The Paul McCartney Tribute Page!

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Paul McCartneyBiography for Paul McCartney:Date of Birth 18 June 1942, Liverpool, Merseyside, England, UK:Birth Name James Paul McCartney:Nickname Macca:Height 5' 11" (1.80 m):Mini Biography:Played bass guitar for The Beatles in the 1960s. Considered the most successful pop composer of all time. In the "Guinness Book of World Records" for most records sold, most #1s (shared) and largest paid audience for a concert (350,000+ people, 1989 in Brazil). After the Beatles, he formed Wings, one of the most commercially successful groups of the 1970s. Post-70s solo career has been sporadic in both commercial and artistic terms. Successes include albums "Tug of War" and "Flowers in the Dirt". Flops include movie Give My Regards to Broad Street (1984) and album "Press to Play".IMDb Mini Biography By: Nick Francis:Mini Biography:James Paul McCartney was born to working-class parents in Liverpool, England, on June 18, 1942. His Irish Catholic mother, Mary, was a nurse and midwife, while his British father, Jim, was a cotton salesman and amateur jazz pianist. He had a happy childhood with one younger brother, Michael, until his mother's sudden death from breast cancer when he was 14. Shortly afterward, he wrote his first song, and a few months later he met John Lennon during the latter's performance at a local church fete (festival). McCartney sooned joined Lennon's band, The Quarrymen, and with the eventual addition of George Harrison and Pete Best, the band morphed into The Beatles. After a long stint playing in Hamburg, Germany, the band returned to Liverpool and soon became a top local act. They were approached by Brian Epstein, a record-store owner, who became their manager and secured them a record deal with EMI. After replacing drummer Best with Ringo Starr, and under the tutelage of producer George Martin , The Beatles soon became an international hit-making phenomenon, influencing everything from fashion to politics. Yet it wouldn't last: internal strife and disagreement over management issues following Epstein's 1968 death tore the band apart. In April 1970, McCartney announced the band's breakup. He was 27 years old. His first solo album, "McCartney," was a #1 hit and spawned the evergeen ballad "Maybe I'm Amazed", yet critical reaction was mixed. This was a continuing motif in McCartney's career, as he continued to release music, with new band Wings, that was a hit commercially but ignored by critics (the exception being "Band on the Run"). In 1980 McCartney was arrested in Tokyo, Japan, for marijuana possession. After a ten-day stint in jail, he was released to a media firestorm. The jail stint aborted his worldwide tour and put the final nail in the coffin of Wings. He retreated into seclusion after the arrest, and had only recently started recording a new album when his ex-bandmate, John Lennon, was shot dead by a crazed fan in New York City on December 8, 1980. After almost a year of absence from the music scene, McCartney returned in 1982 with the album "Tug of War," which enjoyed great critical acclaim. He was a solo artist from then onward, except for occasional collaborations with wife Linda McCartney and writers such as Elvis Costello. After two successful world tours and the somewhat disappointing album "Off the Ground" (1992), McCartney concentrated on composing the classical work "The Liverpool Oratorio". In 1995 he was working on a new pop album, "Flaming Pie," when his wife Linda was diagnosed with breast cancer. The album was eventually released in 1997 to both critical and commerical success, debuting at #2 on both the UK and US pop charts. It was also the year McCartney was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II, but caring for his wife during her illness meant only sporadic public appearances during this time. In April 1998, Linda died of breast cancer, and he spent much of the next year away from the public eye, emerging only to campaign on behalf of his late wife for animal rights and vegetarian causes. He eventually returned to the studio, releasing an album of rock n'roll covers in 1999. "Run Devil Run" made both Entertainment Weekly and USA Today's year-end top ten lists. McCartney also slowly returned to the public spotlight, embarking on a romantic relationship with ex-model and disabled rights activist Heather Mills (who lost a leg in a road accident). His new relationship was reflected in the songs on his 2001 album, "Driving Rain," and the couple became engaged that same year. Yet there was also sadness, as George Harrison died of cancer in late November, 2001. The next year, however, brought McCartney an Oscar nomination (for the title song to the movie Vanilla Sky (2001)) and saw him embark on his first tour in ten years. He and Heather married in June, 2000.IMDb Mini Biography By: lyn s.:Spouse Heather Mills (11 June 2002 - present) (filed for divorce) 1 child Linda McCartney (12 March 1969 - 17 April 1998) (her death) 4 childrenTrivia:According to the August 1998 issue of the British rock magazine "Q", McCartney is the richest rock star in the world with an estimated fortune of over £500m. This is over one billion American dollars.Sang backup on Donovan's "Mellow Yellow"; also played bass on some of his album tracks.Actually only wrote 27 songs in direct collaboration with John Lennon, though nearly all their songs were credited as Lennon & McCartney compositions. (The co-credit was because of a handshake deal the two had made in their teens, to share their songwriting fortunes.)Working title of his own personal favourite composition "Yesterday" was "Scrambled Eggs".He appeared as himself in Tracey Ullman's "They Don't Know" music video.His younger brother, Michael, is better known as Mike McGear of the satirical group "The Scaffold". Michael chose to take the name of McGear as his professional name so as not to capitalise on the fame of his brother.During his engagement to Jane Asher, Paul (with John Lennon) wrote several songs for Jane's older brother, Peter Asher, of the singing duo Peter and Gordon, including their #1 hit "World Without Love". He also wrote the song "Woman" for them, under the pseudonym of Bernard Webb.Cousin of Kate Robbins and Ted Robbins.Born at 2:00pm-BDSTHis four children with Linda McCartney are Heather McCartney (adopted from her previous marriage), photographer Mary McCartney, top fashion designer Stella McCartney and musician/sculptor James McCartney. Paul was married to rock photographer Linda Eastman on March 12, 1969 at the Marylebone Register Office.Left-handedInducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of The Beatles January 20, 1988. Citing business differences, he did not attend the induction ceremony at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City with his former bandmates George Harrison and Ringo Starr.Awarded the Polar Music Prize, the Royal Swedish Academy of Music Award, in 1992.His later musical compositions have included classical works, one of which is the acclaimed "Liverpool Oratorio".Announced his engagement to ex-model/activist Heather Mills. [26 July 2001]Owns the double bass that once belonged to Elvis Presley's bassist Bill Black.Played all the instruments on two of his solo albums, 'McCartney' (1970) and 'McCartney II' (1980).According to McCartney, the name of the rock group Wings was inspired by daughter Stella McCartney's birth, which was premature and traumatic; Stella and her mother both almost died. As his daughter was being born by emergency cesarean section, Paul sat outside the operating room and prayed that she be born "on the wings of an angel."Had wanted The Beatles to do a club tour shortly before they broke up. John Lennon disagreed, thinking that if they did tour again, it should have been in stadium-sized venues.Named one of E!'s "top 20 entertainers of 2001."Is a vegetarian.Owns the copyrights to Buddy Holly's song catalogue, and also numerous other compositions, including "Ramblin' Wreck From Georgia Tech".Song "Yesterday" is one of the most covered songs of all time, with over 3,000 known versions.Claims his nights in a Japanese prison in 1980 were the only time he had been separated from then-wife, Linda McCartney.Has written several songs about his former bandmate John Lennon, including "Dear Boy", "Too Many People", "Dear Friend", "Let Me Roll It" and "Here Today."Has a record 29 #1 singles on the American charts with The Beatles, Paul McCartney & Wings, and as a solo artist (including one duet with Michael Jackson).Fined $200 in 1973 for growing marijuana on his Scotland farm. Arrested and jailed briefly in Japan in 1980 for carrying same substance.Jokingly, on occasion, uses the pseudonym of 'Apollo C. Vermouth.'Made an honorary detective by the New York City Police Department for the benefit concert he gave for 9/11 victims, April 2002.Won last-minute court order preventing Christie's from auctioning his handwritten lyrics to the song "Hey Jude." Paper with lyrics scrawled on it had been expected to bring up to $116,000 at auction scheduled for April 30, but England's High Court, ruled for Sir Paul the day before, deciding that the valuable artifact from The Beatles will remain at auction house until ownership is finally determined by agreement or trial.Won prize for drawing of a church at age 11. In 2002, from May-August, over 70 of his paintings from past 20 years on view at Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool, England.It was announced that fiancee Heather Mills's engagement ring, which was lost, had been found among the grass in a golf course. [June 2001]Daughter, Stella McCartney, was born on September 13, 1971.Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1999 (as a solo artist).His first guitar was a Zenith archtop f-hole acoustic. He got it at the Rushworth and Drapers Music Store in Liverpool when he was 14, as a gift from his father (brother Mike McGear got a banjo at the same time, but broke his arm at Boy Scout camp a few weeks later).His song, "When I'm 64" was written for his father Jim on his 64th birthday.He wrote his first song, "I've Lost My Little Girl", when he was 14.His father, Jim, was a musician, and had a band called Jim Mac's Jazz Band. Paul has fond memories of lying on his bedroom floor and listening to his father play piano.Along with writing "Hey Jude" for Julian Lennon the summer his parents broke up, Paul also jokingly proposed to Cynthia Lennon, in the wake of his own breakup with Jane Asher. Cynthia appreciated the laugh they both shared-- and the single red rose that Paul had brought.Was actually the only Beatle to graduate from Britain's equivalent of high- school; he majored in Art.Usually considered the most "conventional" of the Beatles, but Paul has had his share of far-out ideas, including the germ of the TV-movie Magical Mystery Tour (1967) (TV), and a "self-portrait" published as a 1960s magazine cover, which proved to be a psychedelic painting a la Pablo Picasso.Set up John Lennon's "home studio" for him at Kenwood, with its chain of tape decks; Lennon used this setup to make song demos for the Beatles, and later the infamous 'Two Virgins' album with Yoko Ono (which Paul gave its cover quote).A lyric sheet to his song "Yesterday" is featured on the front cover of the Marillion album "Script for a Jester's Tear" (released 1983).In 2002 he changed the writing credits to many of the songs he made with The Beatles to "McCartney & Lennon", to a large public outrage. It is a common misconception, however that this was the first time he had done this. He made the same credit change on his 1976 live album "Wings Over America" to little or no public scrutiny and to no public comment from John Lennon (who, of course, was still alive at the time).Performed "Let It Be" at Live Aid in 1985. During this performance, Bob Geldof, David Bowie, Alison Moyet and Pete Townshend (of The Who) all came on stage towards the end to sing backup vocals.Eleven years after the breakup of The Beatles, along with Ringo Starr he played on George Harrison's, "All Those Years Ago", about the death of his singing partner, John Lennon. The last Harrison song he and Starr played on was "When We Was Fab", which takes a look back at The Beatle years.The three surviving Beatles appeared on three separate episodes of "The Simpsons" (1989). Starr appeared in a 1991 episode of "Brush with Greatness," Harrison appeared in a 1993 episode of "Homer's Barbershop Quartet," and McCartney appeared in a 1995 episode of "Lisa The Vegetarian"Contributes "Calico Skies" to the "Warchild Hope" album (released 21 April 2003).Met his first wife Linda McCartney in a London nightclub called the Bag O'Nails.28 October 2003: A daughter named Beatrice Milly was born to Paul and wife Heather Mills. She was named after Heather's late mother Beatrice and Paul's Aunt Milly.In 1998, his song "Blackbird" was covered by Marillion for their live album "Unplugged at the Walls".Is half of the techno duo The Fireman.In 1971, he produced (but did not perform on) "Thrillington", an instrumental version of the album "Ram" he recorded with his wife Linda. The songs were presented in orchestral versions, and Paul's work as producer and director was pseudonymously credited to "Percy 'Thrills' Thrillington". The album was not well received by the critics, but is now a much sought-after collectable.First used the pseudonym "Apollo C. Vermouth" when producing an album for the novelty musical group, The Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band (later known as The Bonzos). He used the pseudonym because record contract obligations prevented him from using his real name on a rival record label. The band repaid McCartney's efforts with a composition entitled "Mister Apollo", a song about an impossibly perfect body builder.The only Beatle to ever have been nominated for an Academy Award in his own right.Favorite singers were Little Richard and Elvis Presley.Met George Harrison on a bus to school, and asked him to be in John's group.Born on the same day as film critic Roger Ebert, and two days before fellow musician and composer Brian Wilson.Owned a ranch in Tucson, Arizona; this was where first wife Linda McCartney died.Owns a Hollywood Hills manor property purchased from Courtney Love, and Ellen DeGeneres.The Beatles were voted the Greatest Rock 'n' Roll Artists of all time by Rolling Stone. They also topped a similar list complied by VH1.Played bass on the Band Aid 20 re-recording of "Do They Know It's Christmas?". [November 2004]At 5' 11", he was marginally the tallest Beatle (being about half an inch taller than George Harrison).Several of his solo albums (and those with Wings) featured cover photos by first wife Linda McCartney, including "Ram", whose front cover had a picture of him handling a ram at his Scottish farm (John Lennon parodied this picture in his "Imagine" album, grasping the ears of a pig). The back cover included a photo of bugs mating; while it was unintentional, several fans thought this illustrated an attitude of "Fuck the Beatles".Is portrayed by Mark J. Richardson in Love and Betrayal: The Mia Farrow Story (1995) (TV)As of 2005, has released 32 studio albums, of which 30 feature pop music and 2 feature classical compositions. He has stated that he hopes to compose more classical pieces in the future, as well as a desire to venture into jazz at some point.Showed his paintings at Concert at HP Pavilion in San Jose (November 8th) leading up to his performance as apart of his US TourOne of the guitars he used in his US tour (2005) was the one he used on The Beatles' appearance on "Toast of the Town" (1948) (aka The Ed Sullian Show) in the early 1960s.Though a huge fan of 'Weird Al' Yankovic's work, turned down his request to parody Paul's James Bond song "Live and Let Die" as "Chicken Pot Pie" for vegetarian reasons.According to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industries in 2006, The Beatles are the biggest popular music act of all time, with 400 million albums sold (50 million more albums than their runner-up, Michael Jackson).Is now a vegan.Announced he and his wife are to split up. [May 2006]Because of his pending divorce, he will now become the fourth and final Beatle to get a divorce. McCartney also had the longest marriage, although Ringo Starr is still married to his second wife (and has been since 1981).He and John Lennon quibbled bitterly in the press after the break up of The Beatles. However, in 1977, they met in New York, and allegedly saw an episode of "Saturday Night Live" (1975) in which Lorne Michaels offered $3000 to see The Beatles get back together. He and Lennon joked that they should re-unite and appear, but decided not to.All 34 of his solo albums have made the Billboard Top 200, something very few solo artists have achieved. 12 of them, including "Wingspan", went to #1.Had a remarkable 62 top 100 singles from 1971-2005, under a variety of categories. 17 of them went to #1.Won five Grammys, two with the Beatles. "Eleanor Rigby" Best Pop/Rock and Roll or Contemporary song, "Michelle" won for Song Of The Year, "Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsy" won for Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s)/Best Background Arrangement, "Band On The Run" won for Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal and "Rockestra Theme" won for Best Rock Instrumental Performance.He loved and was flattered by, Ray Charles' cover of "Eleanor Rigby", John Lennon did not like the version.Friends with Neil Young, who inducted him into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He and his long-time wife, Linda McCartney, said that Young was their favorite performer. His favorite song of Young's is "Only Love Can Break Your Heart".Father-in-law of Alistair Donald and Alasdhair Willis.Has three grandsons and one granddaughter: Mary McCartney's two sons Arthur Alistair Donald (b. 3 April 1999) and Elliot Donald (b. 1 August 2002) and Stella McCartney's son Miller Alasdhair James Willis (b. 25 February 2005) and daughter Bailey Linda Olwyn Willis (b. 8 December 2006).During his engagement to Jane Asher, Paul (with John Lennon) wrote several songs for Jane's older brother, Peter Asher, of the singing duo Peter and Gordon, including their #1 hit "World Without Love". He also wrote the song "Woman" for them, under the pseudonym of Bernard Webb.Winner of the Sony Award For Technical Excellence in 1983.Winner of the British Phonographic Industry Award for British Male Solo Artist in 1983.Named "Man of the Year" at the GQ awards ceremony. (6 September 2006)The Scissor Sisters' second album, Ta-Dah, has a song entitled Paul McCartney.His grandchildren Arthur and Elliot are older than his daughter Beatrice.Is portrayed by Gary Bakewell in _Linda McCartney Story, The (2000) (TV)_ .[Sunday 13 November 2005] Became the very first musician to perform live music for an audience in space. This music milestone occurred during his concert in Anaheim, California, when he sang "Good Day Sunshine" and "English Tea" for NASA Astronaut Bill McArthur and Russian Cosmonaut Valery Tokarev who were orbiting some 220 miles above earth in their Space Shuttle Discovery.Has a stepsister Ruth McCartney, adopted by his father when he married Ruth's mother.The Beatles were inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame for their outstanding contribution to British music and integral part of British music culture. [11 November 2004]He originally wanted to name the hit song Yesterday "Scrambled Eggs" where its also the most recorded song of all time with 2,500 versions.McCartney's Beatles hit Yesterday does not feature any of the other Beatles. It's just McCartney and a string section. As such, the record company considered releasing it as a McCartney solo song, but decided not to.Paul, not Ringo, played drums on the classic hit Back in the USSR.Is portrayed by Gary Bakewell in Backbeat (1994).Inducted with John Lennon into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1987.His ability to memorize the words to Eddie Cochran's "Twenty Flight Rock" helped secure his spot in John Lennon's "Quarrymem" which became "The Beatles", after several name changes.Personal Quotes "The rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated.""I figure I've probably got a better chance of coming up with a good Paul McCartney song than Oasis has."[on his LSD experience] "It's like taking an aspirin without having a headache.""I'm not religious, but I'm very spiritual.""Somebody said to me, [The Beatles] were anti-materialistic.' That's a huge myth. [John Lennon] and I literally used to sit down and say, 'Now, let's write a swimming pool.'"[regarding his ten-day jail term after his arrest for cannabis possession at Tokyo's Narita Airport, Jan. 6, 1980] "It was pretty rough. Just a thin mattress on the floor. I had to wash using water from the toilet cistern. I had to share a bath with a bloke who was in for murder. I was afraid to take my suit off in case I got raped. But I'd seen all those prisoner-of-war movies and I knew you had to keep your spirits up. So I'd organize sing-alongs with other prisoners.""I don't take me seriously. If we get some giggles, I don't mind.""We didn't all get into music for a job! We got into music to avoid a job, in truth - and get lots of girls.""I've seen those famous Nixon [Richard Nixon] transcripts where Elvis [Elvis Presley] actually starts to try to shop us - The Beatles! He's in the transcript saying - to Richard Nixon, of all people - 'Well, sir, these Beatles, they're very un-American and they take drugs.' I felt a bit betrayed by that, I must say. The great joke is that we were taking drugs, and look what happened to him. He was caught on the toilet full of them! It was sad, but I still love him, particularly in his early period. He was very influential on me.""I don't take any notice of her. She's John's wife so I have to respect her for that, but I don't think she's the brightest of buttons. She's said some particularly daft things in her time. Her life is dedicated to putting me down but I attempt very strongly not to put her down." [About Yoko Ono]"You try to concentrate on the lyrics, the music, the melody, and putting it all together, and there's a sign . . . and half of you is saying, 'Ignore it', but the other half is saying, 'Read it, go ahead.' 'My grandmother saw you at Candlestick.' That says it all." [referring to a sign in the audience]"I used to think anyone doing anything weird was weird. Now I know that it is the people that call others weird that are weird.""If slaughterhouses had glass walls, everyone would be a vegetarian.""The two of us were on fire every time we sat down to write.""When we were kids, George [George Harrison] and I used to hang out and we had, we had one little party piece which was to show that we weren't stupid, so we used to do this thing by Bach that was our own little version of it, and we got it wrong,""Maybe our government went in too fast with the Americans. It would have been better if the UN had been together. Now it's become very bloody with Iraq, it's very difficult. If someone came to my house and blew it up, I wouldn't just want to sit there and say thank you. I'd be angry like I think anyone would be, so I could see America and Britain being angry. To look for [Osama bin Laden] seemed reasonable to go against terrorism, but the war has become very difficult.""It's a drag, isn't it?" [on John Lennon's murder]"I thought she was a cold woman. I think that's wrong. She's just the opposite. I think she's just more determined than most people to be herself." [on his updated feelings about Yoko Ono, 1995]"Seeing that so many inaccurate stories have been written at the moment about [Heather Mills] and myself, all I can ask people to do is not believe them and understand that most of what is coming out is made up and entirely false. Thanks for your support."[About dealing with the memory of Linda McCartney today] "She's all around me, you know. And everybody I know knows her and remembers her. And so I talk a lot about her.""I am the proudest dad in the world. I thought that it was brilliant, and Stella has come such a long way since she first started out." [Following daughter Stella McCartney's graduation fashion show, June 1995]"No one is musically educated until they have heard The Beach Boys' 'Pet Sounds'".[on making movies] "It's not a bad way to get through an afternoon".Where Are They Now (March 2003) Expecting a child with his second wife Heather Mills.(November 2005) Touring in the US Tour (Nov. 2005)(May 2006) Announced he and his wife are to split up.(July 2006) Officially filed for divorce from second wife Heather Mills.(August 2006) Is expecting a fourth grandchild, in light of third daughter Stella McCartney's pregnancy announcement.