney” review bbc.co.uk Retrieved: 16 November 2006 </ref>
[edit] 2000s
In the 2000s, McCartney released: Wingspan: Hits and History, (2001 (compilation of hits album) Driving Rain, (2001) Back in the U.S.,(2003) Back in the World, (2003 (Live album) Chaos and Creation in the Backyard, (2005), and the 2006 classical album, Ecce Cor Meum.
Wingspan: An Intimate Portrait (2001)<ref>Wingspan, DVD, Catalogue number: 4779109, 19 November 2001 </ref> is a documentary that features a collection of behind-the-scenes films and intimate photographs that Paul and Linda McCartney took of their family and bands over the years. Interspersed throughout the (88 mins) film is an interview by Mary McCartney with her father, Paul McCartney. Mary is the baby inside McCartney's jacket on the back cover photograph of his first solo album, McCartney, and was one of the producers of the documentary.<ref name="Page21"> Lewisohn. p21</ref>
On 20 October 2001, McCartney took a lead role in organising The Concert for New York City in response to the September 11 terrorist attacks.<ref>Various Artists, The Concert for New York City, 01/29/2002, COLUMBIA, 054205 (1C2D54205 ) Discs: 2</ref> A few days before the concert, McCartney was involved in a car crash at a crossroads in New York's East Hampton resort. He complained of back pains but did not need hospital treatment.<ref>McCartney car crashbbc.co.uk, Monday, 29 October, 2001</ref>
After recovering from the car crash, McCartney received word that his longtime classmate, friend and ex-Beatles' lead guitarist George Harrison died of cancer on 29 November 2001. McCartney told Entertainment Tonight, Access Hollywood, Today and Extra about George being like his "baby brother" in The Beatles, even though Harrison was only nine months younger than McCartney. George Harrison died in a Hollywood Hills mansion that was once leased by Sir Paul McCartney, and was previously owned by Courtney Love.<ref>Where George Harrison died</ref> On 29 November, 2002, on the first anniversary of Harrison's death, McCartney, Ringo Starr, Eric Clapton, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Jeff Lynne, Billy Preston, Joe Brown, Jools Holland, Sam Brown, Olivia Harrison, Dhani Harrison, among many others that attended the Concert For George <ref>The Concert for George, Catalogue number: 0349702412</ref> at the Royal Albert Hall in London. McCartney played "Something", and started the song by playing a ukulele unaccompanied. He explained this by saying that when he and George got together, they would often play Beatles songs (and their own) on a ukulele. McCartney, Clapton and Starr reunited on "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" for the first time since the song was recorded. The profits from the concert went to Harrison's charity, the Material World Charitable Foundation.<ref>Material World Charitable Foundation</ref>
In 2002, McCartney went on another major American tour. The tour continued around the rest of the world in 2003, and 2004. His backing band, formed for the 2002 tour and continuing with the same musicians to this day, includes Rusty Anderson (guitar/vocals), Brian Ray (guitar/bass/vocals), Paul 'Wix' Wickens (keyboards, guitar, accordion, vocals), and Abe Laboriel Jr. (drums, vocals). He also contributed to an album titled Good Rockin' Tonight: The Legacy Of Sun Records, which included a version of the Elvis Presley hit "That's All Right (Mama)" recorded with Presley musicians Scotty Moore and D.J. Fontana.<ref>Good Rockin' Tonight: The Legacy Of Sun Records (DVD) Director: Bruce Sinofsky, October 8, 2002 </ref>
McCartney performed during the pre-game ceremonies at the NFL's Super Bowl XXXVI on 3 February 2002, and was the half-time performer at Super Bowl XXXIX on 6 February 2005. Unlike previous years, he was the 'only' performer in the entire half-time show. His set consisted of "Drive My Car", "Get Back", "Live and Let Die" and "Hey Jude".
Early in 2003, McCartney went to Russia to play a concert in Red Square. The Russian President, Vladimir Putin, gave McCartney a tour of Red Square, and McCartney played a solo (private) version of "Let It Be" for the President. Whilst singing "Hey Jude" - during the concert - he called out to President Putin to sing along.<ref>McCartney plays Red Square Saturday, 24 May, 2003</ref>
In June 2004, McCartney headlined the Glastonbury Festival - which was his first ever appearance at a British music festival.<ref>"NME.com McCARTNEY WOWS GLASTO", New Musical Express, IPC Media, July 27, 2004.</ref> McCartney and festival organiser Michael Eavis picked up the NME Award on behalf of the Festival which won 'Best Live Event' in the 2005 awards.<ref>New Musical Express, NME.com 17 February 2005</ref> McCartney performed at the main Live 8 concert on 2 July 2005, playing "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" with U2 to open the Hyde Park event (the song choice reflecting the 20 years after Live Aid), then returning almost ten hours later to close the show with "Get Back", "Drive My Car" (sharing the vocals with George Michael), "Helter Skelter", "The Long And Winding Road", and an ensemble rendition of the refrain from "Hey Jude". Ringo Starr reproached McCartney for not asking him to play with him at Live 8.<ref>Starr Slams McCartney for not inviting him to Live 8 (July 10, 2005). Retrieved on 2006-05-17.</ref>
On 18 June 2006, McCartney celebrated his 64th birthday, an event prefigured in his song, "When I'm Sixty-Four". It was a widely celebrated event for, as the cultural commentator Paul Vallely noted in The Independent:
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McCartney joined Jay-Z and Linkin Park onstage at the 2006 Grammy Awards in a performance of his Beatles' classic "Yesterday" to commemorate the recent passing of Coretta Scott King, while also performing "Fine Line" and "Helter Skelter" on his own. McCartney later noted that it was the first time he had performed at the Grammys and said, "I finally passed the audition", which was a reference to the statement made by John Lennon at the end of The Beatles' rooftop concert - shown in the Let It Be film.
[edit] Family life
McCartney was the last Beatle to marry,<ref name="Whitall">Whitall, Susan, "Women swoon as Paul McCartney is single again", The Detroit News, 24 May 2006 (link)</ref> but, in the 1960s, he enjoyed a five-year relationship<ref name="MilesPage452"> Miles. p452</ref> and a long engagement with actress Jane Asher.<ref name="MaccaSMH">"McCartney's lament: I can't buy your love", Sydney Morning Herald, 12 June 2004 (link)</ref> Asher and McCartney split in 1968, and the following year McCartney married American photographer Linda Eastman. The McCartneys would remain married and devoted to each other until Linda's death from breast cancer in 1998, after having had three children during their marriage. In 2002 McCartney married former model Heather Mills. The couple had one child but announced their separation in 2006.
[edit] Relationship with Jane Asher
Paul McCartney first met British actress Jane Asher on 18 April 1963, when The Beatles were performing at the Royal Albert Hall in London as part of a BBC concert broadcast.<ref name="MilesPage101"> Miles. p101.</ref> As they were waiting around for the finale, a photographer who was working for the BBC's Radio Times asked them to pose with Asher - a seventeen-year-old red-headed actress who had previously appeared as a panellist on the Juke Box Jury pop music show.<ref name="MilesPage102"> Miles. p102.</ref> She was asked to do an interview with The Beatles by the BBC, and was photographed screaming at them like a fan.<ref name="MilesPage102"> Miles. p102.</ref> After the concert was over, they all went back to the Royal Court hotel, and then on to a journalist's apartment on King's Road in London.<ref name="MilesPage102"> Miles. p102.</ref> McCartney then pursued Asher as much as he could in an effort to persuade her to become his girlfriend.<ref name="MilesPage102"> Miles. p102.</ref>
McCartney soon met Jane's family. Margaret Asher, Jane's mother, combined her life as the mother of three children with a full-time career as a music teacher,<ref name="MilesPage104"> Miles. p104.</ref> and Jane's father, Richard, was a physician.<ref name="MilesPage104"> Miles. p104.</ref> Jane's brother, Peter, was a member of Peter and Gordon,<ref name="MilesPage104"> Miles. p104.</ref> and Jane's younger sister, Clare, was also an actress.<ref name="MilesPage104"> Miles. p104.</ref> McCartney later gave "A World Without Love", one of his early songs,<ref name="MilesPage112">Miles. p112.</ref> to Peter and Gordon.<ref name="Webb">Brennan, Joseph (1996).Songs the Beatles Didn't Do. The Usenet Guide to Beatles Recording Variations. Retrieved: 11 June 2006.</ref> According to Cynthia Lennon, Paul was "as proud as a peacock" to have Ja