Paul McCartney: The Life
By Philip Norman
I am a huge Beatles fan, so I was excited to come across the new biography, Paul McCartney: the life, by Philip Norman, purported to be written with Paul’s approval. Telling the life story of Paul McCartney--musical icon, the “cute” Beatle, the “Walrus,” (and no, he is not dead)—would seem to be a daunting task. Paul is closing in on 60 years as a professional musician and is still going strong at age 74, touring right now in the United States. At 853 pages (!!), one would think that Norman would deliver some new, fresh tidbits on Macca’s life. Alas, if you’re a true fan, most of the material reported in the book will be old news. I did find an article from the British newspaper, The Telegraph, which offers 8 new things to learn from the biography, Paul McCartney: the life. And if Beatlemania is still a large part of your life, enjoy.
“Paul McCartney, who was born on June 18, 1942 in Liverpool, is renowned as a former Beatles star and one of the world's greatest songwriters. Here’s some surprising things we learned from Philip Norman’s new 800-plus life story of the singer, Paul McCartney: The Biography.
1) McCartney believed he was on 'the scrap heap' following the break-up of The Beatles.
Despite a post-Beatles career that has produced 17 solo albums and a further seven with his band Wings, McCartney felt that his time as a musician was over when The Beatles split in 1970. “I don’t know how anyone could have lived with me,” McCartney explains in the book, paying tribute to his first wife, Linda, who died in 1998. “I was on the scrap heap in my own eyes... It was a barrelling, empty feeling that just rolled across my soul.”
2) He missed his very first gig with John Lennon
Most Beatles fans know that McCartney and Lennon were in a band together during the late Fifties called The Quarrymen. Less well known is that McCartney failed to turn up for his first gig with the band. The reason? An evening with the Boy Scouts.
3) He also missed the very first meeting with Brian Epstein
He didn't make it easy for himself, did he? While the rest of The Beatles turned up on time for a meeting with future manager Brian Epstein at the entrepreneur's record store, McCartney was less punctual. When it transpired that McCartney was in the bath, Epstein lamented: "He's going to be very late." Quick as a flash, George Harrison responded: "But very clean."
4) He once told Linda: 'There's only one effing star in this family.'
News that Linda was being interviewed for a ghost-written autobiography angered McCartney, who was unwilling to surrender much of the limelight to his wife.
5) He was 'terrified of being raped' in a Japanese prison
When McCartney was arrested for smuggling marijuana into Japan in 1980, he ended up with a nine-day jail sentence at Kosuge Prison, Tokyo. It was a tough regime, which included a 6am start, cleaning duties and nothing but a mat to sleep on. Above all, though, McCartney was 'terrified of being raped'. Fortunately, McCartney won over the other prisoners with A cappella renditions of Yesterday.
6) His girlfriend's mother used to comb his leg hair
Yes, you did read that sentence correctly. Apparently, during the two years that McCartney was in a relationship with Iris Caldwell, he became so close to her family that Caldwell's mother had no qualms about coiffuring his leg hair. But, as Philip Norman's book reveals, McCartney always enjoyed a close relationship with the mothers of his girlfriend. Jane Asher's mother offered up her basement as a recording studio, while also doing McCartney's laundry. Most importantly of all, though, Margaret Asher introduced McCartney to a piano teacher. Behind every great man etc.
7) All The Beatles were present when George Harrison lost his virginity
Doesn't bear thinking about. And With a Little Help from My Friends may never sound the same.
8) McCartney could memorize all his music
This ability was put to the test when he and Linda were held-up at knife-point on holiday in Nigeria. No matter that the thieves had stolen a bag full of demos for Band on the Run, the 1973 album by Paul McCartney and the Wings... McCartney had it all in his head.”
“8 things we learned from the new Paul McCartney biography,” by Telegraph Reporters. 27 May 2016, 9:24am.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/news/8-things-we-learned-from-the-new-paul-mccartney-biography/.