Information AboutPaul Mccartney |
Sir James Paul McCartney, 2006 On leaving The Beatles, McCartney launched a successful solo career and formed the band Wings with his first wife, Linda McCartney . He has worked on film scores, classical music, and ambient/electronic music; released a large catalogue of songs as a solo artist; and taken part in projects to help International Charities . McCartney is listed in '' 2004 . Wings' 1977 single " Mull Of Kintyre " became the first single to sell more than two million copies in the UK, and remained the UK's top seller until surpassed, in 1984, by Band Aid 's " Do They Know It's Christmas ?" whose participants included McCartney. His company MPL Communications owns the copyrights to more than three thousand songs, including all of the songs written by Buddy Holly , along with the publishing rights to such musicals as '' Guys And Dolls '', '' A Chorus Line '', and '' Grease ''. Aside from his musical work, McCartney is a Painter and an advocate for Animal Rights , Vegetarianism , and Music Education ; he is active in campaigns against Landmine s, Seal Culls and Third World Debt . McCartney was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 1965, and was Knighted in 1997. EARLY YEARS: 1942–1957 James Paul McCartney was born in turned Agnostic . Like many from Liverpool, McCartney is of Irish descent. Miles 1998. p3. His maternal grandfather, Owen Mohin/Mohan, was born in 1880 in Tullynamalrow, County Monaghan , Ireland , and married Mary Theresa Danher (from Toxteth , Liverpool) in 1905. In 1947, at age five, he began attending Stockton Wood Road Primary school; he attended the Joseph Williams Junior School, and passed the 11-plus exam in 1953. Of the 90 children that took the exam, only three others passed, gaining all four places at the Liverpool Institute . Miles 1998. p9. On the bus to the Institute, he met George Harrison , who lived nearby. Spitz 2005. p125 Passing the exam meant that McCartney and Harrison did not have to go to a Secondary Modern school, which most pupils attended until they were eligible to work. It also meant that Grammar School pupils had to find new friends—such was the division between the school systems. Spitz 2005. pp82-83. In 1955, the McCartney family moved to , and McCartney's earliest memory is of her leaving when it was snowing heavily. Miles 1998. p6. On 31 October 1956 , when McCartney was 14, while he was away at boy scout camp, Mary McCartney (who was a heavy smoker) died of an Embolism after a Mastectomy operation to stop the spread of her Breast Cancer . Miles 1998. p20. The early loss of his mother later connected McCartney with John Lennon , whose mother, Julia , died when Lennon was 17. Miles 1998. p31. McCartney's father was a trumpet player and pianist, who had led Jim Mac's Jazz Band in the 1920s, and encouraged his two sons to be musical. Miles 1998. p22. Jim had an Upright Piano in the front room that he bought from Harry Epstein 's store, and McCartney's grandfather, Joe McCartney, played an E-flat Tuba . Spitz 2005. P71 Miles 1998. pp23-24. Jim McCartney used to point out the different instruments in songs on the radio, and often took Paul to local brass band concerts. Miles 1998. pp23-24. After the death of his wife, Mary, Jim McCartney gave Paul a nickel-plated Trumpet , but when Skiffle Music became popular, McCartney swapped the trumpet for a £15 Framus Zenith (model 17) Acoustic Guitar . Spitz 2005. p86 Miles 1998. p21. McCartney, being left-handed, found the Zenith impossible to play. He then saw a poster advertising entry, Guinness Publishing, 1993. ISBN 0851127266 McCartney wrote his first song (" I Lost My Little Girl ") on the Zenith, and also played his father's Framus Spanish Guitar when writing early songs with John Lennon. Early guitars McCartney played Retrieved: 27 January 2007 He later started playing piano and wrote " When I'm Sixty-Four ". Miles 1998. pp22-23. His father advised him to take some music lessons, which he did. But McCartney realised that he preferred to learn 'by ear' and never paid attention in music classes. Miles 1998. pp22-23. McCartney never paid attention in music classes FemaleFirst. Retrieved: 2 October 2006 1957–1960: THE QUARRYMEN AND THE SILVER BEETLES See Also: The Quarrymen Lennon/McCartney .]] The fifteen-year-old McCartney met Lennon and 2006 McCartney formed a close working relationship with Lennon and they collaborated on many songs. He convinced Lennon to allow . p212. 1960–1970: THE BEATLES See Also: The Beatles The Beatles discography The Beatles were managed by Allan Williams —starting in May 1960—and he booked them into Bruno Koschmider's Indra club in Hamburg . McCartney's father was reluctant to let the teenage Paul go to Hamburg until Paul pointed out that he would earn two Pounds and ten Shillings per day. As this was more than he earned himself, Jim finally agreed. Miles 1998. p57. The Beatles first played at the Indra club, sleeping in small, dirty rooms in the Bambi Kino , and then moved (after the closure of the Indra) to the larger Kaiserkeller . Miles 1998. pp57-8. In October 1960, they left Koschmider's club and worked at the "Top Ten Club", which was run by Peter Eckhorn. Cynthia Lennon “John” 2006. p93. Miles 1998. pp. 71–72. When McCartney and Pete Best went back to the Bambi Kino to get their belongings they found it in almost total darkness. 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. There was no real damage, but Koschmider reported them for attempted Arson . McCartney and Best spent three hours in a local Jail and were deported, as was George Harrison , for working under the legal age limit. Miles 1998. pp72-73. Lennon's Work Permit was revoked a few days later and he went home by train, but Sutcliffe had a Cold and stayed in Hamburg, and then flew home. Cynthia Lennon “John” 2006. p79. The group reunited in December 1960, and on for two weeks. Cynthia Lennon “John” 2006. p99. The Beatles were first seen by Brian Epstein at the Cavern Club on 9 November 1961 , and he later signed them to a management contract. Miles 1998. p85. The Beatles' Road Manager , Neil Aspinall , drove them to London on 31 December 1961 , where they auditioned the next day, but were rejected by Decca Records . Miles 1998. p89 In April 1962, they went back to Hamburg to play at the Star-Club , and learned of Stuart Sutcliffe's death a few hours before they arrived. Cynthia Lennon “John” 2006. p109. The Beatles were ready to sign a record contract on 9 May 1962 , with Parlophone Records—after having been rejected by many record companies—but Epstein sacked Pete Best(at the behest of McCartney, Lennon and Harrison) before they signed the contract. Spitz 2005. p330 " Love Me Do " was released on 5 October 1962 , featuring McCartney singing solo on the chorus line. Miles 1998. p91 All Lennon-McCartney songs on the first pressing of '' 2005 , ISBN 0-595-34663-4 They usually needed an hour or two to finish a song, which were written in hotel rooms after a concert, at Wimpole Street, at Cavendish Avenue, or at Kenwood (John Lennon's house). Miles 1998. p149 McCartney also wrote songs for other artists, such as Billy J. Kramer , Cilla Black , Badfinger , and Mary Hopkin -and most notably he wrote two hit songs for the group Peter & Gordon-launching their career. One song, "World Without Love", became a #1 hit in the U.K. & U.S. (Peter was the brother of Jane Asher, McCartney's girlfriend at the time) Miles 1998. pp180-181 Lennon, Harrison, and Starr lived in large houses in the ''s parents' house, and then at 7 Cavendish Avenue, St John's Wood , near the Abbey Road Studios . It was at Cavendish Avenue that McCartney bought his first Old English Sheepdog , Martha, which inspired the song " Martha My Dear ". Miles 1998. p262 McCartney often went to nightclubs alone, which offered 'dining and dancing until 4.00 a.m.' and featured Cabaret acts. Miles 1998. p129 McCartney would get preferential treatment everywhere he went, which he readily accepted. Miles 1998. pp130-131 He even once accepted an offer from a Policeman to be allowed to park McCartney's car. He later visited Gambling clubs after 4.00am, such as 'The Curzon House', and often saw Brian Epstein there. Miles 1998. p131 The Ad Lib club (above the Prince Charles Theatre at 7 Leicester Place) was later opened for the emerging 'Rock and Roll' crowd of musicians, and tolerated their unusual lifestyle. Miles 1998. pp132-133 After the Ad Lib fell out of favour, McCartney moved on to the Scotch Of St James , at 13 Masons Yard. Miles 1998. p134 He also frequented The Bag O'Nails club at 8 Kingly Street in Soho , London , where he met Linda Eastman . The Bag o’Nails bbc.co.uk: 13 May 2003. Retrieved: 16 November 2006 The Beatles stopped touring after their last concert at Candlestick Park , San Francisco , on 29 August 1966 . The other three Beatles had often talked about stopping touring, but after the Candlestick Park concert, and after having played so many concerts where they could not be heard, McCartney finally agreed that they should stop playing live concerts. Miles 1998. pp293-295. It was announced that Sir Paul would DJ his own show on BBC Radio 1 McCartney was the first to be involved in a musical project outside of the group, when he composed the score for the 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, ahead of acclaimed jazz musician Mike Turner. McCartney wrote songs for and produced other artists, including Mary Hopkin, Badfinger, and The Bonzo Dog Band , and 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. Miles 1998. p124 McCartney later attempted to persuade Lennon, Harrison and Starr to return to the stage, and when they had a meeting to sign a new contract with Capitol Records , McCartney suggested "going back to our roots," to which Lennon replied, "I think you're mad!" Wingspan 2001. p9 Although Lennon had quit the group in September 1969, and Harrison and Starr had temporarily left the group at various times, McCartney was the one who publicly announced The Beatles' Breakup on 10 April 1970 —one week before releasing his first solo album, '' McCartney ''. Spitz 2005. p858. The album included a press release inside with a self-written interview stating McCartney's hopes about the future. The Beatles' partnership was legally dissolved after McCartney filed a Lawsuit on 31 December 1970 . Spitz 2005. p808. 1970S: PAUL MCCARTNEY (SOLO) AND WINGS See Also: Paul McCartney discography Wings (band) McCartney released his debut solo album, ''''. Wings' 1973 album '' — with Lennon and McCartney — was recorded in California , in 1974, and released on the Bootleg '' A Toot And A Snore In '74 ''. "Venus and Mars" was released in 1975 which featured "Listen to What the Man Said" and "Rock Show." Through 1975 and 1976, Wings embarked on the ambitious '' Wings Over The World '' tour, which was released as '' Wings Over America ''. Also in 1976, McCartney marked Buddy Holly Week in London with a celebrity party on what would have been Holly's 40th birthday. McCartney, a lifelong fan of Holly's music, acquired the publishing rights to the Buddy Holly catalogue. McCartney also bought the rights to the off-Broadway musical Grease which was later adapted into a Feature Film . During a break from Wings in 1977, McCartney released the album '' Thrillington '', an orchestral re-make of the earlier ''Ram'' album which had been recorded pre-Wings. McCartney issued the album under the pseudonym Percy "Thrills" Thrillington. Later in 2006 Although McCartney's relationship with John Lennon was troubled, they reconciled during the 1970s. Miles 1998. p587 McCartney would often call Lennon, but was never sure of what sort of reception he would get, Miles 1998. p588 such as when McCartney once called Lennon and was told, "You're all pizza and fairytales!" McCartney understood that he could not just phone Lennon and only talk about business, so they often talked about cats, baking bread, or babies. Miles 1998. p590 SOLO CAREER 1980s In a 1980 interview, Lennon said that the last time he had seen McCartney was when they had watched the episode of '', isn't it?" When published, his "drag" remark was criticized, and McCartney later regretted it. He furthermore stated that he had intended no disrespect but had just been at a loss for words, after the shock and sadness he felt over Lennon's murder. Miles 1998. p594 In a '' 2006 . This led to a disagreement with Denny Laine , who wanted to continue touring and subsequently left Wings, which McCartney disbanded in 1981. Lewisohn 2002. p168. Also in 1981, six months after Lennon's death, McCartney sang backup on George Harrison 's tribute to Lennon, " All Those Years Ago ," along with Ringo Starr . Like ''", from Jackson's '' Thriller '' album, and " Say Say Say ", a single from McCartney's 1983 album '' Pipes Of Peace ''. McCartney wrote and starred in the 1984 film ''", the title song from the animated film Rupert And The Frog Song and wrote and performed the title song to the movie '' Spies Like Us ''. In the second half of the decade McCartney would find new collaborators. '', 1992), and "Yvonne's the One" ('' Mirror Mirror '', 1995). In 1987, EMI released All The Best! which was the first compilation of McCartney's own songs. In 1988, he released '' 2007 The album reached #1 in the UK. Further McCartney/MacManus compositions for "Flowers in the Dirt" surfaced on the 1991 album '' Mighty Like A Rose '' (Costello) and 1993's '' Off The Ground '' (McCartney). In late 1989, McCartney embarked on his first concert tour since John Lennon's murder—his first tour of the U.S. in thirteen years. 1990s The 1990s saw McCartney venture into of The Royal College Of Music . Other forays into classical music included '' Standing Stone '' (1997), '' Working Classical '' (1999), and " Ecce Cor Meum " (2006). In the early 1990s (after another world tour), McCartney reunited with Harrison and Starr to work on Apple's '' The Beatles Anthology '' documentary series. It included three double albums of alternative takes, live recordings, and previously unreleased Beatles songs, as well as a ten-hour video boxed set. '' Anthology 1 '' was released in 1995 , and featured " Free As A Bird ", which was the first Beatles reunion track, while Anthology 2 , released in 1996, included " Real Love " (1996), the second and final in the reunion series. Both reunion tracks were completed by adding new music and vocal tracks to Lennon's Demos from the late 1970s. 1997 was another successful year for McCartney. That year he released '' Flaming Pie ''. The album garnered the best reviews for a McCartney album since ''Tug of War''. It debuted at #2 in the UK and the US, and was nominated in the category Album Of The Year at the 1998 Grammy Awards . Later that year, McCartney became a Knight Bachelor . McCartney returned to his roots once again in 1999, recording another album of rock 'n' roll favourites from his youth titled '' Run Devil Run ''. That same year he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, located in Cleveland, Ohio, as a solo artist. 2000s The year with her father. Mary was the baby photographed inside McCartney's jacket on the back cover of his first solo album, '' McCartney '', and was one of the producers of the documentary. Lewisohn 2002. p21 Earlier in the year, McCartney worked on what would become his new album, '' 2007 On 11 September 2001 , McCartney was sitting on a plane in New York City when the World Trade Center Terrorist Attacks occurred and was able to witness the events from his seat. Incensed at the tragedy and determined to respond, he composed "Freedom" and impulsively halted the pressing of ''Driving Rain'' so that "Freedom" could appear as a 'hidden track' (since the artwork and track listing had already been printed). McCartney took a lead role in organising , 2001 . Retrieved: 29 January 2007 In late 2001, McCartney was informed that his former classmate, neighbour, ex-Beatles' lead guitarist, and best friend of over 45 years, 2002 —on the first anniversary of George Harrison's death—McCartney played Harrison’s " Something " on a Ukulele at the Concert For George .The Concert for George, Cat. No: 0349702412 In 2002, McCartney went on another world tour that continued through the following two years. During the tour he contributed to an album titled ''Good Rockin' Tonight: The Legacy Of Sun Records''—which included a version of the 2007 In what would be his first British music festival appearance, McCartney headlined the 2005 ] 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, although Ringo Starr criticised McCartney for not asking him to play.6 Retrieved: 29 January 2007 On 18 June 2006 , McCartney celebrated his 64th birthday, as in " When I'm Sixty-Four ." Paul Vallely noted in '' The Independent '': McCartney joined 2007 On in Glasgow , City Of Manchester Stadium in Manchester , Wembley Stadium in London, and Kings Dock in Liverpool. Highlighting the popularity of "Memory Almost Full", McCartney appeared in a commercial for Apple Computer 's IPod + ITunes . On 2 April 2007 , it was reported that a man believed to be a crazed fan drove through the security fence on Paul McCartney's Peasmarsh county estate shouting that he had to "get at" the ex-Beatle. The incident echoed the 1980 murder of John Lennon and the 1999 attempted murder of George Harrison. The would-be assailant was stopped by security and arrested after leading authorities on a chase through Sussex country lanes http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,21485820-663,00.htmlhttp://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2007/04/02/paul-mccartney-nearly-attacked-by-bonkers-fan-robert-smiths-new-alarming-collaboration-emi-loosen-up/http://www.starpulse.com/news/index.php/2007/04/02/crazy_fan_tries_to_break_into_paul_mccar. McCartney has said that he is going to postpone his tour for '' Memory Almost Full '' until next year after his divorce case is settled. http://www.nme.com/news/paul-mccartney/28462 On 26 June 2007 , McCartney appeared on CNN's '' Larry King Live '' with Ringo Starr, Yoko Ono Lennon, Olivia Harrison and Guy Laliberté to promote the "Revolution" Lounge at The Mirage in Las Vegas, Nevada and commemorating the one year anniversary of "Cirque Du Soleil's Love". It was broadcast live from Las Vegas inside the Mirage Hotel and Casino. http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ent/4907024.html The next day, 27 June , McCartney played a free secret concert at Amoeba Music in Los Angeles . Fans camped out for 3 days for the wristbands that would guarantee admission to the show. He played 20 songs during the show including 5 off of Memory Almost Full. McCartney also sang Happy Birthday To You to one celebrating fan. Paul McCartney played at the ICA during the iTunes Festival on July 5, 2007 to a lucky group of 300 fans. He performed Wings songs, and Beatles songs, including "Hey Jude" and "Jet". An EP, which is a six-song selection of his performance is available on the iTunes Store. On 13 November 2007 , ''The McCartney Years'', a 3-DVD set will be released. It will contain an exclusive commentary, behind the scenes footage, over 40 music videos and two hours of Historic Live Performances. Discs 1 and 2 contain McCartney's music videos. Disc 3 contains live performances taken from Wings' Rockshow in 1976, Unplugged in 1991, and Glastonbury in 2004. Other footage includes LIVE AID, the Super Bowl XXXIX Halftime Show, interviews with Melvyn Bragg and Michael Parkinson , and the 2005 documentary Creating Chaos at Abbey Road. FAMILY LIFE McCartney was the last Beatle to marry. He had a five-year relationship with actress Jane Asher , and they were engaged to be married, until they broke up in 1968. Miles 1998. p452 He married American photographer Linda Eastman in 1969. They had three children together, and remained married until Linda's death from Breast Cancer in 1998. In 2002, McCartney married former Model Heather Mills and they had a child in 2003. They announced their separation in 2006.Whitall, Susan, "Women swoon as Paul McCartney is single again", '' The Detroit News '', 24 May 2006 ( link ) Retrieved: 29 January 2007 Widespread animosity towards Paul McCartney's wives was reported in 2004. "They British public didn't like me giving up on Jane Asher," McCartney said. "I married a New York divorcee with a child, and at the time they didn't like that.""McCartney's lament: I can't buy your love", '' 2007 In 2006, tapes recorded by Peter Cox—with whom Linda McCartney had written a vegetarian cookery book before her death—came to light. The tapes were said to be conversations with Linda discussing her marriage. McCartney reportedly paid £200,000 to Cox for possession of the tapes. The Linda tapes The Daily Mail - 2007 Relationship with Jane Asher See Also: Jane Asher The Beatles were performing at the Royal Albert Hall , in London, when McCartney first met British actress Jane Asher on 18 April 1963 , and a Photographer asked them to pose with Asher. Miles 1998. p101. The Beatles were interviewed by Asher for the BBC, and Asher was then photographed screaming at them like a Fan . McCartney later persuaded her to become his Girlfriend . Miles 1998. p102. McCartney soon met Jane's family: Margaret, Jane's mother, who combined her life as the mother of three children with a full-time career as a music teacher, and Jane's father, Richard, who was a Physician . Jane's brother, Peter , was a member of Peter And Gordon , and Jane's younger sister, Clare, was also an actress. Miles 1998. p104. McCartney later gave " A World Without Love " to Peter and Gordon-as well as the song "Nobody I Know". Both songs became hits for the group.Miles 1998. p112. McCartney took up residence at the Ashers' house at 57 Wimpole Street, London, and lived there for nearly three years. Miles 1998. p106. During his time there McCartney met writers such as Bertrand Russell , Harold Pinter and Len Deighton . Miles 1998. pp125-126 He wrote several songs at the Ashers', including " Yesterday ", and worked on songs with John Lennon in the basement music room. Jane inspired many songs, such as " And I Love Her ", " You Won't See Me ", and " I'm Looking Through You ". Miles 1998. p108 On 13 April 1965 , McCartney bought a £40,000 three-storey Regency house, at 7 Cavendish Avenue, London, and spent a further £20,000 renovating it. McCartney created a music room on the top floor of his house, where he worked with Lennon. He thanked the Ashers by paying for the decoration of the front of their house. Miles 1998. p254 On '' album at Brian Epstein's house in Belgravia , but when her assignment was completed, Linda flew back to New York City . Miles 1998. p117. On 2007 . Marriage to Linda Eastman See Also: Linda McCartney Heather McCartney Mary McCartney Stella McCartney James McCartney In May 1968, McCartney met Eastman again in . Paul and Linda (reportedly) spent less than a week apart during their entire marriage, interrupted only by Paul's incarceration in Tokyo on drug charges in January 1980. Linda McCartney died in Tucson, Arizona , on 17 April , 1998 . McCartney denied rumours that her death was an Assisted Suicide .[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/82362.stm Linda’s death] bbc.co.uk - 23 April, 1998. Retrieved: 29 January 2007 Linda’s Obituary bbc.co.uk - 19 April, 1998. Retrieved: 29 January 2007 McCartney now has four 2006 ). [http://www.teengossipblog.com/teengossipblog/teengossipblog.php/2006/12/13/stella_mccartney_has_a_baby_girl Stella McCartney has a baby girl] Retrieved: 27 January 2007 Marriage to Heather Mills See Also: Heather Mills McCartney After having sparked the interest of the 2003 . An article in ''The Sun'' says 30 October ( link ). The baby was reportedly named after Heather's late mother Beatrice and Paul's Aunt Milly.9 On , 2007 , but Mills' lawyers denied this.11 CREATIVE OUTLETS During the 60s, McCartney was often seen at major cultural events, such as the launch party for The '' International Times '', and at The Roundhouse (28 January and 4 February 1967).[http://abbeyrd.best.vwh.net/carnival.htm “The Carnival of Light” interview] Retrieved: 16 November 2006 He also delved into the visual arts, becoming a close friend of leading art dealers and gallery owners, explored experimental film, and regularly attended movie, theatrical and classical music performances. His first contact with the London , whose underground newspaper, The '' International Times '', McCartney helped to start. Miles 1998. p232 Miles would become '' De Facto '' manager of the Apple's short-lived Zapple Records label, and wrote McCartney's official biography, '' Many Years From Now '' ( 1998 ). McCartney has also written and released several pieces of modern classical music and ambient electronica, besides writing poetry and painting. McCartney is lead patron of the Liverpool Institute For Performing Arts , an arts school in the building formerly occupied by the Liverpool Institute For Boys . The 1837 building, which McCartney attended during his schooldays, had become derelict by the mid-1980s. On 7 June 1996 , Queen Elizabeth II officially opened the redeveloped building. Classical music was premiered.]] McCartney's first complete foray into classical music was the quasi-autobiographical '''', which was commissioned by EMI Records to mark EMI's 100th Anniversary in the autumn of 1997. In 1999, McCartney released Working Classical .Working Classical, Paul McCartney, Producer: John Fraser, Cat. number: CDC556897218 October 1999 In 2000, McCartney released '' sufferers. Garland for Linda cancer fund Retrieved: 29 January 2007 In March 2006, McCartney finished composing a 'modern classical' musical work named '' Ecce Cor Meum '' My Heart . It was recorded with the Academy Of St. Martin In The Fields , and the boys of King's College Choir, Cambridge and Magdalen College , Oxford, and was premiered at the Royal Albert Hall in London on 3 November , 2006 .Ecce Cor Meum Case , 25 September 2006, Catalogue number: EMI 3704242 Ecce Cor Meum Performance bbc.co.uk - 4 November 2006. Retrieved: 29 January 2007 . It was voted Classical Album of the Year in 2007 in the Classical Brit Awards. On July 18th the debut of a special arrangement of the Choral Suite in '' Ecce Cor Meum '' was performed in Eton College Chapel by the second Eton Choral Course, in the presence of the composer. Electronica After the recording of " Yesterday " in 1965, McCartney contacted the BBC Radiophonic Workshop in Maida Vale , London, to see if they could record an electronic version of the song, but never followed it up. Miles 1998. p207 When visiting John Dunbar's flat in London, McCartney would take along tapes he had compiled at Jane Asher's house. Miles 1998. p218 The tapes were mixes of various songs, musical pieces and comments made by McCartney that he had Dick James make into a Demo record for him. Miles 1998. p217 He later made Tape Loops by recording voices, guitars and bongos on a Brenell tape machine, and splicing the various loops together. He reversed the tapes, sped them up, and slowed them down to create the effects he wanted (which were later used on Beatles' recordings, such as " Tomorrow Never Knows "). McCartney referred to them as electronic symphonies and was heavily influenced by John Cage at the time. Miles 1998. pp219-220 In the spring of 1966, McCartney rented a ground floor and basement flat from Ringo Starr at 34 Montagu Square , which was used by McCartney as a small Demo studio for poets and Avant-garde musicians to record in. Miles 1998. pp238-239 Apple Records later created their own Zapple sub-label, without McCartney's direct involvement but employing a similar aesthetic. Miles 1998. pp238-239 In 1995, McCartney recorded a radio series called ", which McCartney described as being "wide-screen radio". Miles 1998. pp218-219 Oobu Joobu track list Retrieved: 9 November 2006 During the 1990s, McCartney collaborated with albums; '' Strawberries Oceans Ships Forest '' (in 1993) and '' Rushes '', in 1998. In 2000, he released an album, '' Liverpool Sound Collage '',Liverpool Sound Collage (CD) Capitol, 26 September, 2000 with Super Furry Animals and Youth, utilising collage and Musique Concrete techniques which fascinated him in the mid-1960s. Most recently, in 2005, he worked on a project with Bootleg Producer and Remixer Freelance Hellraiser , consisting of remixed versions of songs from throughout his solo career and released under the name '' Twin Freaks ''. Twin Freaks LP Parlophone, Cat. No. 311 30011, 4th June 2005. Retrieved: 29 January 2007 Film McCartney was interested in . The Biography Channel Retrieved: 5 January 2007 Movie Habit - The Music and Animation Collection Retrieved: 23 November 2006 Painting In 1966, McCartney met art gallery-owner Robert Fraser , whose flat was visited by many well-known artists. Miles 1998. p243 McCartney met Andy Warhol , Claes Oldenburg , Peter Blake , and Richard Hamilton there, and learned about art appreciation. McCartney later started buying paintings by Magritte , and used Magritte's painting of an apple for the Apple Records Logo . Miles 1998. pp256-267 He now owns Magritte's Easel and Spectacles . Miles 1998. pp266-267 McCartney's love of painting surfaced after watching artist , England with more than 500 paintings on display. McCartney had previously believed that "only people that had been to Art School were allowed to paint" - as John Lennon had. In October 2000, Yoko Ono and McCartney presented art exhibitions in New York and London . McCartney said, Writing and poetry When McCartney was young, his mother read him poems and encouraged him to read books. McCartney's father was interested in Crosswords and invited the two young McCartneys (Paul and his brother Michael) to solve them with him, so as to increase their "word power". Spitz 2005. p82 McCartney was later inspired - in his school years - by Alan Durband , who was McCartney's English literature teacher at the Liverpool Institute. Miles 1998. p40. Durband was a co-founder and fund-raiser at the Everyman Theatre in Liverpool, where Willy Russell also worked, and introduced McCartney to Geoffrey Chaucer's works. Miles 1998. p41. McCartney later took his A-level exams, but passed only one subject - Art. Spitz 2005. p205 Miles 1998. p42. In 2001 McCartney published 'Blackbird Singing', a volume of poems some of which were lyrics to his songs, and gave readings in "). Blackbird Singing - Poems and Lyrics 1965-1999, Paul McCartney, Faber and Faber, 4 March 2002, ISBN 0-571-20992-0 In the foreword of the book, McCartney explained that when he was a teenager, he had "an overwhelming desire" to have a poem of his published in the school magazine. He wrote something "deep and meaningful", but it was rejected, and he feels that he has been trying to get some kind of revenge ever since. His first "real poem" was about the death of his childhood friend, Ivan Vaughan .[http://www.wwnorton.com/mccartney/foreword.htm McCartney’s foreword to “Blackbird singing”] Retrieved: 29 January 2007 In October 2005, McCartney released a children's book called ''High In The Clouds: An Urban Furry Tail''. In a press release publicizing the book, McCartney said, "I have loved reading for as long as I can remember," singling out '' and animator Geoff Dunbar to write the book.[http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0241837/ Geoff Dunbar IMDb] Retrieved: 27 January 2007 LIFESTYLE McCartney's lifestyle was greatly altered by his success and the income he earned. In the 1960s, the new availability of the First Oral Contraceptive and illegal drugs changed many people's opinions—including McCartney's—about life, marriage, and sexual relationships. Miles 1998. p142 Recreational drug use McCartney's introduction to drugs started in Hamburg , Germany . The Beatles had to play for hours, and they were often given "Prellies" ( Preludin ) by German customers or by Astrid Kirchherr (whose mother bought them). McCartney would usually take one, but Lennon would often take four or five. Miles 1998. pp66-67. After having been introduced to Cannabis , by Bob Dylan in New York , in 1964, McCartney remembered getting "very high" and giggling.Miles 1998, p. 188-189 McCartney's use of cannabis became regular, and he was quoted in the Barry Miles book as saying that any future Beatles' lyrics containing the words "high", or "grass" were written specifically as a reference to cannabis—as was " Got To Get You Into My Life ".Miles 1998, p. 190. John Dunbar's flat at 29 Lennox Gardens, in London, became a regular hang-out for McCartney, where he talked to musicians, writers and artists, and smoked cannabis. In 1965, Miles introduced McCartney to Hash Brownies by using a recipe for Hash fudge he found in the Alice B. Toklas Cookbook. Miles 1998. p233 During the filming of '' Help! '', he and the other Beatles occasionally smoked a Spliff in the car on the way to the studio during filming, which often made them forget their lines. Miles 1998. pp67-68. ''Help!'' director Dick Lester said that he overheard "two beautiful women" trying to cajole McCartney into taking Heroin , but he refused. McCartney's attitude about cannabis was made public in the 1960s, when he added his name to an advertisement in '' The Times '', on 24 July 1967 , which asked for the legalisation of cannabis, the release of all prisoners imprisoned because of possession, and research into marijuana's medical uses. The Advertisement was sponsored by a group called Soma and was signed by 65 people, including The Beatles, Brian Epstein , Graham Greene , R.D. Laing , 15 doctors, and two MPs . Paul McCartney’s arrest in Japan Retrieved: 27 January 2007 McCartney was introduced to Cocaine by Robert Fraser , and it was available during the recording of ''Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band''. Miles 1998. p247 Miles 1998. p191 McCartney admitted sniffing Heroin with Fraser, but did not feel any effect, and never took it again. Miles 1998. pp252-253 On a sailing trip to Greece in 1967 with The Beatles , McCartney said the whole band sat around and took LSD , although McCartney first took it with Tara Browne , in 1966. Miles 1998. p379 Miles 1998. p380 He took his second " Acid Trip " with Lennon on 21 March 1967 after a studio session. Miles 1998. p382 McCartney was the first British pop star openly to admit to using LSD, in an interview in the now-defunct "Queen" magazine. Miles 1998. p393 His admission was followed by a TV interview in the UK on Independent Television News on 19 June 1967 , when McCartney was asked about his admission of LSD use: In spite of his statements then, and his admission (in 2004) that he had used cocaine, McCartney was not arrested by plants growing on his Scottish farm. Miles 1998. p395 On by a Jury for drug-smuggling. Had he been tried and convicted, he would have faced up to seven years in prison. The members of Wings cancelled the tour and left Japan. After ten days in jail, McCartney was released and deported. He was told that he would not be welcome in Japan again, although a decade later he played a concert in Tokyo. In 1984, Paul and Linda McCartney were both busted in Barbados for possession of marijuana.12 13 Meditation On that the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi gave him in Bangor. Miles 1998. p396 The time McCartney later spent in India at the Maharishi's Ashram was highly productive, as practically all of the songs that would later be recorded for '' The White Album '' and '' Abbey Road '' were composed there by McCartney, Lennon, or both together. Miles 1998. p397 Although McCartney was told that he was never to repeat the mantra to anyone else, he did tell Linda McCartney, Miles 1998. p404 and said he meditated a lot whilst he was in prison, in Japan. Activism activism began with watching lambs in a field.]] Paul and Linda McCartney became outspoken , 4 July 2001 , ''passim''. ( link ) In 1999, McCartney spent £3,000,000 to make sure Linda McCartney's food range remains free of tour. In 2006, the McCartneys travelled to campaign. Make Poverty History Retrieved: 2 December 2006 McCartney has been involved with a number of charity recordings and performances. In 2004, he donated a song to an album to aid the "US Campaign for , Ferry Aid , Band Aid , Live Aid , and the recording of " Ferry Cross The Mersey " (released 8 May , 1989 ) following the Hillsborough Disaster . Concert for Kampuchea 9 November, 2006 Ferry Aid Single covers 9 November, 2006 BUSINESS McCartney is today one of Britain's wealthiest men, with an estimated fortune of £760 million. McCartney’s Money Virgin.net Tuesday, 31 October 2006 In addition to his interest in Apple Corps , McCartney's MPL Communications owns a significant Music Publishing catalogue, with access to over 25,000 copyrights.[http://www.mplcommunications.com/subsidiaries.asp List of MPL subsidiary companies] Retrieved: 20 November 2006 Song catalogue Retrieved: 7 December 2006 McCartney earned £40 million in 2003, making him Britain's highest media earner."McCartney tops media rich list", BBC News , 30 October 2003 ( link ) This rose to £48.5 million by 2005. 48 million in 2005 The Telegraph 18/05/2006 In the same year he joined the top American talent agency Grabow Associates, who arrange private performances for their richest clients. Guest speaker Evening News - Sat 21 May 2005 The Beatles catalogue See Also: Apple Corps Northern Songs Northern Songs was established in 1963, by Dick James , to publish the songs of Lennon/McCartney. Spitz 2005. p365 The Beatles' partnership was replaced in 1968 by a jointly-held company, Apple Corps , which continues to control Apple's commercial interests. Northern Songs was purchased by Associated TeleVision (ATV) in 1969, and was sold in 1985 to Michael Jackson . For many years McCartney was unhappy about Jackson's purchase and handling of Northern Songs. McCartney talking about The Beatles catalogue Retrieved: 27 January 2007 MPL Communications See Also: MPL Communications MPL Communications is an Umbrella Company for McCartney's business interests, which owns a wide range of copyrights, MPL music publishing Retrieved: 27 January 2007 as well as the publishing rights to musicals, McCartney and the Musical “Grease” Retrieved: 27 January 2007 and controls 25 subsidiary companies. List of MPL subsidiary companies Retrieved: 27 January 2007 In 2006, the '', feature MPL copyrights. ‘Goodnight and Good Luck’ Retrieved: 5 December 2006 In addition to publishing songs, MPL also published photos from the Paul McCartney 2002-2003 World Tour. The exhibit, titled ''Each One Believing'', contained photos taken by longtime McCartney photographer Bill Bernstein, and toured the United States as well as the UK in 2007. The photographs, which were for sale to the general public, had the signatures of Bill Bernstein as well as Paul McCartney. PSEUDONYMS Over the years, McCartney has released work under a number of Pseudonyms . Prior to the success of The Beatles, McCartney would sometimes use the stage name Paul Ramone or Ramon (a sobriquet that was later the inspiration for the name of US punk band The Ramones ). In 1964, McCartney wrote Peter And Gordon 's first three hit singles; "A World Without Love", "Nobody I Know", and "I Don't Want To See You Again". Curious to see if their next single would sell without his name as writer, Paul wrote "Woman" for them, but credited it to 'Bernard Webb' ('A. Smith' in the U.S.). Nevertheless, it was also a hit. In 1968 he and . In 1974, he recorded an instrumental, "Walking in the Park with Eloise", “Walking in the Park with Eloise” Apple, 18th October 1974, Catalogue No: EMI 2220 which had been written by his father. The song (with B-side, "Bridge Over The River Suite") was released on a 1974 single by the "Country Hams", which featured Wings, Floyd Cramer and Chet Atkins . Both tracks were later featured on the CD reissue of '' Wings At The Speed Of Sound ''.Wings At The Speed Of Sound, (CD) June 1993; Cat. number CDP78914027 In 1977, McCartney released '' Thrillington '', discussed above, under the name "Percy 'Thrills' Thrillington".Thrillington, EMI, Catalogue number: CZ543, Original Release: 17 May, 1977 The album was not well received, but is now a collectible item. In 1994 he appeared as " The Fireman " (a collaboration with Youth ) with the album '' Strawberries Oceans Ships Forest '', discussed above, an album based on sounds from his album "Off the Ground". In 1998, "The Fireman" appeared again with a second album, '' Rushes ''. ACHIEVEMENTS AND CRITIQUE Criticism Stella McCartney once asked her father if he was the same famous 'Paul McCartney' that she had heard about at school. He replied that there is a difference between the public McCartney and the private McCartney, who is "just this kid from Liverpool". Miles 1998. p598 McCartney wrote in the concert programme for his 1989 world tour that Lennon received all the credit for being the Avant-garde Beatle, and McCartney was known as 'baby-faced', which he disagreed with. Miles 1998. pxi People also assumed that Lennon was the 'hard-edged one', and McCartney was the 'soft-edged' Beatle, although McCartney admitted to 'bossing Lennon around.' Miles 1998. p32. Linda McCartney said that McCartney had a 'hard-edge'—and not just on the surface—which she knew about after all the years she had spent living with him. The Linda McCartney Tapes Retrieved: 5 November 2006 McCartney seemed to confirm this edge when he commented that he sometimes meditates, which he said is better than "sleeping, eating, or shouting at someone". In June 1983, McCartney released " We All Stand Together " from the animated film ''Rupert And The Frog Song'', which was commercially successful, but was widely ridiculed as being "one of the worst songs in recent years". “We All Stand Together” from ''Rupert And The Frog Song'' bbc.co.uk: 2 August, 2004 McCartney's songwriting has benefited from friendly competition, Lennon and the Rolling Stones in the 1960s, and Lennon again in the 1970s. McCartney's critical success with songwriter Elvis Costello in the late 1980s has not transcended to his latter works, "It's as if Costello's McCartney songs were written not for the actual Paul McCartney but for an idea of Paul McCartney. Trippy? Perhaps. But Costello's generous perspective made McCartney something he hasn't been for decades – interesting." http://www.salon.com/weekly/music960513.html Record-breaker McCartney is listed in ''. Retrieved: 11 June 2006. 100 million records sold Retrieved: 27 January 2007 He has achieved twenty-nine number-one singles in the U.S., twenty of them with The Beatles, the rest with Wings and as a solo artist. McCartney has been involved in more number-one singles in the United Kingdom than any other artist under a variety of credits, although ("Pipes of Peace"), Duo ("Ebony and Ivory" with Stevie Wonder), Trio ("Mull of Kintyre", Wings), Quartet ("She Loves You", The Beatles), Quintet ("Get Back", The Beatles with Billy Preston) and Sextet ("Let It Be" with Ferry Aid). McCartney's song ", 1999-12-17 . Retrieved: 11 June 2006. After its 1977 release the Wings single "Mull of Kintyre" became the highest-selling record in British chart history, and remained so until 1984. On 2 July 2005 , he was involved with the fastest-released single in history. His performance of " Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band " with U2 at Live 8 Live 8 (DVD) Various Artists, 7 November, 2005, Cat. No: ANGELDVD5 was released only 45 minutes after it was performed, before the end of the concert. The single reached number six on the Billboard charts, just hours after the single's release, and hit number one on numerous online download charts across the world. Live 8 single bbc.co.uk, Wednesday 13 July, 2005 McCartney played for the largest stadium audience in history when 184,000 people paid to see him perform at , Russia , on 20 June 2004. Sir Paul hits 3,000 in Russia Retrieved: 27 January 2007 Over his career, McCartney has played 2,523 gigs with The Beatles, 140 with Wings, and 325 as a solo artist. 3,000 concerts played (20 June, 2004) Retrieved: 27 January 2007 Awards On 12 June , 1965 , McCartney and the three other Beatles were appointed Members of the Order of the British Empire ( MBE ); they received their insignia from The Queen at an Investiture at Buckingham Palace on 26 October . On 11 March 1997 , he was Knighted for his "services to music". He dedicated his knighthood to fellow Beatles John Lennon , George Harrison , and Ringo Starr , and to the people of Liverpool .14 McCartney is the only ex-Beatle to have been nominated as a solo artist for an Academy Award , for songs in the films '' Vanilla Sky '' and '' Live And Let Die ''. The Beatles won the 1970 Oscar for 'Best Original Song Score' for the film '' Let It Be ''. McCartney also received an honorary Doctorate of music from the University Of Sussex . In February 1990, McCartney was awarded a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award ,15 and, in March 1999, he was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame as a solo artist, after having been inducted with The Beatles in 1988. At the 1983 BRIT Awards , McCartney won the award for 'British male solo artist' and 'The Sony award for technical excellence'. The Minor Planet 4148 , discovered on 11 July 1983 by E. Bowell at the Anderson Mesa Station of the Lowell Observatory, was named 'McCartney' in honour of Sir Paul. Planet called McCartney Retrieved: 29 May 2007 DISCOGRAPHY These pages detail McCartney's recorded work with The Beatles, Wings, and his solo output from the 1960s to the present day:
SONG SAMPLES Many Beatles compositions are attributed solely or predominantly to McCartney. Following are samples for some of these. Among others are " Can't Buy Me Love ", " And I Love Her ", " Michelle ", " Fool On The Hill ", " Hello, Goodbye ", " Hey Jude ", " Let It Be ", and " The Long And Winding Road ".
PAUL IS DEAD RUMOURS ''Main article: Paul Is Dead '' "Paul is dead" is an urban legend alleging that McCartney died in 1966 and was replaced by a Look-alike and Sound-alike . Evidence for McCartney's death consists of "clues" found among The Beatles many recordings, most of which are treated as if they were deliberately placed by The Beatles or others—as if McCartney's death was a mystery to be solved by the public. They include statements allegedly heard when a song is Played Backwards , symbolism found in obscure lyrics, and ambiguous imagery on album covers. A few are well-known, such as the fact that McCartney is the only barefoot Beatle - out of step with the others - on the cover of Abbey Road . It is often unclear whether proponents spread this story as a joke or as a real Conspiracy Theory . The rumour has been the topic of much Sociological examination because its development, growth, and rebuttal took place very publicly, due to the Beatles' enormous popularity and propensity for hidden messages and double meanings in their songs, as well as in their album titles and artwork. Many fans have claimed that the rumour was a Hoax perpetrated by The Beatles, either as a joke, or to stimulate record sales (the initial call placed to Russ Gibb coincided with the release of Abbey Road). This was denied numerous times by all four band members. Longtime "Paul is dead" expert Joel Glazier wrote a 1977 Treatise which included a theory suggesting John Lennon's love of Wordplay and clever studio editing may have been responsible for the more bizarre clues in later albums, and that after Charles Manson claimed The Beatles were hiding references to an upcoming racial war in their song "Helter Skelter" , the band members may have chosen not to reveal the joke. NOTES REFERENCES |
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