www.express.co.uk John Lennon vs Paul McCartney: Paul's touching words about Yoko and reconciling FEUD JOHN LENNON and Paul McCartney were locked in a feud following The Beatles split back in 1970, but later reconciled. Now, unearthed interview quotes show McCartney speaking out on their spat and sharing touching words regarding his pal’s relationship with Yoko Ono. By MINNIE WRIGHT PUBLISHED: Thu, Dec 26, 2019 John Lennon met Yoko Ono in 1966 and soon left his first wife Cynthia Lennon and started up a relationship with the artist. Shortly after they were married in 1969, he told The Beatles he no longer wanted to be part of the band. His romance with Ono is often the focus of The Beatles fans’ anger regarding the group’s split, with many blaming her for drawing him away from mainstream music and into more experimental endeavours. During an interview with Howard Stern last year, Paul McCartney opened up on the divide between him and his childhood friend Lennon following the disintegration of the band. On the period of time during which he and Lennon exchanged jibes through their solo music, the Wings star laughed: “We were writing songs at each other, weaponising songs.” However, he went on to admit his relief that they reconciled their feud before Lennon was fatally shot in 1980. “We got over it, luckily,” he said. “I feel very blessed that we got over it because if we hadn’t and then John goes and gets killed, I don’t know how I would’ve dealt with that.” John Lennon vs Paul McCartney: The Beatles star McCartney spoke out on their feud and Yoko Ono (Image: GETTY) John Lennon vs Paul McCartney: The Beatles split shortly after Lennon and Yoko Ono got together (Image: GETTY) McCartney did, however, lay blame for The Beatles split firmly on Lennon. “Who knows who broke The Beatles up,” Stern mused. “Everyone has a theory—” “I know,” McCartney interjected, declaring: “John.” When Stern commented that Lennon then tried to “pin” the split on McCartney, The Beatles star explained: “I don’t think anyone tried to pin it on anyone. It just came out that way. John Lennon vs Paul McCartney: The Beatles star is now 'mates' with Yoko Ono (Image: GETTY) “That’s a long story,” he continued. “There was meeting where John came in and said, ‘Hey guys, I’m leaving the group.’” Nonetheless, McCartney had poignant words to say on his late friend’s much maligned relationship with Ono. Remembering the band’s response to her prominence in Lennon’s life, he said: “John had met up with Yoko and even though we thought, oh God — a bit intrusive… “She used to sit in on the recording sessions and we’d never had anything like that.” “But looking back on it you think, the guy was totally in love with her and you’ve just got to respect that. So, we did and I do,” he insisted. In interviews, McCartney has said the break-up of The Beatles wasn’t Ono’s fault, emphasising that Lennon was going to leave the band anyway. Despite their tense relationship back in the 1970s, he and Ono are now friends. Speaking to Rolling Stone, McCartney previously explained why things were fraught between the group and Ono in the early days, saying: “We weren’t sexiest, but girls didn’t come to the studio — they tended to leave us to it.
“When John got with Yoko, she wasn’t in the control room or to the side; it was in the middle of the four of us.” He said the “big awakening” for him was: “If John loves this woman, that’s gotta be right. I realised any resistance was something I had to overcome. “It was a little hard at first,” he admitted. “Gradually, we did. “Now it’s like we’re mates. I like Yoko.”
www.dailymail.co.uk Paul McCartney, 77, prepares to unwind for the festive period as he and wife Nancy Shevell, 60, arrive at JFK airport ahead of Christmas By RIANNE ADDO FOR MAILONLINE PUBLISHED: 23 December 2019
He recently revealed he's produced an album of carols only for his family after struggling to find 'good Christmas records'.
And Paul McCartney prepared for the festive period as he and his wife Nancy Shevell touched down at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport on Sunday evening.
The Beatles icon, 77, carried his essentials in a black duffle bag as he joined his partner, 60, in her native state, ahead of their annual trip to St Barts.
Christmas trip: Paul McCartney prepared for the festive period as he and his wife Nancy Shevell touched down at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport on Sunday evening Cutting a typically smart figure, the Hey Jude hitmaker strolled across the terminal in a blue shirt, classic black trousers and suede brogues.
The bassist wrapped up for the winter chill of the Big Apple as he rounded off his outfit with a longline wool coat and a two-tone scarf.
Businesswoman Nancy, meanwhile, nailed casual chic in a slogan jumper, skinny jeans and a grey jacket.
Heading off: The Beatles icon, 77, carried his essentials in a black duffle bag as he joined his partner, 60, in her native state, ahead of their annual trip to St Barts
Earlier in the month, Paul revealed he has made an album of carols – but only his family are allowed to listen to it.
The musician recorded the singles at his home studio after struggling to find good Christmas songs. He says he will never release the tracks.
‘Years ago I thought there’s not very good Christmas records,’ he told BBC Radio 4’s World At One . ‘I like something traditional and simple and easy so I went into my studio and I made one.
‘This has not been released it’s just for the family. It gets brought out each year.
Secret record: Earlier in the month, the musician (pictured in July) revealed he has made an album of carols – but only his family are allowed to listen to it
‘The kids like it and it’s kind of traditional and now it’s the grandkids getting indoctrinated with my carols record. Then there’s the booze... It’s all very jolly.’
The rock icon, who has five children and eight grandchildren, had a festive hit in 1979 with Wonderful Christmastime, which reached No.8 in the Irish charts.
He also spoke in the interview of how he is traditional when it comes to Christmas dinner – although, of course, it must be vegetarian.
Intimate: The rock icon recorded it at his home studio after struggling to find good Christmas songs. He says he will never release the tracks (pictured with Mary, 50, and Stella, 48, in 2014)
He recalled how his late wife Linda used to make a ‘macaroni turkey’ – chilling macaroni cheese into a hard mass before frying it – so he had something to carve. Now his family gets a vegetarian roast.
‘When we first came down to London from Liverpool there was one restaurant called Cranks, which gives you the idea of how people thought of veggies,’ he said.
‘Linda and I were on a farm and there were lambs in the field and we were eating a leg of lamb and we didn’t make the connection and suddenly we went “Oh” and the light bulb went off and we said, “Should we do something about this?” ’
Festive tradition: The vegetarian recalled how his late wife Linda used to make a ‘macaroni turkey’ so he had something to carve (pictured in 1989)
www.cheatsheet.com Did Paul McCartney Base 'Get Back' on This 1968 George Harrison Song? Eric Schaal December 19, 2019
When The Beatles released the “Get Back” single in 1969, the track instantly connected with the record-buying public. With a toe-tapping pulse and a clutch assist from Billy Preston, the track shot to No. 1 on both sides of the Atlantic.
While promoting the single, Paul McCartney described the composition he wrote as something the band “made it up out of thin air” while working in the studio early in ’69. To paraphrase Paul, once they had the words, they laid down the track and that was that.
It definitely wasn’t that simple, though. John Lennon’s guitar solo on the song is a reminder that George Harrison walked out on the band during rehearsals for “Get Back.” (John took over lead duties with George gone.)
As for the song falling from the sky, you can make a case that didn’t happen, either. A track George originally worked out for The White Album shares several things in common with “Get Back.”
George’s ‘Sour Milk Sea’ features a similar chorus to ‘Get Back’
1968: John Lennon, George Harrison, and Paul McCartney record voices in a studio for their new cartoon film ‘Yellow Submarine.’ | Keystone Features/Getty Images
After their extended stay with the Maharishi in India, The Beatles had dozens of songs ready for their next album. On top of the four tracks he landed on The White Album, George made demos of three other tracks, including “Not Guilty” and “Circles.”
“Sour Milk Sea,” which George wrote in Rishikesh, had an explicit spiritual message. “It’s based on Vishvasara Tantra, from Tantric art,” George noted in I Me Mine. “‘What is here is elsewhere, what is not here is nowhere.'”
On the track, George’s pretty falsetto vocal and light touch stand out. But Beatles fans may recognize a parallel in some of the lyrics. “Get out of the Sour Milk Sea,” George sang. “You don’t belong there / Get back to where you should be / Find out what’s going on there.”
As far as The Beatles go, the song died with the demo. However, George wanted new Apple artist Jackie Lomax to have a good track to record for the label. So he gave Lomax “Sour Milk Sea” and played on the track with Paul, Ringo, and Eric Clapton.
A ’68 recording featuring George and Paul took it closer to ‘Get Back’
Ringo Starr, Paul McCartney, and George Harrison huddle at a press review of ‘Yellow Submarine.’ | PA Images via Getty Images
If only George’s demo and The Beatles’ “Get Back” existed, you’d say that one line had a lot in common. However, George’s work during the “Sour Milk Sea” sessions (which he produced) might convince people the two songs had more of a connection.
In Lomax’s version, the track has a rocking beat and a harder country-rock feel. (Clapton’s lead guitar work may have rubbed off on John when he recorded the solo on “Get Back.”) But the ending to this “Sour Milk Sea” hints of a direct link.
“Get back,” the group chants.” Get back, get back.” Afterward, Lomax ad-libs, “Why don’t you get back now. You don’t belong here.” At this point, they’ve gotten pretty close to “Get back, get back, get back to where you once belonged.”
If any of The Beatles felt this connection, they didn’t say so. Discussions of the song by various authors have tended to gravitate to the early anti-racist lyrics, Preston’s general involvement, and John’s rocking solo (as well as John’s take on Paul’s lyrics). But George’s earlier work is hard to ignore.
ultimateclassicrock.com Pink Floyd’s Battle With Paul McCartney at Knebworth MARTIN KIELTY December 17, 2019 Mark Reinstein / Pete Still, Getty Images
David Gilmour and some of his backstage colleagues recalled some of the most memorable moments from Pink Floyd’s big concert in Venice in 1989 and another at Knebworth in 1990.
While Gilmour remained diplomatic about some of the negative aspects of the shows in the final episode of his The Lost Art of Conversation podcast series, his companions were more forthcoming about the problems – including a battle between Floyd manager Steve O’Rourke and Paul McCartney’s manager Richard Ogden at Knebworth.
Floyd managed to find a way through the legal fight with former member Roger Waters and had released A Momentary Lapse of Reason, their first LP without him. As part of the associated tour, Gilmour accepted an invitation to perform on a giant floating barge in Venice.
“The whole city of Venice had promised us everything,” he said. “Loos, food for the massive amount of people who were going to be there. … It seemed as if the entire town council disappeared on holiday for that weekend, because I think an awful lot of the audience couldn’t find food, couldn’t find public toilets. There were logistical nightmares to do with it. There was supposedly some damage to one or two buildings, which they blamed on our fireworks, but obviously wasn’t – they were out over the water somewhere. There was a little bit of bother about the whole event.”
He also remembered the challenge of watching a countdown clock during the show, which was there to remind performers to not run long since it was being broadcast live. “We weren’t used to doing an hour, we were used to doing two and a half hours, so it was very, very tricky,” he said. “Trying to concentrate on singing and playing while keeping an eye on the clock, saying, ‘Am I going on too long on this solo? Well obviously, yes, because I always do!’ … My abiding memory of it was looking at this red digital clock, ticking down: ‘I’ve got to get this song finished, start the next one.’”
Sound engineer Andy Jackson remembered the fireworks show once the concert was over. “We climbed on top of a Portakabin or something to watch the fireworks," he explained. "I was sitting there with David … he turned to me and said, 'This is the first time I’ve played support to a fireworks show!’ It really was quite unbelievable. The climax to a normal fireworks show was how it started, then it ramped up from there. ... It was a weird event … the gondoliers had tried to extort money out of Steve, who’d told them to go away. They said, ‘We will sound our horns through the show.’ And he said, ‘Good luck!’ And you can hear in the gaps, beep-beep-beep … parp!”
The Knebworth concert the following year was billed as the "Best British Rock Concert of All Time” and featured Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, Genesis, Eric Clapton, Elton John and others. However, the argument over who should close the show came down to a battle between Floyd and McCartney.
“I can remember saying to Steve, ‘Tell them we want an hour of darkness’,” Gilmour said. “That was our only prerequisite. It’s in the summer, so darkness happens quite late, so I think it meant that we closed the show, which some people were slightly grumpy about. But we got our hour of darkness – and half an hour of rain! ... It was wet. … Those huge winds, slashing rain coming straight on to us. I must have been using a radio mic on the guitar at that time, because it would have been too dangerous to be that wet with all that electronic equipment."
Album artist Aubrey Powell was there too, and he recalled that "there had been a great debate about who would finish the show. … One of my better memories was the two managers of Paul McCartney and Pink Floyd arguing by the side of the stage at the closing moments of Paul McCartney’s set – which was running over, probably quite deliberately – and of Steve O’Rourke saying, ‘Get Paul McCartney off the stage right now!’ And Richard Ogden, who was Paul McCartney’s manager, saying, ‘Well, you go and drag him off then!’ They were nearly at blows with each other."
Still, he said, "much more dramatic was … the most horrendous squall" that blew in right as the show started. "This was a storm of unprecedented proportions," Powell said, noting that in the broadcast, viewers could see Gilmour "virtually being blown off the stage. It somehow added to the drama of the day. I’m sure it was most unpleasant for the participants in the band, but actually for everybody in the crowd it was pretty remarkable.”
Gilmour reflected that it was a "great show. I remember thinking, ‘You can hide from this rain or you’ve got to embrace it. There’s only one thing to do: Get out there and enjoy it.'”
ultimateclassicrock.com Paul McCartney Recorded a Christmas Album, but You Can’t Hear It RYAN REED December 12, 2019 Kevin Winter, Getty Images
Paul McCartney is already king of pop-rock holiday radio with his synth-driven 1979 staple "Wonderful Christmastime." But it turns out he also dominates his home stereo around Yuletide with a full album of Christmas carol instrumentals he recorded "just for the family."
"Years ago, I thought, ‘There's not very good Christmas records,’ so I actually went into my studio over a couple of years and I made one," the former Beatle told BBC Radio 4’s World at One. “It gets brought out each year, I’ve just got a little demo of it, but the kids like it. It’s kind of traditional — it's something they've heard through the years, and now it's the grandkids getting indoctrinated with my carols record.”
While it's not technically an original Christmas album in the traditional sense, McCartney did assemble a goofy, holiday-themed recording as a present for his Beatles bandmates in 1965. Throughout the extremely rare set, which surfaced online in 2017, he impersonates an American DJ and plays cuts from artists like the Beach Boys, Elvis Presley and the Rolling Stones.
More recently, as part of Record Store Day's 2019 Black Friday event, McCartney issued a picture-disc vinyl single of new songs, "Home Tonight" and "In a Hurry," recorded during the sessions for his 2018 LP, Egypt Station. He also recently played bass on Ringo Starr's cover of the John Lennon tune "Grow Old With Me"; the track includes a string section inspired by George Harrison, rounding out the closest possible thing to a Beatles reunion in 2019.
McCartney also announced a Netflix adaptation of his 2005 children’s book, High in the Clouds. He will provide original songs and music to the project, which features direction from Oscar nominee Timothy Reckart and a script by Jon Croker.
www.bbc.com Paul McCartney unwraps his 'secret' Christmas album BBC News 12 December 2019 Sir Paul McCartney was interviewed by BBC Radio 4's Sarah Montague
Sir Paul McCartney has revealed he once recorded a secret Christmas album "just for the family" that "gets brought out each year" at the McCartney household.
"Years ago I thought, there's not very good Christmas records," he told BBC Radio 4's World at One programme.
"So I actually went into my studio over a couple of years and I made one."
Sir Paul said he would never release the demo of traditional Christmas carol instrumentals, despite it being popular with his children and grandchildren.
"The kids like it," he told Sarah Montague. "It's something they've heard through the years, you know, and now it's the grandkids getting indoctrinated with my carols record."
The Fab Four member last played at the Glastonbury Festival in 2004 GETTY IMAGES
Sir Paul has five children and eight grandchildren - six boys and two girls.
Earlier this year he revealed he had written a children's book inspired by the "Grandude" nickname one of his grandchildren had given him.
It was confirmed last month the 77-year-old would be headlining at next year's Glastonbury Festival in Somerset.
The former Beatle will top the bill on the Pyramid Stage on 27 June, a week after he celebrates his 78th birthday.
Glastonbury is 'very special'
Sir Paul admitted he might get nervous, but would prepare for his appearance by playing 10 concerts beforehand "to get up to speed".
"You don't get an athlete just coming into the Olympics not having done a few races beforehand," he said.
"The idea is by the time I get to Glastonbury it'll just be just like another gig. But of course it won't be, because it's very special."
He also discussed the 10th anniversary of Meat Free Monday, climate change and Christmas presents during the interview, which will be broadcast on Thursday's World at One on BBC Radio 4 from 13:00 GMT.
“I said to everyone when I was coming in to work today that I better not be late because I had to talk to an Italian Astronaut in space. People couldn't believe me! So I've got a story too!” — Paul
A few weeks ago Paul had an out-of-this-world video call with ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano. Although one man was floating around in space hundreds of miles above earth, and the other was in his recording studio at home - the pair bonded over their love of a really good cup of coffee!
Paul’s ‘High In The Clouds’ to be Adapted by Netflix and Gaumont
Netflix and Gaumont are producing a new animated feature based on the popular children’s adventure novel ‘High In The Clouds’ written by Paul McCartney, Geoff Dunbar and Philip Ardagh.
Director: Oscar-nominee® Timothy Reckart (Head Over Heels, The Star) Screenplay: Jon Croker (Paddington, Paddington 2, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald) Created, Produced and Original Songs & Music by: Academy Award and 18-time Grammy Award winner Paul McCartney (100 Years, Jojo Rabbit, Yesterday, Live and Let Die, Vanilla Sky). Producers: Bob Shaye (The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, The Golden Compass, The Mortal Instrument, When the Bough Breaks, and Ambition and upcoming Netflix Limited Series The Liberator), the late Michael Lynne, and Paul McCartney, Sidonie Dumas, Christophe Riandee, Nicolas Atlan, Terry Kalagian (Gaumont)
The new animated adventure follows an imaginative teenage squirrel named Wirral, who finds himself pulled into a ramshackle gang of teenage rebels who live high in the clouds. After he accidentally antagonizes Gretsch the owl, the tyrannical leader (and fabulous singer!), who steals the voice of anyone who upstages her.
Paul said: “We are thrilled to be partnering with Netflix. They complement what is already an amazing team with Gaumont and we can think of no-one better to be working with to bring our film to a global audience. I’ve always loved animated films and this is a hugely important passion project for me. I can’t wait for the world to see it.”
“The development of ‘High In The Clouds’ has been a fantastic journey working together with Tim and Jon and of course my amazing Gaumont Animation and Family team, Terry Kalagian and Alex Soto. We feel fortunate as this has been an extremely collaborative creative process with the incomparable Paul McCartney and his team, including Lee Eastman who has offered invaluable guidance throughout the development stage. We at Gaumont are elated to be announcing this project and are excited to be working with Melissa Cobb, Gregg Taylor and the talented team at Netflix to be able to share this truly special musical animated feature film with audiences around the world.”Nicolas Atlan, President Gaumont Animation and Family.
"Bringing the world a new animated film from the heart and mind of the brilliant Paul McCartney is undoubtedly one of the greatest thrills we've experienced at Netflix. We're beyond grateful to be partnering with Nicolas and the Gaumont team on ‘High In The Clouds’ and with Tim at the helm, this whimsical story celebrating individuality and the unifying power of music is in great hands,” Gregg Taylor, Netflix Director of Original Animated Films.
media.netflix.com PAUL McCARTNEY’S HIGH IN THE CLOUDS TO BE ADAPTED BY NETFLIX AND GAUMONT NETFLIX Media Center 10 December 2019
Netflix and Gaumont are producing a new animated feature from iconic songwriter, author and filmmaker, Paul McCartney titled HIGH IN THE CLOUDS based on the popular children’s adventure novel of the same title by McCartney and Geoff Dunbar, and Philip Ardagh.
Director: Oscar-nominee® Timothy Reckart (Head Over Heels, The Star)
Screenplay: Jon Croker (Paddington, Paddington 2, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald)
Created, Produced and Original Songs & Music by: Academy Award and 18-time Grammy Award winner Paul McCartney (100 Years, Jojo Rabbit, Yesterday, Live and Let Die, Vanilla Sky).
Producers: Bob Shaye (The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, The Golden Compass, The Mortal Instrument, When the Bough Breaks, and Ambitionand upcoming Netflix Limited Series The Liberator), the late Michael Lynne, and Paul McCartney, Sidonie Dumas, Christophe Riandee, Nicolas Atlan, Terry Kalagian (Gaumont)
Logline: An imaginative teenage squirrel named Wirral finds himself pulled into a ramshackle gang of teenage rebels who live high in the clouds after he accidentally antagonizes Gretsch the owl, the tyrannical leader (and fabulous singer!), who steals the voice of anyone who upstages her.
“We are thrilled to be partnering with Netflix. They complement what is already an amazing team with Gaumont and we can think of no-one better to be working with to bring our film to a global audience. I’ve always loved animated films and this is a hugely important passion project for me. I can’t wait for the world to see it,” says Paul McCartney.
“The development of HIGH IN THE CLOUDS has been a fantastic journey working together with Tim and Jon and of course my amazing Gaumont Animation and Family team, Terry Kalagian and Alex Soto. We feel fortunate as this has been an extremely collaborative creative process with the incomparable Paul McCartney and his team, including Lee Eastman who has offered invaluable guidance throughout the development stage. We at Gaumont are elated to be announcing this project and are excited to be working with Melissa Cobb, Gregg Taylor and the talented team at Netflix to be able to share this truly special musical animated feature film with audiences around the world,” says Nicolas Atlan, President Gaumont Animation and Family.
"Bringing the world a new animated film from the heart and mind of the brilliant Paul McCartney is undoubtedly one of the greatest thrills we've experienced at Netflix. We're beyond grateful to be partnering with Nicolas and the Gaumont team on HIGH IN THE CLOUDS and with Tim at the helm, this whimsical story celebrating individuality and the unifying power of music is in great hands,” says Gregg Taylor, Netflix Director of Original Animated Films.
ABOUT PAUL McCARTNEY
Since writing his first song at the age of 14, Paul McCartney’s career has been impossibly prolific and singularly influential. In the 1960s, Paul changed the world forever with The Beatles. He didn’t stop there, and has continued to push boundaries, as a solo artist, with Wings, and collaborating with numerous world-renowned artists. He has created a number of animated films in collaboration with Geoff Dunbar, including Rupert and the Frog Song, which won a BAFTA for best animated short film and became the bestselling short video of the year. His animated releases also include Daumier’s Law, which won a BAFTA for best short animated film, Tropic Island Hum, and Tuesday. He has received 18 Grammys, and in 1996 was knighted by H.M. The Queen for his services to music. Paul is a dedicated philanthropist, passionately advocating for many causes including animal rights and environmental issues.
ABOUT NETFLIX
Netflix is the world's leading streaming entertainment service with over 158 million paid memberships in over 190 countries enjoying TV series, documentaries and feature films across a wide variety of genres and languages. Members can watch as much as they want, anytime, anywhere, on any internet-connected screen. Members can play, pause and resume watching, all without commercials or commitments.
ABOUT GAUMONT
Formed in France in 1895, Gaumont is the oldest film company in the world, with offices in Paris, Los Angeles, London, Berlin, and Buenos Aires. Gaumont produces and distributes high-quality TV programming worldwide such as the award-winning series Narcos in its 5th season, and F is for Family in its 4th season for Netflix; the German show The Barbarians for Netflix; the 3rd season of the British show Tin Starfor Sky and Amazon Prime Video; the French show Arsene Lupin with Omar Sy for Netflix; and the animated show Do Re & Mi with Kristen Bell, for Amazon Prime Video.
Gaumont co-produces and distributes around ten films a year in theaters, and the film library encompasses over 1400 titles from prestigious directors such as Louis Malle, Jean-Luc Godard, and more recently, Toledano and Nakache for The Intouchables, the highest-grossing French-language movie ever with over $450 million in revenue to date.
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