Paul McCartney

Latest about Paul McCartney

Sir Paul McCartney performs live on stage at the O2 Arena during his 'Freshen Up' tour, on December 16, 2018 in London, England.

Paul McCartney leads the charge of 400 stars opposing changes to AI copyright laws

By Phil Weller last updated

AI firms want exemptions to expand the tech’s learnings. An open letter backed by McCartney highlights the risks to America’s creative industries

Music
John Lennon of The Beatles during rehearsal for the third appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show. Image dated August 14, 1965.

How John Lennon's “least favorite” Beatles song made it onto 'Rubber Soul'

By Phil Weller published

Paul McCartney said the track demonstrated Lennon's insecurities about relationships, noting, "John was always on the run, running for his life"

Guitarists
1966, British rock musician Paul McCartney playing on stage during The Beatles', last tour. Drummer Ringo Starr is visible in the background., 1966

Paul McCartney said his very first performance with John Lennon went so badly that he swore off guitar solos

By Christopher Scapelliti last updated

McCartney's botched showpiece was the reason he pushed Lennon to bring George Harrison into the Quarrymen. The rest is Beatles history

Guitarists
Paul McCartney from the Beatles plays an acoustic guitar while John Lennon (1940-1980) sunbathes behind in London, summer 1967.

"We thought his music was very similar to ours, and we latched on to him amazingly quickly.” Paul McCartney explained how a youthful error led him to write one of his greatest guitar tracks for the Beatles

By Christopher Scapelliti published

"Blackbird" developed from his and George Harrison's love of Bach's Bourée in E minor and their attempts to master the piece as young teenagers

Guitarists
Paul McCartney of English rock and pop group The Beatles tunes up his Hofner 500/1 violin bass guitar on stage during rehearsals for the ABC Television music television show 'Thank Your Lucky Stars' Summer Spin at Teddington Studios in London on 11th July 1964. The band would go on to play four songs on the show, A Hard Day's Night, Long Tall Sally, Things We Said Today and You Can't Do That.

“When I saw this 'Let It Be' footage, I noticed how easy it looked to play.” Paul McCartney on why he pulled his Höfner bass out of mothballs after ignoring it for nearly two decades

By Christopher Scapelliti published

McCartney credited Elvis Costello for encouraging him to return the instrument to his lineup when the two began working together in 1987

Electric Guitars
British Rock musicians Paul McCartney (left) and John Lennon (1940 - 1980), of the group the Beatles, perform on the set of 'The Ed Sullivan Show' at CBS's Studio 50, New York, New York, February 8, 1964. The photo was taken during rehearsals for the group's debut performance on the show the following day. Note that the backdrop was very different from the one used in the broadcast.

Paul McCartney said necessity made him and John Lennon learn to be ambidextrous guitar players

By Elizabeth Swann published

McCartney also revealed how he came to understand the bass guitar's transformational power while recording the Beatles' "Michelle"

Guitarists
Portrait of British musician Paul McCartney as he plays acoustic guitar against a red background, October 7, 1984.

Paul McCartney made some surprising revelations about his favorite guitar in our historic interview with him

By Tom Mulhern published

The former Beatle gave Guitar Player insights into "Taxman" and "Blackbird," as well as John Lennon's previously unknown fingerpicking skills

Guitarists
Mitch Colby poses with an original Elpico AC55 combo (center) and his Colby Elpico AC55 1x12 combo.

Mitch Colby resurrects the amp that gave Paul McCartney his start and put the Kinks on the hit parade

By Dave Hunter published

The Colby Elpico AC55 1x12 combo is a modern take on the 1950s/'60s Elpico AC55 that launched young British guitarists into the world of rock and roll

Amps
Musicians Paul McCartney (L) and Brian Ray perform during the 51st Annual Grammy Awards held at the Staples Center on February 8, 2009 in Los Angeles, California.

Brian Ray on navigating nerves while learning the ropes in Paul McCartney’s band

By Phil Weller published

Ray recalls the wisdom of Etta James that helped him work with McCartney

Guitarists
Paul McCartney (left) and Jeff Beck, performing onstage

“‘Those old Beatle bashers?’”: Paul McCartney talks Vox amps, and his love of dirty tones

By Jackson Maxwell published

In a 1990 GP interview, McCartney expressed his personal preference for getting gnarlier rock tones out of his Vox amps, despite his pop reputation

Amps
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