Paul McCartney

Latest about Paul McCartney

Cut outs of the Beatles superimposed on the sleeve of the Back In The USSR single
The Beatles song with three guitarists, three bassists, McCartney on drums — and a lyric that made enemies

By Phil Weller Published

Inspired by Chuck Berry, aided by the Beach Boys, Back In The USSR annoyed people on both sides of the political spectrum

Guitarists
Bassist Paul McCartney of the rock and roll band the Beatles records bass in the studio in circa 1967.
Why the Beatles couldn't have made "Helter Skelter" without the Who

By Phil Weller Published

McCartney was seduced by the idea of a “screaming record” after reading about the Who, and said the Beatles cut their track “in madness and hysterics”

Guitarists
(from left) Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr perform in Twickenham Film Studios, London, in January 1969, in a scene from the Michael Lindsay-Hogg film Let It Be.
How a candid moment caught on camera became the final Beatles song the band recorded together

By Phil Weller Published

"I Me Mine" wasn’t intended to make the 'Let It Be' album, but an executive decision forced what remained of the Beatles back into the studio to record it for one last hurrah

Guitarists
Musicians John Lennon (R) and Paul McCartney of English rock group The Beatles on the set of television special The Music of Lennon & McCartney at Granada Studios, Manchester, circa November 1965.
If you know nothing about John Lennon and Paul McCartney’s songwriting methods, this might help

By Phil Weller Published

Lennon’s weaknesses proved to be McCartney’s strengths, while their shared music tastes created a bedrock upon which the Fab Four built their legacy

Guitarists
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
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
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
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