Trivia
He is one of Britain's wealthiest men: according to the High Court
judgment Sir Paul's total fortune comes to £387,012,000.
Still plays his 1964 Epiphone acoustic guitar which he used to compose "Yesterday".
Although all his songs for The Beatles are still credited as "Lennon - McCartney" he individually wrote almost half of all 200 songs for The Beatles,
such as "Yesterday", "Let it Be", "Can't Buy Me Love", "Helter
Skelter", "Eleanor Rigby", "Yellow Submarine", "Hey Jude" and many more.
Only songs in earlier albums are really joint efforts with John Lennon. The co-credit was because of a handshake deal the two had made in their teens.
Awarded for classical compositions of choral and orchestral music.
During his engagement to Jane Asher, Paul (with John Lennon) wrote several songs for Jane's older brother, Peter Asher, of the singing duo Peter and Gordon, including their #1 hit "World Without Love". He also wrote the song "Woman" for them, under the pseudonym of Bernard Webb.
Plays piano for the song, "Let It Be". Performed "Let It Be" at Live Aid in 1985. During this performance, Bob Geldof, David Bowie, Alison Moyet and Pete Townshend (of The Who) all came on stage towards the end to sing backup vocals.
Awarded the Polar Music Prize, the Royal Swedish Academy of Music Award, in 1992.
He is in the Guinness Book of World Records with 60 gold discs and sales of over 100 million singles.
Owns the double bass that once belonged to Elvis Presley's bassist Bill Black. He plays the instrument on his solo sessions at his studio.
Played over 40 various instruments on two of his solo albums, 'McCartney' (1970) and 'McCartney II' (1980).
Had wanted The Beatles to do a club tour shortly before they broke up. John Lennon disagreed, thinking that if they did tour again, it should have been in stadium-sized venues.
Named one of E!'s "top 20 entertainers of 2001."
Owns the copyrights to Buddy Holly's song catalogue, and also numerous other compositions, including "Ramblin' Wreck From Georgia Tech".
Owns a Steinway concert piano model B made in Hamburg. He takes the piano along on his concert tours around the world.
Has written several songs about his former bandmate John Lennon, including "Dear Boy", "Too Many People", "Dear Friend", "Let Me Roll It" and "Here Today."
Holds a record with 29 #1 singles on the American charts with The Beatles, Paul McCartney & Wings, and as a solo artist (including one duet with Stevie Wonder).
Made an honorary detective by the New York City Police Department
for the benefit concert he gave for 9/11 victims, April 2002.
Won last-minute court order preventing Christie's from auctioning
his handwritten lyrics to the song "Hey Jude." Paper with lyrics
scrawled on it had been expected to bring up to $116,000 at auction
scheduled for April 30, but England's High Court, ruled for Sir Paul the
day before, deciding that the valuable artifact from The Beatles will remain at auction house until ownership is finally determined by agreement or trial.
Daughter, Stella McCartney, was born on September 13, 1971.
Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1999 (as a solo artist).
His first guitar was a Zenith archtop f-hole acoustic. He got it
at the Rushworth and Drapers Music Store in Liverpool when he was 14, as
a gift from his father (brother Mike McGear got a banjo at the same time, but broke his arm at Boy Scout camp a few weeks later).
He wrote his first song, "I Lost My Little Girl", when he was 14.
It was never recorded by the Beatles, and was not one of the songs
McCartney and Lennon lost in 1969, when their publishing company
Northern Songs was sold.
His father, Jim, was a musician, and had a band called Jim Mac's
Jazz Band. Paul has fond memories of lying on his bedroom floor and
listening to his father play piano.
Was the only member of The Beatles to graduate from Britain's equivalent of high-school; he majored in Art.
Usually considered the most "conventional" of The Beatles, but Paul has had his share of far-out ideas, including the germ of the TV-movie Magical Mystery Tour (1967), and a "self-portrait" published as a 1960s magazine cover, a psychedelic painting a la Pablo Picasso.
A lyric sheet to his song "Yesterday" is featured on the front cover of the Marillion album "Script for a Jester's Tear" (released 1983).
In 2002 he changed the writing credits to many of the songs he made with The Beatles
to "McCartney & Lennon", to a large public outrage. It is a common
misconception, however that this was the first time he had done this. He
made the same credit change on his 1976 live album "Wings Over America"
to little or no public scrutiny, and to no public comment from John Lennon (who was still alive at the time).
Recuerdos a Broad Street (1984) also listed the credit "Songs Composed by Paul McCartney" - including the Beatles songs performed in the movie.
Has homes in London, New York and Beverly Hills, an estate in Scotland, and a ranch in Arizona.
Eleven years after the breakup of The Beatles, along with Ringo Starr he played on George Harrison's, "All Those Years Ago", about the death of his singing partner, John Lennon.
The three surviving members of The Beatles appeared on three separate episodes of Los Simpson
(1989). Starr appeared in a 1991 episode of "Brush with Greatness,"
Harrison appeared in a 1993 episode of "Homer's Barbershop Quartet," and
McCartney appeared in a 1995 episode of "Lisa The Vegetarian".
Met his first wife Linda McCartney in a London nightclub called the Bag O'Nails.
Cousin of Kate Robbins and Ted Robbins.
In 1998, his song "Blackbird" was covered by Marillion for their live album "Unplugged at the Walls".
Is half of the techno duo The Fireman.
In 1971, he produced (but did not perform on) "Thrillington", an
instrumental version of the album "Ram" he recorded with his wife Linda.
The songs were presented in orchestral versions, and Paul's work as
producer and director was pseudonymously credited to "Percy 'Thrills'
Thrillington". The album was not well received by the critics, but is
now a much sought-after collectable.
The only member of The Beatles to have been nominated for an Academy Award in his own right.
Favorite singers were Little Richard and Elvis Presley.
Born on the same day as film critic Roger Ebert, and two days before fellow musician and composer Brian Wilson.
Owned a ranch in Tucson, Arizona; this was where first wife Linda McCartney died.
Owns a Hollywood Hills manor property purchased from Courtney Love, and Ellen DeGeneres.
The Beatles were voted the Greatest Rock 'n' Roll Artists of all time by Rolling Stone. They also topped a similar list complied by VH1.
Played bass on the Band Aid 20 re-recording of "Do They Know It's Christmas?". [November 2004]
Several of his solo albums (and those with Wings) featured cover photos by first wife Linda McCartney, including "Ram", with a picture of him handling a ram at his Scottish farm (John Lennon
later parodied this picture in his "Imagine" album, grasping the ears
of a pig). The back cover included a photo of bugs mating; while it was
unintentional, several fans thought this illustrated a negative attitude
towards the Beatles.
Born at 2:00pm-BDST.
One of the guitars he used in his US tour (2005) was the one he used on The Beatles' appearance on Toast of the Town (1948) (aka The Ed Sullian Show) in the early 1960s.
Though a huge fan of 'Weird Al' Yankovic's
work, turned down his request to parody Paul's James Bond song "Live
and Let Die" as "Chicken Pot Pie" for vegetarian reasons.
According to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industries in 2006, The Beatles
are the biggest popular music act of all time, with over 400 million
albums sold officially, while the total number of all Beatles' records
sold was over 1 billion copies.
Created a collection of oil paintings, and had a one man art show in London.
He still owns an interest in Apple Corps, the Beatles's company.
His own company MPL Communications owns a sizable publishing catalog,
with over three thousand copyrights (songs, poems, images, recordings,
etc.).
He and John Lennon quibbled bitterly in the press after the break up of The Beatles. However, in 1977, they met in New York, and watched the episode of Saturday Night Live (1975) in which Lorne Michaels offered $3000 to see The Beatles get back together. He and Lennon considered turning up that night together as a joke, but were too tired to follow through.
Had a remarkable 62 top 100 singles from 1971-2005, under a variety of categories. 17 of them went to #1.
Won five Grammys, including two with The Beatles.
His "Eleanor Rigby" was Best Pop/Rock and Roll or Contemporary song.
His "Michelle" won for Song Of The Year. "Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsy"
won for Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s)/Best
Background Arrangement, "Band On The Run" won for Best Pop Performance
By A Duo Or Group With Vocal and "Rockestra Theme" won for Best Rock
Instrumental Performance.
He loved and was flattered by Ray Charles's cover of "Eleanor Rigby", but John Lennon did not like the version.
Father-in-law of Alistair Donald and Alasdhair Willis.
Has five grandsons and one granddaughter: Mary McCartney's three sons Arthur Alistair Donald (b. 3 April 1999) Elliot Donald (b. 1 August 2002), and Sam Aboud (b. 11 August 2008), and Stella McCartney's
sons Miller Alasdhair James Willis (b. 25 February 2005) and Beckett
Robert Lee (b. 8 January 2008), and daughter Bailey Linda Olwyn Willis
(b. 8 December 2006).
Winner of the British Phonographic Industry Award for British Male Solo Artist in 1983.
Named "Man of the Year" at the GQ awards ceremony. (6 September 2006)
The Scissor Sisters' second album, "Ta-Dah", has a song entitled "Paul McCartney".
His grandchildren, Arthur and Elliot, are older than his daughter, Beatrice McCarthy.
[Sunday 13 November 2005] Became the very first musician to
perform live music for an audience in space. This music milestone
occurred during his concert in Anaheim, California, when he sang "Good
Day Sunshine" and "English Tea" for NASA Astronaut Bill McArthur and
Russian Cosmonaut Valery Tokarev who were orbiting some 220 miles above
earth in their Space Shuttle Discovery.
The Beatles
were inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame for their outstanding
contribution to British music and integral part of British music
culture. [November 2004]
The hit Yesterday does not feature any of the other members of The Beatles.
It's just McCartney and a string section. As such, the record company
considered releasing it as a McCartney solo song, but decided not to
because of objections by John Lennon.
Inducted with John Lennon into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1987.
In 1957, his knowledge of song lyrics , most notably Eddie
Cochran's 1956 recording of "Twenty Flight Rock" with its 12 bar blues
format, as well as Paul's superior ability to play guitar (including
being able to tune one) impressed John Lennon so much that he invited
McCartney to join his band the Quarry Men, which later became The Beatles.
Winner of the 2007 Q Icon Award.
Because of his 2008 divorce, he became the fourth and final member of The Beatles to get a divorce. Among the four, McCartney had the longest marriage (to Linda McCartney), although Ringo Starr is still married to his second wife (and has been since 1981).
28 October 2003: A daughter named Beatrice Milly was born to Paul and wife Heather Mills. She was named after Heather's late mother Beatrice and Paul's Aunt Milly.
In July 2001, shortly after their engagement was announced, his fiancée Heather Mills lost her $21,000 diamond and sapphire engagement ring, which was later found on a golf course.
In 2006, he donated $2 million to Adopt-a-Minefield.
Turned down the offer to write a new James Bond song for 007: Quantum of Solace (2008), and recommended singer-songwriter Amy Winehouse for the job.
Winner of the Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution in 2008. The Beatles previously won the award in 1977 and 1983, putting McCartney in a select group with John Lennon, Sting and Freddie Mercury as the only people to have won the award in a band and as an individual.
He and The Beatles were awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 7080 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California.
He and The Beatles
were awarded the MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) in the
1965 Queen's Birthday Honours List for their services to music.
Was good friends with professional Wrestler Giant Haystacks aka Lochness.
Plays left-handed guitar.
Paul played all the instruments and did all the vocal tracks on
his 1970 "recording of "Maybe I'm Amazed". At the time, early 1970, The Beatles
had not yet split up and the song was possibly a future "Beatle"
recording. As it turned out, we have Paul with his own accompaniment,
several other track and his first solo album "McCartney".
In one of his first solo recordings following The Beatles' breakup in 1970, Paul played all the instruments and did all the vocal tracks on "Maybe I'm Amazed".
In 2012 when Paul McCartney was on "Saturday Night Live" New York
City Children's Chorus joined him when he sang "Wonderful Christmas
Time".
On 15 May 1968, Paul McCartney and John Lennon appeared as "talk show" guests on NBC-TV's The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962) with guest host Joe Garagiola. They mentioned that the two of them walked through NYC's Central Park the previous Sunday unnoticed by the many passersby.
The 2009 Sunday Times List estimated his net worth at $720 million.
He was conferred as a Knights Bachelor in the 1997 Queen's New
Years Honours List for his services to music. He is the only Beatle to
be given a higher British honor since their MBE (Member of the Order of
the British Empire) in the 1965 Queen's Birthday Honours List. John Lennon returned his MBE in 1969 out of protest.
His younger brother, Michael, aka Mike McGear of the satirical group The Scaffold. Michael chose to take the name of "McGear" as his professional name so as not to capitalize on the fame of his brother. Mike McGear was awarded an OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in the 1997 Queen's New Years Honours List while Paul McCartney was awarded Knight Bachelor of the Order of the British Empire for his services to music.
Recipient of the 2010 Kennedy Center Honors; other recipients that year were Oprah Winfrey, Jerry Herman, Merle Haggard, and Bill T. Jones.
(June 2010 East Room - White House) As a VIP guest of President Barack Obama
at The White House, McCartney was presented with the Library of
Congress "Gershwin Prize for Popular Song" trophy. The former Beatle was
the third recipient of the prestigious award after Paul Simon and Stevie Wonder.
When McCartney performed a selection of his songs, including "Michelle"
especially for the First Lady, he played the very same electric Hofner
bass guitar he played when The Beatles made their American TV debut (9 February 1964) on Toast of the Town
(1948) (The Ed Sullivan Show) 46 years earlier. Among the various
artists commemorating McCartney's spectacular achievement with personal
renditions of his songs were: Herbie Hancock and Corinne Bailey Rae ("Blackbird"), Elvis Costello ("Penny Lane"), Emmylou Harris ("For No One"), Faith Hill ("The Long and Winding Road"), Stevie Wonder ("We Can Work It Out") and ("Ebony and Ivory" with Paul), David Grohl ("Band On the Run"), Jack White ("Mother Nature's Son"), The Jonas Brothers ("Drive My Car"), Jerry Seinfeld (stand-up shtick). Daughters Mary McCartney and Stella McCartney were seated immediately behind Paul and the First Family.
The festive soirée culminated with a Lang Lang classical interpretation of "Celebrations" and an ensemble of artists performing "Hey Jude" for the grand finale.
Engaged to Nancy Shevell. Acquaintances for some 20 years, they
re-met at a summer party in the Hamptons in 2007 and have been a couple
since then. Nancy is vice-president, administration, of her family's New
Jersey-based trucking business, New England Freight Motors, Inc. She's
also a cousin of Barbara Walters, who has said that "Nancy is like a second child to me". [August, 2011].
Paul married for the third time, to Nancy Shevell, on Sunday, October 9, 2011 (John Lennon's birthday). In attendance were Paul's daughter, Beatrice, who was a flower girl; Nancy's son, Arlen; her cousin, Barbara Walters; Paul's brother, Mike McGear; Ringo Starr and his wife, Barbara Bach; and George Harrison's widow, Olivia Harrison.
The couple wore clothes designed by Paul's daughter, Stella McCartney, and were married at Old Marylebone Town Hall, the same place where Paul had married Linda McCartney in 1969.
The last appearance of The Beatles on Toast of the Town
(1948) (aka "The Ed Sullivan Show") occurred on March 1, 1970 as part
of a "Beatles' Songbook", which featured various artists performing
their songs. Seen on film, taken from their not-yet-released
documentary, "Let It Be" (1970), they performed "Let It Be" and "Two Of
Us". In addition, Paul's 1965 performance of "Yesterday" was also aired.
Was one of the first musicians to perform at Shea Stadium, with The Beatles, on August 15, 1965, and one of the last to performer at Shea Stadium, performing the closing number at Billy Joel's concert on July 18, 2008.
Received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on February 10, 2012.
The first John Lennon-McCartney composition to hit the US charts occurred in the summer of 1963. Del Shannon's version of "From Me To You" reached #66 US Pop.
"Dr. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" was the original title for what eventually became The Beatles' "Sgt. Pepper" album. The soda company that owned the "Dr. Pepper" trademark would not give permission for its use.
He was a bit of an amateur bird-watcher and owned a beloved bird
field guide as a boy. It was later inspire him to write the song
"Blackbird".
A guest at the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Concert.
Officially filed for divorce from second wife Heather Mills. [July 2006]
Expecting a child with his second wife Heather Mills. [March 2003]
Performed in Israel, Tel Aviv, for the first time. [September 2008]
Announced he and his wife are to split up. [May 2006]
Is expecting a fourth grandchild, in light of third daughter Stella McCartney's pregnancy announcement. [August 2006]
Touring in the US Tour (Nov. 2005) [November 2005]
Paul McCartney refused to be on "Saturday Night Live" unless they
paid tribute to the ones who died in the Sandy Hook Elementary School
shooting. His request was granted and he went on as scheduled.
Personal Quotes
The rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated.
I figure I've probably got a better chance of coming up with a good Paul McCartney song than Oasis has.
[on his LSD experience] "It's like taking an aspirin without having a headache."
I'm not religious, but I'm very spiritual.
Somebody said to me, [The Beatles] were anti-materialistic.' That's a huge myth. [John Lennon] and I literally used to sit down and say, 'Now, let's write a swimming pool.'
arding his ten-day jail term after his arrest for cannabis
possession at Tokyo's Narita Airport, Jan. 6, 1980] "It was pretty
rough. Just a thin mattress on the floor. I had to wash using water from
the toilet cistern. I had to share a bath with a bloke who was in for
murder. I was afraid to take my suit off in case I got raped. But I'd
seen all those prisoner-of-war movies and I knew you had to keep your
spirits up. So I'd organize sing-alongs with other prisoners."
We didn't all get into music for a job! We got into music to avoid a job, in truth - and get lots of girls.
I've seen those famous Nixon [Richard Nixon] transcripts where Elvis [Elvis Presley]
actually starts to try to shop us - The Beatles! He's in the transcript
saying - to Richard Nixon, of all people - 'Well, sir, these Beatles,
they're very un-American and they take drugs.' I felt a bit betrayed by
that, I must say. The great joke is that we were taking drugs, and look
what happened to him. He was caught on the toilet full of them! It was
sad, but I still love him, particularly in his early period. He was very
influential on me.
You try to concentrate on the lyrics, the music, the melody, and
putting it all together, and there's a sign . . . and half of you is
saying, 'Ignore it', but the other half is saying, 'Read it, go ahead.'
'My grandmother saw you at Candlestick.' That says it all. erring to a
sign in the audience]
If slaughterhouses had glass walls, everyone would be a vegetarian.
The two of us were on fire every time we sat down to write.
When we were kids, George [George Harrison]
and I used to hang out and we had, we had one little party piece which
was to show that we weren't stupid, so we used to do this thing by Bach
that was our own little version of it, and we got it wrong,
Maybe our government went in too fast with the Americans. It would
have been better if the UN had been together. Now it's become very
bloody with Iraq, it's very difficult. If someone came to my house and
blew it up, I wouldn't just want to sit there and say thank you. I'd be
angry like I think anyone would be, so I could see America and Britain
being angry. To look for [Osama bin Laden] seemed reasonable to go against terrorism, but the war has become very difficult.
I thought she was a cold woman. I think that's wrong. She's just
the opposite. I think she's just more determined than most people to be
herself. [on his updated feelings about Yoko Ono, 1995]
Seeing that so many inaccurate stories have been written at the moment about [Heather Mills]
and myself, all I can ask people to do is not believe them and
understand that most of what is coming out is made up and entirely
false. Thanks for your support.
[About dealing with the memory of Linda McCartney today] "She's all around me, you know. And everybody I know knows her and remembers her. And so I talk a lot about her."
"No one is musically educated until they have heard The Beach Boys' 'Pet Sounds'".
[on making movies] "It's not a bad way to get through an afternoon".
(Recalling raising his children in the 1970s)There was one moment
where they were riding their little ponies in Scotland, and Stella [Stella McCartney] said to me: 'Dad! You're Paul McCartney, aren't you?' 'Yes darling, but I'm Daddy really'.
(about filing the lawsuit that dissolved the Beatles's legal
partnership) I felt like an arse, suing my best mates and being *seen*
to sue my best mates.
On his childhood home now part of the National Trust: It gets
dangerous when you start believing your own legacy. That's why I've not
gone back.
On his vetting every photo taken by his hired photographers: I
just don't like to see terrible photos of myself...it's straightforward
vanity.
You tell me someone who wants to see terrible photos of
themselves.
Before John Lennon
died I got back a good relationship with him. That was very special.
The arguments we had didn't matter. We were able to just take the piss
about all those songs; they weren't that harsh. In fact, I have been
thanked by Yoko Ono and everyone else for saving The Beatles from Allen Klein. Everything comes round in the end.
On suing the other three Beatles over Allen Klein's management: I
was placed in the most awkward position I've ever been placed in. I had
to fight three mates to save their legacy, their money, as well as mine,
and I did so knowing it would put me in a very dodgy position. Anyone
who didn't thoroughly review the whole thing would be forgiven for
thinking 'What a tosser'. So yes, that matters to me, it is still a
haunting episode... It was pretty scary having to say to Johnny,
Georgie, Ringo, I'm suing you!
I love John's songs. In the Beatles, if you said it was one of
your songs, it basically meant it was your idea. So Eleanor Rigby was my
song, but John helped me finish it. A Day in the Life was his, but I
helped him finish it. He came up with 'I read the news today' and I came
up with 'he blew his mind out in a car.'
This morning [sometime in 2008] I was walking into a cafe. A girl
shouts, 'Hi Paul, you are fantastic. I really love you.' I take it with a
pinch of salt, but I am honoured. I am pleased she didn't say, 'You're a
total arsehole and I hate you.' I am pleased I have got a compliment,
and I can still walk around Soho as I've always done.
I've learnt to compartmentalise. There's me and there's famous
Him. I don't want to sound schizophrenic, but probably I'm two people.
I'm the guy who does shows ... but I'm also the guy who goes home to the
kids. There I am just Dad.
In any situation with a high-ranking official, any boss, it's not
always a good idea to tell him he's crap. But I try to encourage people.
We all have meetings - the best ideas carry the day. If someone goofs
up I tell them off. There have been one or two moments when somebody has
been out of order.
Somebody said to me, 'But The Beatles were anti-materialistic.'
That's a huge myth. John [Lennon] and I literally used to sit down and
say, 'Now, let's write a swimming pool.
Why would I retire? Sit at home and watch TV? No thanks. I'd rather be out playing.
The thing with The X Factor
(2004) is, you don't have to turn it on. It is really not a bad thing.
You are talking about people being on the dole (welfare) - this gets
people off the dole. It gives some people an opportunity, it gives them
confidence, it gives them work. There is nothing wrong with that.
If anyone wants to save the planet, all they have to do is just
stop eating meat. It's staggering when you think about it. Vegetarianism
takes care of so many things in one shot: ecology, famine, cruelty.
On his knighthood in 1997: It's a fantastic honor and I am very
gratefully receiving it on behalf of all the people of Liverpool and the
other Beatles, without whom it wouldn't have been possible.
The combination of those four guys was pretty interesting. We
weren't together that long but think of the work we put in. Every album
was different. Album after album, single after single beat the last one.
The nice thing now is I don't have to be modest about The Beatles any more. I can call them great because it's over. There was something very special about The Beatles.
Peter is an old friend of mine from Liverpool. While I found my
way into a notorious music group, he went on to university and greater
things! It was not long before he had a very successful career in
television and though both of us have led fairly hectic lives, we still
keep in touch. His memoirs are a must-read. (On Peter Sissons)
[on "Press To Play"] I liked Hugh Padgham's work because I'd liked what he'd done with The Police, I liked what he'd done with Phil Collins and Genesis.
I knew that if I worked with Hugh one thing - like the drum sound -
would be good because he really gets a real great drum sound and it is
the anchor of your album.
[on getting the idea for the classic song 'Yesterday' in a dream] I
just fell out of bed and it was there. I have a piano by the side of my
bed and just got up and played the chords. I thought I must have heard
it the night before or something, and spent about three weeks asking all
the music people I knew, 'What is this song?' I couldn't believe I'd
written it.
[February 2013]: My grandkids always beat me at Rock Band. And I
say, Listen, you may beat me at Rock Band, but I made the original
records, so shut up.
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