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October 22, 2016 -- Billboard

Rihanna Join's Paul McCartney for 'FourFiveSeconds' at Desert Trip Weekend 2

"It's like a once in a lifetime thing. Or for us, twice in a lifetime," said Paul McCartney, late into an epic set on Day 2 of Desert Trip's second weekend, underscoring the fact that he and his fellow '60s superstar headliners had all signed on for two sets apiece. Of course, it wasn't only the performers who were experiencing a slight déjà vu; plenty of attendees had bought ticket for both weekends, basking in the repeatability of this non-repeatable event.

Desert Trip's repeat offenders as well as first-timers did get some extra bang for their buck Saturday (Oct. 15). In the case of Neil Young, it was a substantially different set than the one he'd provided the previous weekend. With McCartney, it was a guest appearance by a duet partner who seemed to have arrived from another world, even though he provincially introduced her as "the queen of Barbados."

"We have finally found somebody under the age of 50!" McCartney crowed after Rihanna joined him for "FourFiveSeconds," the song they recorded last year with Kanye West. (He could just as easily have upped that unofficial cutoff by a couple of decades; at 70, Young is, true to his name, the youngest of Desert Trip's headliners, with Bob Dylan the oldest at 75.)

Rihanna was certainly the fashion hit of the night, if not festival, wearing a pin-striped suit with no shirt underneath not unlike Dylan the previous night, who also went bare-chested underneath a suit jacket. Great minds dress alike? Rihanna's hair also rivaled McCartney's "Live and Let Die" pyro for the greatest visual monument of the night; while McCartney's own moptop was severely tousled by the high desert wind, RiRi's hair seemed to whip halfway across the stage at times, but her co-star was experienced enough to stay out of its way.

Fest-goers who'd only heard reports from weekend 1 might have worried that Rihanna was replacing Young as McCartney's cameo player of choice, but there was no need for concern there. Later in the set, Young exactly reprised the appearance he'd made with Macca last Saturday, sharing lead vocals on a "Day in the Life" that led into John Lennon's "Give Peace a Chance." That peace-loving high-mindedness was followed by a Young guitar solo on the very low-minded "Why Don't We Do It in the Road?," a Beatles cult favorite that McCartney had never played in concert prior to bringing Young up for it last weekend.

The only switch-outs in McCartney's 38-song, 2-hour-and-45-minute set were "Got to Get You Into My Life" subbing for "Can't Buy Me Love" and, in the encores, "Birthday" filling in for the previous weekend's "I Wanna Be Your Man." (Maybe McCartney figured that if the Stones were going to drop their tribute to The Beatles, "Come Together," he would retaliate by dropping his de facto tribute to the Stones.)

But there was another happy addition, besides the Rihanna duet: As a band member started to count off "Helter Skelter" in its usual spot, McCartney seemed to suddenly be struck by what night of the week this was, and he sang the opening line of Little Richard's "Rip It Up": "Well, it's Saturday night and I just got paid" As planned out as most of these festival surprises were, this was clearly a real one, as McCartney sang a cappella for a bit, finally joined by his drummer and then bass player. "That's it. It's Saturday night -- I couldn't resist," he explained after a couple of stanzas, and it was back to "Helter Skelter," in one of the strangest and best segues ever.

It actually wasn't the first time in the set that a fan would have thought of Little Richard, or at least a fan with a sense of history and of McCartney's primary vocal models. At 74, against all odds, the former Beatle is still able to pull off that Richard Penniman howl, repeatedly, in the desert, over a nearly Lawrence of Arabia running time. Toward the beginning of "Maybe I'm Amazed," maybe the most demanding number in his set, he struggled with a couple of notes, then rallied to deliver it with all the robust vigor it demands, as his keyboard player Wix Wickens laughed and clutched at his own throat in abject admiration.

McCartney was celebrating the final night of a very long tour.

CONCERT SETLIST

1. A Hard Day's Night
2. Jet
3. Got To Get You Into My Life
4. Letting Go
5. Day Tripper
6. Let Me Roll It / Foxy Lady coda
7. I've Got a Feeling
8. My Valentine
9. Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five
10. Maybe I'm Amazed
11. We Can Work It Out
12. In Spite Of All the Danger
13. I've Just Seen a Face
14. Love Me Do
15. And I Love Her
16. Blackbird
17. Here Today
18. Queenie Eye
19. Lady Madonna
20. FourFiveSeconds (with Rihanna)
21. Eleanor Rigby
22. Being For The Benefit of Mr. Kite!
23. A Day In The Life/Give Peace a Chance (with Neil Young)
24. Why Don't We Do It in the Road (with Neil Young)
25. Something
26. Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da
27. Band On The Run
28. Back in the U.S.S.R.
29. Let It Be
30. Live And Let Die
31. Hey Jude

ENCORE
32. Birthday
33. Rip It Up
34. Helter Skelter
35. Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight/The End

PHOTO: MJ KIM / © MPL COMMUNICATIONS

#DesertTrip you went by too fast!

PHOTO: MJ KIM / © MPL COMMUNICATIONS

What a buzz rocking the Desert! Thank you #DesertTrip, Neil Young, Rihanna and everyone!

PHOTO: Mark Flores (for The Macca Report)

Upon hearing that Sir Paul McCartney was playing a surprise gig at Pappy and Harriet's Palace, I hit the road from Hollywood, Califorinia, traveling about 2 1/2 hours to Pioneertown.

When I arrived at the venue it was 1:00 PM and there was no line yet. Then around 2:30 PM, Paul's security informed us that we would be escorted to the front of the building at exactly 3:00 PM.

PHOTO: Mark Flores (for The Macca Report)

Now people were everywhere! They were behind buildings on the other side of the venue and even behind cactus and rocks in the desert!!! Once everyone saw us being escorted, that's when they came pouring out from everywhere!!!

PHOTO: Mark Flores (for The Macca Report)

There were at least 1,000 people fighting to get ahead of the line. Paul's people were having none of it and luckily, I was safely at #15 in line. Because of the growing crowds, wristbands were given out before the 3:00 PM deadline. The first 300 people would be allowed entrance at 7:30 PM. Everyone else was told to leave with apologies, because there was only room for 300 inside the venue.

PHOTO: Mark Flores (for The Macca Report)

Once inside, I headed to the barricade in front of the stage and stood in front of Paul's microphone. This truly was the most intimate performance ever. Up close and personal as you could get. You could reach out and touch Paul! When Paul came out he touched and slapped hands with everyone in the front including me!

PHOTO: Mark Flores (for The Macca Report)

THE CONCERT

Pappy and Harriet's Palace - October 13, 2016 - Pioneertown, CA

SETLIST
1. Save Us - (VERY strong. Right out the gate).
2. A Hard Day's Night
3. Junior's Farm (When I put my thumb up, Paul sang the "price's higher than the time before" lyric to me)
4. Can't But Me Love
5. Let Me Roll It/Foxy Lady Outro (Paul walked over to show us his guitar work, no Jimi story)
6. I've Got a Feeling
7. My Valentine (He asked the people in the front if they would sit (on the floor) just for this song so the people in the back could see)
8. Nineteen Hundred And Eighty Five
9. We Can Work It Out
10. I've Seen A Face
11. Love Me Do
12. Queenie Eye (I yelled out at the intro as I knew he would be doing this song next and Paul mimicked my yell and said "Ok now, come on! Hang on, we haven't even started yet!")
13. Lady Madonna
14. Ob-La -Di, Ob-La -Da
15. Letting Go
16. Day Tripper
17. Band On The Run - (he did a hand gesture like a rabbit taking tiny steps (to me) when he sang "rabbits on the RUUUUuuuuun"
Lyric - "the desert world began to settle down..." Paul said at the end of the song, "You know, right now we're in the desert world. I think I'm gonna go walk outside and find myself." [people laughed])
18. Back In The U.S.S.R.
19. Hey Jude (audience singalong)

ENCORE
20. Hi Hi Hi
21. Birthday
(Before "I Saw Her Standing There" Paul said, "You know people in arenas are always showing me signs and now it's phones with large fonts (Paul addresses a man holding up a phone) Sorry but you're out of reach, out of touch, out of sight and you're (Paul pauses) OUT OF LUCK!" Laughter exploded from everyone including the band)
22. I Saw Her Standing There

Paul McCartney at Pappy & Harriet's Pioneertown Palace
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRPFSzoYZHY

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At this show there was not so much of the softer Macca music. No acoustic set, but lots of hard and heavy Wings. The band was hot and Paul's voice was strong.

I got A LOT of "face time" with Paul and his sense of humor was very present (he even had Beatle boots on).

No complaints. The evening was magic and when Paul left he said, "I've really got to do this more often!!!"

Thank you Jorie Gracen and The Macca Report for sending out Paul's Twitter announcement. You were responsible for me getting there on time.

Mark Flores www.markfloresmusic.com

"JUNIOR'S FARM" - PAPPY AND HARRIET'S

CLICK TO WATCH

"WE CAN WORK IT OUT" - PAPPY AND HARRIET'S

CLICK TO WATCH

"CAN'T BUY ME LOVE" - PAPPY AND HARRIET'S

CLICK TO WATCH

With a week off between Desert Trip gigs, Paul McCartney squeezed in a decidedly different type of show, lining up an intimate performance at a small nearby club.

The surprise concert, which took place at Pappy and Harriet's Pioneertown Palace in Yucca Valley, started coming together a couple of months ago when McCartney's reps - unbeknownst to the owners - scouted out the venue through a series of emails and in-person visits. As co-owner Robyn Celia told the Desert Sun, although she and McCartney share a friend who's been trying to convince him to play there for years, it wasn't until two weeks ago that he reached out directly to inquire about performing.

"I'm a huge fan of The Beatles," said Celia. "I'm a huge fan of Wings. I was really happy. He's brought so much joy to everybody's life. I'm sorry for everybody who couldn't get in, but I'm glad for the people that did get in."

The list of people who couldn't get in was far longer than the lucky few who managed to acquire tickets. Although the show wasn't announced until 10 the morning of the gig, Pappy and Harriet's quickly became a pilgrimage point for McCartney fans. According to the Hi-Desert Star, the line soon numbered into the thousands - in spite of specific instructions not to line up until 3PM.

"This is the biggest gig we ever played," McCartney was quoted as quipping during the show, a portion of which you can watch via fan-shot footage above. "We thought it would be a good idea to come out to a little roadhouse like this."

McCartney ultimately ended up delivering a 22-song set - shorter than some of the epic performances he's put together during his current One on One tour, but definitely not bad for a weeknight show between festival gigs. He'll be back at Desert Trip for its second and final weekend Oct. 14-16 - after which he'll presumably take a few days to relax before getting back to work on his next album.

McCartney opened with a solo number, "Save Us," and then went into a selection of Beatles and Wings songs, including "A Hard Day's Night," "Junior's Farm" and "Can't Buy Me Love." Fans screamed and sang along, especially to his Beatles songs. When he tried to end his set with "Hey Jude" after an hour and 15 minutes, he got shrieks before most everyone began singing along. "I can't stop this thing!" McCartney said. Then he came back for an encore of three more songs.

Singer Victoria Williams said with a big smile on her face, "I think it's great. Fantastic!"

She was one of a handful of desert musicians invited to the special show. Also in the crowd, although not together, were former Kyuss band leaders Josh Homme and Brant Bjork.

The Western-style bar was so packed, most people were only able to catch glimpses of McCartney's head bopping back and forth. Many watched on a video monitor. But the sensation of being within 20 yards of a Beatle and hearing him sing and speak close up and personal created a sense of history, not to mention joy. The sound was among the best ever heard at Pappy's.

McCartney seemed to be having as much fun as the crowd, saying, "This is fantastic here in Pioneertown."

Actually, the gig was a long time in the making.

Pappy's co-owner Robyn Celia said a friend who also is a friend of McCartney's had been telling the former Beatle about the nationally acclaimed saloon for years. The place has been the site of many legendary performances by McCartney contemporaries such as Eric Burdon of the Animals and Leon Russell. Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin has dropped in to sing some songs. Earlier this year, the music website, Consequence of Sound named Pappy and Harriet's the 13th best music venue in the United States, well ahead of Madison Square Gardens.

When McCartney agreed to play Goldenvoice's Desert Trip at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, he reportedly said he also wanted to play a "real desert" gig.

Celia said she got an email about a month ago from someone she didn't know who was making inquiries about her performance venue. Soon, people started coming around to scout the specifications at Pappy's. She discovered it was McCartney's people about two weeks ago when she was told McCartney wanted to play her saloon.

Celia quickly agreed to the date McCartney wanted.

"I'm a huge fan of the Beatles," she said. "I'm a huge fan of Wings. I was really happy. He's brought so much joy to everybody's life. I'm sorry for everybody who couldn't get in, but I'm glad for the people that did get in."

More than 1,000 people were turned away after co-presenter KCRW public radio announced the concert at 9 a.m. Thursday. Pappy and Harriet's put it on social media shortly thereafter. Single tickets were scheduled go on sale for $50 at 6:30 p.m. but people who weren't in line at 3 p.m., when they were allowed to begin queuing up, were told they wouldn't be able to get in.

Jan Jacques of Palm Springs said he read about the show on Facebook and drove to a dirt lot down the road from Pappy's at around 1:15 p.m. He said people were already sitting in cars waiting for an opportunity to line up for tickets.

"There were five of us in a little dirt area," he said "and, when we got out, all the people in the cars were looking at us and got out and started getting in a line."

Becky Morgan of Upland, who read about the show on Facebook that morning and immediately told her boss she was taking a half-day off, said she got into that "pre-line" of 25 people at 1:45 p.m.

But Celia said there was no official pre-line. McCartney's management insisted that this be a locals-only show, she said, and they did not want people driving in from out of town and waiting in line to get in line.

McCartney asked the crowd how many people were actually from Pioneertown and got a large cheer. He asked how many had come from out of town and got only a fraction of that reaction.

McCartney played a significantly different set than he played Saturday at Desert Trip. He added the Wings songs, "Band on the Run" and "Letting Go," and Beatles songs such as "Birthday" and "I Saw Her Standing There," which was the final encore of the 90-minute show. He didn't do his tributes to his late Beatles colleagues John Lennon and George Harrison, and big production numbers such as "Live and Let Die," "A Day in the Life" and the "Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight" medley that ended his Saturday Desert Trip set.

This gig didn't include a guest appearance by Neil Young, as his show at Desert Trip did. But his wife, Nancy, was in the audience at Pappy's with the great British artist, David Hockney, adding to the family feel of the evening.

This tiny community got its own version of Beatlemania when Paul McCartney announced he would play at Pappy & Harriet's Thursday.

The concert was announced at 10 a.m. on McCartney's website and Pappy & Harriet's social media accounts. Within hours, thousands of people were milling around the dirt lot and winding road by Pappy & Harriet's, hoping to get one of the 300 tickets scheduled to go on sale at 6:30 p.m.

Tickets cost $50 each, cash only.

As people continued to pour into Pioneertown, the venue's original plan not to allow anyone to line up until 3 p.m. wasn't working.

Some of the earliest people to arrive started to form their own line, and the first 300 people got markers indicating they would be able to buy their concert tickets when they went on sale.

Some people got agitated when others appeared to be jumping in line, CHP Officer Ryan Swanson said.

Swanson estimated around 2,000 people were waiting outside the saloon by 2 p.m. Trying to prevent worse traffic or disturbances, the CHP made an announcement telling everyone who hadn't gotten one of the 300 markers to leave.

First in line to see McCartney were Ryan O'Neal and Nate Stickney, co-workers at ESRI in Redlands. Stickney read about the concert in a workplace Slack message board.

"I asked Nate if he wanted to go to lunch and he asked me if I wanted to go to see Paul McCartney instead," O'Neal said.

The men drove east and became one of the first few people to arrive.

Kelly Reilly, one of the first four in line, had a shorter drive. She steered her golf cart over from her Pioneertown house.

"I found out about it when somebody parked in my driveway," she said.

She asked what they were doing, and they told her they were there to see Paul McCartney.

For Reilly, it was more than coincidence.

"This is a miracle," she said. "It's on my bucket list. I'll never forget it."

Next to her was Tim Wilson, of Palm Springs, wearing a vintage Paul McCartney T-shirt.

"I've been a fan since 1964," he said.

His wife found out about the surprise concert on Facebook around 10:30, and Wilson was in the car by 11.

"I couldn't think of anything more important to do today," he said. "I called my boss and told him I wouldn't be in."

He was especially excited about the venue. "Seeing him is cool. Seeing him in Pappy & Harriet's is extra special," Wilson said.

Jim Letourneau, a snowbird from Calgary, Alberta, who is staying in Rancho Mirage was supposed to be on a bus to Arizona for a tour of water canals. He missed the tour bus and started looking for something else to do. "I was feeling bummed," he said. Then he saw the concert announcement online.

"I feel really lucky, really grateful," he said.

McCartney is in the area for the Desert Trip music festival at the Empire Polo Club in Indio starring classic rockers like the Who, the Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan. McCartney played Oct. 8 and will return Oct. 15.

This can't be real': Fans shed tears to see Paul McCartney at the tiny Pappy and Harriet's

This is the biggest gig we've ever played," said Paul McCartney, right as he took the stage at the intimate Pappy & Harriet's in Pioneertown, Calif.,  on Thursday night.

On the contrary, it had to be one of the smallest gigs he'd played since The Beatles were a knock-around bar band in Hamburg, Germany. But it was maybe the most ecstatic, completely improbable night of live music one could ever hope for in Southern California.

A Beatle, in a desert-city bar like this. How?

The idea was ludicrous when news hit Thursday afternoon: Sir Paul McCartney, playing a 300-capacity roadhouse dive between bouts of the mega-festival Desert Trip. Fans lined up for hours on the side of the sandy embankment, just praying for a stray +1. 

"I flew in from Louisiana, I was having coffee with my brother, and he said, 'Hey, wanna try and see Paul McCartney tonight?' I mean, absolutely," said Sarah Lambremont of New Orleans.

She's 32, but like everyone else, she was brought to '60s-era transcendence on the Pappy's dance floor. If the Desert Trip idea was meant for anything, it was that feeling - some of the best rock songs ever written, played like they were meant to be back then.

"We have a farm up the road, we knew something was suspicious because there was no posting for a Thursday show," said Nancy Saw, 71. "It's amazing. I've seen people like Lucinda Williams here but I had no idea this was going to happen."

The crowd was mostly locals and a few Desert Trip diehards. The festival, boasting the likes of McCartney, the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan and more, has a capacity of about 75,000. Even those who caught McCartney last weekend - he plays again Saturday evening at Desert Trip - were reeling with glee to see him here.

"I saw him at Desert Trip and it was nothing like this," said 40-year-old Raj Kadevari of nearby Pinyon. "There are a lot of last-minute shows here, but this is something else."

Something else, indeed. On one side of the room there was Emma Stone dancing her soles bare. On the other, a leather-clad biker couple pulling spins and grinning in sheer disbelief at their luck.

And Paul? Paul was great.

The set covered almost every Beatles hit you could need from him - "I've Just Seen a Face," "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da," "A Hard Day's Night," "I Saw Her Standing There."

Surreal is the wrong word for the feeling these songs carried - it was more of an actual time machine, back to Liverpool where four mop-tops were rewriting everything we knew about rock. If you squinted, the bar looked to be about the same size as those gigs that made them the  Beatles.

It's always strange to be at a concert where everyone is purposefully soaking every drop of it in to remember it for the rest of their life. If Desert Trip was a once-in-a-generation festival, hearing those songs in this room was a set you couldn't even think to ask for.
For the McCartney-obsessed, there were Wings staples, a few new songs, like a lovely piano ballad for his wife  Nancy, and heartfelt musical allusions to Jimi Hendrix and David Bowie.

But the point was being inside that tiny club and feeling some kind of inter-generational wavelength that these songs helped bridge.

At every turn, this young writer thought about his mom, playing these songs on her hi-fi as a little girl in South Carolina. She never got to see a Beatle. I feel I know her better for seeing Paul here.

And of course there was "Hey Jude" at the end, perhaps the most hug-your-neighbor festival-closer ever written. Not a glass was unlofted, not an eye was dry as McCartney led the na-na-na's and the ceiling shook.

As Lambremont howled with all the volume she could muster, she turned, eyes wet, and summed it all it up with a shout to the classic-rock heavens. 

"This can't be real. This can't be real."

PHOTO: MJ KIM / © MPL COMMUNICATIONS

PAUL McCARTNEY TO PLAY PAPPY & HARRIET'S TONIGHT
THURSDAY OCTOBER 13th 8:30pm
Tickets Available ONLY at Pappy & Harriet's Box Office From 6:30pm
 
Paul McCartney's domination of the desert continues with the most intimate show of his record breaking 'One On One' tour: Tonight at 8:30pm, Paul and his band will take the stage at the venerable Pappy & Harriet's Pioneertown Palace.
 
Tickets go on-sale exclusively through Pappy Harriet's box office only at 6:30pm, with no line-ups permitted prior to 3:00pm.  

Tickets will be limited to one per person, and are first come, first served.  You will need to enter the venue immediately upon the purchase of your ticket.  There will be a strict no readmittance policy.  

All tickets are CASH ONLY, and will be priced at $50 (including taxes and fees).

Paul McCartney & Neil Young Jam on 2 Beatles Classics & a John Lennon Anthem at Desert Trip Day 2

Even though Desert Trip doesn't play by the rules of most music fests -- there are only two acts per day, the first one doesn't go on 'til sunset, and there are more people sitting than standing -- there's one rule for music fests in the 2010s that Oldchella does abide by: You gotta have a surprise collaboration.

So for Paul McCartney's Saturday (Oct. 8) night set in the Indio desert, the former Beatle brought out his opening act Neil Young for a three-song collab that had eyes wide and phones in the air.

Describing him as "a really good friend," McCartney brought Young out to trade vocals on "A Day in the Life." Hearing Neil Young deliver "he blew his mind out in a car" in his unique timbre was treat enough, and the green fog swirling around the two as they sang the Sgt. Pepper's classic gave the existential rock song an additionally eerie layer. Instead of finishing the song with the usual orchestral climax, they transitioned directly into John Lennon's solo anthem "Give Peace a Chance," inviting the audience to chant along as peace signs flashed on the screen behind them.

After that mashup wrapped, Young stayed on stage, eliciting gleeful squeals from the crowd. As it turns out, the excitement was justified. While Paul and Neil have done the "A Day In the Life"/"Give Peace a Chance" mashup before, what came next was brand new.

"Come on Neil, you gotta solo on this one for me," Macca said before launching into "Why Don't We Do It In the Road." Aside from the thrill of hearing McCartney do a song that's not part of his typical set list, Young's guitar solo was an unhinged scorcher. While McCartney's live shows never disappoint, his onstage consistency means that a sense of musical spontaneity gets sacrificed sometimes. So when Neil Young unleashed a wicked, razor-sharp guitar solo on The White Album track, the set felt -- for a moment -- dangerous.

Watch McCartney and Young trade guitar licks below.

WHY DON'T WE DO IT IN THE ROAD?
Desert Trip Indio - October 8, 2016

CLICK TO WATCH

As for the rest of McCartney's set, Sir Paul was a consummate pro, delivering the many, many hits fans wanted to hear and jovially joking about the new stuff. "We know what songs you like hearing," McCartney told the crowd. "It lights up with your phones like a galaxy of stars during certain songs, like Beatles ones. When we play one you don't know, it's like a black hole. So here's another black hole," he quipped before launching into "Queenie Eye" from his latest album New.

Even so, the newest song in his set actually garnered quite an excited response. Macca delivered his Rihanna/Kanye West collab "FourFiveSeconds," causing the younger members of the crowd to get their phones ready in case Rih or 'Ye emerged. Neither did, but the real surprise was what happened next: Several Baby Boomers in the crowd begrudgingly murmured, "That actually is a pretty good song" to each other. Giving peace a chance is easy for the Woodstock set. But giving Yeezy a chance? That's a minor miracle.

1. A Hard Day's Night
2. Jet
3. Can't Buy Me Love
4. Letting Go
5. Day Tripper
6. Let Me Roll It / Foxy Lady
7. I've Got a Feeling
8. My Valentine (dedicated to his wife: "We got our wedding anniversary tomorrow, so this one's for you Nance!")
9. Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five
10. Maybe I'm Amazed
11. We Can Work It Out
12. In Spite of All the Danger
13. I've Just Seen a Face
14. Love Me Do
15. And I Love Her
16. Blackbird
17. Here Today
18. Queenie Eye
19. Lady Madonna
20. FourFiveSeconds
21. Eleanor Rigby
22. Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!
23. A Day In the Life/Give Peace a Chance (with Neil Young)
24. Why Don't We Do It in the Road (with Neil Young)
25. Something
26. Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da
27. Band On The Run
28. Back in the U.S.S.R.
29. Let It Be
30. Live and Let Die
31. Hey Jude

ENCORE
32. I Wanna Be Your Man
33. Helter Skelter
34. Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight/The End

Me and Neil Give Peace A Chance. What a Desert Trip!

Sir Paul McCartney led the Coachella Valley in a joyous journey down memory lane on the second day of Desert Trip - the most lucrative festival ever, uniting some of the greatest rock bands of all time.

A DAY IN THE LIFE/GIVE PEACH A CHANCE
Desert Trip Indio - October 8, 2016

CLICK TO WATCH

McCartney was joined on stage on Saturday night by Neil Young, who earlier in the evening had played a set by turns hauntingly beautiful and rousingly rocking.

McCartney paid tribute to The Rolling Stones, headlining the previous day alongside Bob Dylan, and, in a sign of how tight-knit the six legendary Desert Trip acts are, Young in turn made reference to Sunday's headliners - Roger Waters, of Pink Floyd, and The Who.

"Tomorrow night do come back," said 70-year-old Young. "Because Roger's going to build a wall and make Mexico great again."

Young's set was played out in the desert twilight, the sun setting over the palms on the Empire Polo Ground, in Indio, 30 miles east of Palm Springs. The harmonicas drifted across the warm summer air; the strains from his battered piano, organ and acoustic guitar echoing through the fields.

"He's stayed absolutely true to who he is," said Tom Grant, 56, who flew in from Toronto to see his fellow Canadian perform.

"He never sold out."

A rousing rendition of Rockin' in the Free World sparked the mellow audience up, however - luring them away from the $179-entrance-fee food tent and their seven course tasting menu.

With weekend tickets starting at $399 and with a glass of wine costing $17, the festival's organisers were expected to rake in $150 million over two weekends - this weekend  and next. The acts and the organisers are due to be in for a bumper payday.

And then came McCartney - boyish as ever, delighted to be on the Coachella stage again. he headlined the original music festival in 2009, and has attended every year since. 

This new addition to the Coachella Valley has been dubbed "Oldchella" - given that the average age of the musicians is 72.

But McCartney was undaunted.

"We're going to have a party, Liverpool style," he told the 75,000-strong crowd, who were dancing and singing Beatles songs even before he came onto stage.

Pamela Wilson, 32, from the Peruvian capital, Lima, was in floods of tears as he opened with A Hard Day's Night.

"I love him so much," she said. "This is the third time I've seen him - he came to my country. His music is just so fantastic."

Blending Beatles songs with new material - "some old songs, new ones, and in between ones," he said - McCartney delivered a deeply personal reflection on five decades in the music industry.

He told anecdotes about Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton, and joked about going to Russia and performing Back in the USSR - mimicking the heavily-accented English of the Russian defence minister, who told him after the show that Love Me Do was the first record he bought.

He dedicated a song to his wife, Nancy Shevell, and told the crowd that Sunday is his five-year wedding anniversary. He spoke movingly of Linda McCartney and John Lennon, with Lennon's face featured heavily in the images broadcast on the screen behind him.

Yet, as with the Stones the previous night, there was a blend of the old and new; enough to keep the fans happy, and to show that there remains life in the old dogs yet. Jagger gyrated and sang for over two hours; McCartney played for almost three.

After whipping the crowd into a frenzy with Let It Be, a firework-filled spectacular of Live and Let Die, and then the epic sing-a-long to Hey Jude, McCartney left the stage - then came back for more.

"Still feel like rocking?" the 74-year-old asked. It was 12:10am; he had come on stage two and a half hours earlier.

But the Coachella crowd yelled for more; McCartney delivered a Stones tribute, performing I Wanna Be Your Man - a song Lennon and McCartney wrote for the band. And on he played, seeming never to want to leave the stage.

"He and Mick Jagger can't be human," said a Lennon-lookalike from Oregon, shaking his head in wonder.

Tracy Hildreth, 31, and her fiancé Martin Samuels, 32, had travelled from Newcastle for the festival.
Why did you make the journey?

"This," said Mr Samuels, laughing, gesturing at the giant Palm-lined stage. "As soon as we heard, we knew we had to be here.
"It's been incredible."

July 16, 2016 -- Daily Mail (UK)

Twist and shout! Sir Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and Yoko Ono gather to celebrate 10th anniversary of Cirque du Soleil Beatles show in Las Vegas

Sir Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and Yoko Ono on Thursday celebrated the 10th anniversary of The Beatles Love show in Las Vegas.

The Cirque du Soleil show featuring songs from the English rock group has been a decade-long fixture at The Mirage Hotel & Casino.

McCartney, 74, looked typically dapper in a dark blue suit and light blue striped dress shirt sans tie.

He was accompanied by his wife Nancy Shevell, 56, who looked lovely in a knee-length white lace dress.

Starr, 76, went with the rocker look in black leather trousers, black T-shirt and black jacket.

He accessorised with a peace symbol belt buckle and sported funky black sneakers with white spots. 

Peace out: Yoko Ono flashed a peace sign while arriving at the celebration.

Ringo brought his wife Barbara Bach, sister-in-law Marjorie Bach and her husband Joe Walsh of the Eagles

Ono, 83, wore a curvy plumed white hat along with a white jacket over a long black dress and black boots.

Hollywood director Ron Howard and comedian Kevin Nealon and his family.

The Love show was recently given a freshener with new choreography and song changes, according to an article on Wednesday by Variety.

The revamped show also features many songs employing an augmented projection system that uses the stage as a surface. 

CLICK TO WATCH

CLICK TO WATCH

CLICK TO WATCH

The lights went down and the sound of Beatles chatter filled the room. "We're on the air, folks," said John Lennon's voice. "Ready, honey bunch?" McCartney's voice asked. These soundbites were immediately followed by the spectral a cappella vocals from "Because," the harmonies pure and soulful, as male acrobats slowly climbed ropes toward the ceiling.

Then there was the opening clang from "A Hard Day's Night" mashed together with Starr's drum solo from "The End" and McCartney's voice singing "Get Back" on a stage made to look like an old rooftop, with red brick chimneys. Within moments, the chimneys blew up, evoking the British experience of World War II ­ the birth years of the the individual Beatles ­ to the strings of "Eleanor Rigby."

It was a vibrant opening to two hours of Beatles music accompanied by images of the Fab Four, Day-Glo dancers, the Eggman and cops with Blue Meanie smiles.

The anniversary show meant that this week was also a reunion of the larger Beatles circle, which included Sean Lennon and Dhani Harrison, Starr in-law Joe Walsh and others who gathered for dinner the night before. "We have fun now," said George Harrison's widow, Olivia Harrison. "It's more of a family thing now than it's ever been. All of them are the most loving, generous people. They're really supportive. When they hug you, you've been hugged. It's a beautiful thing."

The changes to Love have been in place since March, with the subsequent months of previews leading to the official unveiling this week. George Martin was aware of that changes were being made to the show, but was too ill to participate."There's a huge poignancy because of the loss of my dad," Giles said."The most beautiful thing for me is the music remains, and will remain."

At the end, as the show's many acrobats and performers returned to the stage to wave their goodbyes for a standing ovation, McCartney and Starr joined them. "Thanks for coming," Starr told the audience. "Without you, these guys would be lonely."

McCartney thanked the performers. "I can do all that acrobatic stuff. I just don't want to show you up," he said, then repeated the timeless message of the night and of his former band. "We love you. Love is all you need."

Cirque du Soleil (Twitter) posts photo from LOVE 10th Anniversary

2. You will not be surprised to learn that a Paul McCartney concert was great, but let me emphasize the greatness: Before this night, I cannot remember attending a performance that lasted three hours without ever getting boring - and that includes a previous McCartney concert with my family in 2005. From just after 8PM to just before 11, Macca and his longtime band did not let up save for the briefest of pre-encore departures. The vast majority of their work was enthralling, and the rest was still pretty sweet.

Surely much of that sustained entertainment value was because McCartney owns one of the greatest songbooks of any living musician, but let's not undersell his understanding of how to construct a setlist. He shifted from instrument to instrument, altering the context just often enough to protect us from a lull. Had it ended about two hours in, with "Band On The Run," it would have been a fantastic show. Instead, at that point the hit parade turned relentless: "Back In The U.S.S.R.," "Let It Be," "Live And Let Die" (complete with pyrotechnics), "Hey Jude," each one dredging up enough excitement to work as the main set closer. And to think, "Yesterday" and the closing medley from Abbey Road were still to come during the encore! As my dad put it, "It's amazing one concert can have so many high points."

3. Naaaaaaaah nah nah nanana-nah! Nanana-nah! Heyyyyy Juuuuuuude! (Repeat ad infinitum.)

4. One of the loveliest stretches of the evening was when the band huddled around McCartney in a stripped-down setup to run through some early Beatles material, beginning with "In Spite Of All The Danger," the first song they recorded for £5 back when they were still calling themselves the Quarrymen. "You Won't See Me" from Rubber Soul was next; it's a simple, pleasant pop song, but for me, it packed more of an emotional wallop than some of the epics. Some of those massive hits, like "Birthday" and "Can't Buy Me Love," have been so subsumed into pop culture that they sound like wallpaper to me now. That said, the next part of the stripped-down mini-set was the ubiquitous "Love Me Do," and that one landed quite nicely. This portion of the evening ended with "And I Love Her," the Kurt Cobain-beloved ballad from A Hard Day's Night, replete with McCartney's ass shimmying to the rhythm.

5. Another contributing factor to Sunday night's greatness: The requisite new material was not the energy-sucking downer we've all come to expect when a classic rock artist goes on tour. Latter-day McCartney has been responsible for some unlistenable dreck - remember "Freedom," his post-9/11 rallying cry? - but he seems to be enjoying a bit of a renaissance.

I'd never paid much mind to "Queenie Eye" and "New," some highlights from Macca's 2013 LP New, until they made for an ideal pick-me-up after the quietest run on the setlist. This might sound insane, but when I envision them as part of an imaginary Beatles reunion album, they hold up. Even "My Valentine," a relative snoozer he wrote for third wife Nancy Shevell, was punched up by Natalie Portman and Johnny Depp's sign language routine from the music video. (He also did "Maybe I'm Amazed," a song he wrote for Linda; you may not be stunned to learn Heather Mills did not receive a tribute.)

6. Speaking of new material, this image continues to crack me up:

7. Weirdly, McCartney did not mention Kanye West or Rihanna by name during his "FourFiveSeconds" performance, though both artists were depicted on screen in a photo montage - maybe he sensed that it wouldn't go over so well with many of the aging white folks filling up U.S. Bank Arena? He also didn't mention Black Lives Matter even though his preamble to "Blackbird" was all about the Civil Rights movement of the '60s. McCartney has publicly supported a number of social causes in the past, and there were Amnesty International tables in the lobby, but his stridently apolitical stage show seems designed to let people have their nostalgia trip in peace. That's too bad because he has a tremendous platform - literally during "Blackbird" he was standing on a humongous elevated platform - and it's not like people are going to stop buying tickets to see Paul McCartney while they still have the chance.

8. About that: Paul is alive! I've never known John Lennon as anything but a ghost, yet McCartney is still "Here, There, And Everywhere." (He played that one, too, and hoo boy, it was accompanied by what we millennials like to call "feels.") As time rolls on, McCartney's mere continued existence matters more and more.

He makes liberal use of his iconography throughout his concerts, projecting images of the Beatles era behind the band to remind you that the same guy from all that history is performing in front of you right this second. Playfully animated images from the '70s aimed for the same effect. And man, it worked. For three hours Sunday night, I believed in yesterday.

9. McCartney's glory days keep rolling further into the past, but he's still out there playing concerts in fine form, one of our few remaining ties to a foundational time in global pop culture. It's one of the reasons I considered going to Oldchella, that chance to grasp at something fleeting before it's relegated to history books and holograms for all time.

I opted to just go see McCartney instead because he means way more to me than the rest of those guys playing out West this fall - and because I could share the experience with my dad, who introduced me to the Beatles all those years ago. (The clichés are really starting to pile up here, but they're all true. Call me "Silly Love Songs" saccharine. I don't care.)
Dad won't be around forever either, a fact that first struck me a few years back when he turned 64 - because it made me think of McCartney's Sgt. Pepper song, seriously - and really sunk in when emergency quadruple bypass surgery saved his life last summer. My first child was born a couple weeks later, which lent me all kinds of perspective about the sacrifices my parents made for me. The thought of being ignored by my kids someday is severely depressing. Throw in the recent deaths of David Bowie and Glenn Frey, both of whom were disconcertingly close to my dad's age, and spending time together has taken on a fresh urgency this year.

10. Sunday's concert concluded, as McCartney shows often do, with "The End," the exclamation point on Abbey Road's grandiose closing medley. You know how it goes: "And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make." That may not be exactly true, but there's certainly some wisdom in it. You can't wait for other people to move toward you, lest you go the way of poor old "Eleanor Rigby." You have to seek your loved ones out and let them know you care. Maybe that means taking a parent to see their all-time favorite musician in concert, or maybe it just means sitting down for an entire meal together without looking at your phones. You may not always get the reaction you were hoping for, but as McCartney reminded us ahead of his Lennon tribute "Here Today," you're better off coming together while you still can.

PPD Officers pose with the legendary Sir Paul McCartney at Citizens Bank Park on Tuesday, July 12th, 2016.

Mr. city policeman sitting, pretty little policemen in a row!
[ok, they're standing - but give me a break!]

"Whenever Sir Paul is in town for a concert, he always has a kind word for our officers!"

Does the PPD have 5th Beatle status?! Maybe!!

On its release in 1977, the 'Mull of Kintyre' single became somewhat of a phenomenon, selling over two million copies and taking the much desired number one position at Christmas.

But how was the song written? In this new VR documentary - created in association with Jaunt VR, directed by Tony Kaye, and with sound engineering by Geoff Emerick - Paul tells us how he fell in love with Scotland all over again through Linda's eyes, and how he came to write and record the song with the Campbeltown Pipe Band.

There is also more than one opportunity to hear Paul's Scottish accent (Mrs Doubtfire, eat your heart out!) and watch him (try to) play the bagpipes!

CLICK TO WATCH

The 'Mull of Kintyre' VR experience was filmed for Paul's latest release, Pure McCartney.

Pure McCartney (Deluxe Edition)

BUY PURE McCARTNEY

Fans can purchase their copy at their local record store, or online via the below links:

Amazon Standard Edition (download) - CLICK!
Amazon Deluxe Edition - (download) CLICK!
Amazon 4-LP BOX SET - CLICK!

HMV Standard Edition - CLICK!
HMV Deluxe Edition - CLICK!

iTunes - CLICK!
Pure McCartney Store - CLICK!

STREAM PURE McCARTNEY
The album is also available to stream through the following sites:

iTunes CLICK
Google Play CLICK
Spotify CLICK

A letter written by the Beatles singer to the star hit the auction block in Boston

Paul McCartney's letter was sold

A letter, written by Sir Paul McCartney to the deceased star Prince has sold for almost $15,000 (roughly £11,200).

The personal item, which features the Beatles musician asking for help establishing the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts, fetched $14,822 after it hit the auction block with the Boston-based company RR Auction.

The two-page handwritten letter has been signed by Sir Paul at the top of the first page, and again at the conclusion, and is undated.

Paul's letter begins "Dear Princely person" and asks the Purple Rain singer to "teach a class some moves".

The full letter reads: "Hi there! I know how hard it is to always be getting letters that ask for some favour or another, so it was not easy for me to accept the job of Lead Patron for a Performing Arts School to be located in my home town, Liverpool.

"But, you guessed it! I did agree to do it, so now I'm writing to 'friends and all good people' to try and interest them in the scheme.

"The story started just after the inner-city riots in Liverpool a few years ago. A friend suggested that 'what the city needs is a 'Fame' School.'

Paul McCartney's letter to Prince

"I liked the idea as a possible positive focus for local and overseas kids, but it was only later when I went back to my own old school that was in ruins, that I thought by locating a Performing Arts Centre there we could save the 1825 building in the process. So(phew!)

"We're now well on our way, as the enclosed info shows, but there's still a lot to be done.

"Now the hard part. A donation from you would be a great boost to the project, and I know your involvement in some way, would be a thrill for everyone concerned.

"Hope you didn't mind me writing this, it's so long since I've written letters I feel like I'm back at school myself.

"Anyway, one of these days you'll have to come and teach a class some moves!!

"Who knows, it may turn out to be something special for thousands of future kids. Thanks for looking at this."

At the letter's sign off the 74-year-old had drawn a smiley face.

Inspired by Alan Parker's 1980 film Fame, McCartney co-founded the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA), which opened its doors in 1996 after several years spent gathering fundraising and support.

"We're not sure if Prince made a donation or not -the vast majority of his contributions were gifted anonymously," said Robert Livingston, Executive VP at RR Auction.

"It is an incredible letter with personal content relating to McCartney's philanthropic efforts to extend the gift of music to future generations."

You Gave Me The Answer ­ David from the USA asks...

If you were lucky enough to catch Paul during the European leg of his 'Out There' tour last summer, you may recall watching him and the band perform a host of special songs they had added to the set list for the first time.

As well as including four tracks from his NEW album, one track in particular sent Twitter into meltdown: the unmistakably manic and cyclical electro-haze of 'Temporary Secretary'. It boomed out for the first time into the packed O2 Arena in London - a real surprise for the fans!

'Temporary Secretary' has been met with critical acclaim from DJs on the circuit, who have praised Paul for the track's futuristic and ahead-of-its-time synthy sound.

Our question this month comes from David in the USA who wants to know whether this was intentional.

David asks:

"How did you conceive of and create that great, rapid arpeggiated keyboard loop on 'Temporary Secretary'? Were you intentionally trying to create a certain 'mood / atmosphere' for the song?"

We managed to grab Paul in between his hectic touring schedule to ask him. He replied:

PAUL: "Thanks for your question, David. The truth is I was messing around with a device known as a sequencer, which - as its title implies - allows you to create a sequence of notes, which will then repeat. Whilst experimenting I came up with the notes which form the introduction of 'Temporary Secretary' and it seemed to me to be a good basis for the song."

Whether it was an accidental or intentional sequence, we love it. And it's a firm favourite with everyone here in the PaulMcCartney.com office!

Let us know if you'll be watching Paul play live this year. And if you're lucky enough to see Paul perform 'Temporary Secretary', pay special attention to the big screens ­ it's quite the show!

A leading London art collector has estimated that the "Emin & McCartney" guitar could raise as much as £50,000 at auction - but instead the Guitars On The Beach team is raffling it for just £1 a ticket, so that everybody has a fair chance of winning it.

Already one businessman has pledged to buy £1,000-worth of tickets in a bid to win the unique guitar which will be much sought-after by art collectors.

Demand for the guitar is expected to soar because Ms Emin, whose contemporary art is among the most-prized in Britain, has drawn and signed an original nude on the back of the instrument and Sir Paul has added his signature.

Hix, who also owns the Oyster & Fish House restaurant in Lyme Regis, is thrilled with the artwork.

"Tracey and Paul have really turned up trumps," said a Guitars On The Beach spokesman.

"She has created a stunning Tracey Emin original of a topless woman sunbathing on a beach and both she and Paul have signed it, making the guitar a much-prized work of art of which there is only one in the world.

"It's a unique collaboration by one of Britain's top artists with the world's biggest star in music. With a Beatle and Tracey coming together, one of the wags in our team has dubbed it the 'Hey Nude' guitar.

"A private London art collector has informed us that if we put the guitar up for auction it could raise as much as £50,000. But if we did that then only the rich could afford to bid for it. So, as Guitars On The Beach is all about equality ­ we welcome guitarists of all ages and abilities and of all sizes of wallet ­ we are raffling it for £1 a ticket."

Raffle tickets can be bought online at the GOTB website ­ www.guitarsonthebeach.com ­ where guitarists can find all the details of the record-attempt event, which is now in its fourth year.

In 2014, the free-entry event attracted 3,000 amateur guitarists from all over the UK and the ensemble claimed the record as Britain's biggest band. Hix is hoping that this year the band on the sand will beat its own record as thousands of strummers come together to simultaneously play Buddy Holly's Rave On and That'll Be The Day in a nod of tribute to the original guitar star who would have been 80 in September.

"The record bid will take place at 5.0 pm on Saturday September 3rd. A lot of people play guitar at home and dream of being in a band for just once in the lives. So Hix created GOTB so that if you want to be in a band you may as well be in the largest one in the UK," said the spokesman.

"Any guitarist who can play ­ or can learn to play ­ these three-chord songs is welcome to join in and receive a scroll officially certifying them as a member of Britain's biggest band."

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Food Rocks & Mark Hix ­ Laura Weir events@hixfoodetc.co.uk
(UK) 0207 749 0479

June 18, 2016 -- Paul McCartney Birthday Tweets
Paul's tweet

They say it's your birthday...!

10. Silly Love Songs

McCartney used to be ridiculed for writing "silly love songs," so his response was to write a song literally about "Silly Love Songs." Released in 1976 on Wings At The Speed Of Sound, the single was a huge smash hit and proved that people do enjoy those silly love songs. As for the song itself, despite its somewhat dated sound, it's still a great McCartney track, highlighted by the bass play and the fantastic triple harmony party with McCartney, his wife Linda McCartney and Wings cohort Denny Laine.

Silly Love Songs

9. Too Much Rain
Flashing forward to 2005's Chaos and Creation in the Backyard, we find "Too Much Rain," a surprisingly introspective song from McCartney. Chaos was produced by Nigel Godrich and the first time McCartney worked with an outside producer on a released studio album since his run with George Martin in the early '80s. The album feels very different from McCartney's other work as a result.

Too Much Rain

8. My Brave Face

In 1989, McCartney teamed up with Elvis Costello to write a series of songs that appeared on their albums at the time. "My Brave Face" was the most popular result of their collaboration and stands as the last really successful solo single from any member of The Beatles. It brought McCartney back from a run of flops during the late '80s and appears on Flowers In The Dirt.

My Brave Face

7. Band on the Run

Band on the Run (1973) is easily McCartney's most popular solo album, stacked with two huge hits, the title tack and "Jet." The other eight songs are fantastic too. But the title track is a perfect look at McCartney's early solo career with Wings. The group (down to just the McCartneys and Laine at the time) recorded the album in Lagos, Nigeria.

Band on the Run

6. Calico Skies

In the past couple of decades, McCartney has had a habit of recording at least one completely acoustic song for an album and "Calico Skies," from 1997's Flaming Pie, is easily the best of them. It's a beautiful song and one that became even more poignant after Linda's death from breast cancer in 1998. As for Flaming Pie, it's a great album and one to seek out.

Calico Skies

5. Another Day

"Another Day" was recorded while McCartney was making RAM (1971), but he decided to release it as a single and kept it off of the album. This was a practice he carried over from his time with The Beatles, who tried to keep singles off of albums so fans didn't have to buy the same song twice. "Another Day" was also famously referenced by Lennon in his song "How Do You Sleep." "The only thing you done was 'Yesterday', and since you've gone you're just 'Another Day,'" Lennon sang.

Another Day

4. Wanderlust

Any list of McCartney's best songs needs a track from Tug of War, his 1981 album that reunited him with Beatles producer George Martin. The title track, "Take It Away" and the Stevie Wonder duet "Ebony and Ivory" were all big hits, but it's a record filled with good album tracks that only fans seem to know. "Wanderlust" is one of the best of them.

Wanderlust

3. The Back Seat Of My Car

In the past 40 years since its release, RAM has become known as one of McCartney's best albums. It's a record that has two big climaxes ­ "Long Haired Lady" and "The Back Seat of My Car" ­ and the hit "Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey." "The Back Seat of My Car" is one of those songs the word "epic" was invented for. The song's idea might sound pretty simple, but the production kicks it up another notch.

The Back Seat Of My Car

2. Coming Up

"Coming Up" is one of those cases where the live recording sounds so much better than the studio version. The song first appeared on 1980's McCartney II in the same self-produced style as the rest of the album, with McCartney playing all the instruments. But when a live version was released as a single in the U.S., that became the hit and the version released on subsequent hits collections. However, it is the studio version you hear with the song's famous video. The story goes that when Lennon heard "Coming Up," it convinced him to go back into the studio to record Double Fantasy.

Coming Up

1. Maybe I'm Amazed

Like "Coming Up," the most famous version of "Maybe I'm Amazed" is a live recording. The track made its debut on 1970's McCartney, which did not have a single and didn't have a single release at that time. It remains McCartney's best love song and has a magic that he's always tried to recapture during his career. There's "My Love," "Only Love Remains," "Love In Song" and other love ballads, but none of them come close to "Maybe I'm Amazed."

Maybe I'm Amazed

Paul McCartney's Net Worth: 5 Fast Facts You Need To Know

Sir Paul McCartney is one of the most successful songwriters of all time. In fact, the Guinness Book of World Records says he is the most successful songwriter of all time. The former Beatle never rests though. In addition to his constant touring, he has a new greatest hits package out this week, called Pure McCartney. He released his most recent new album in 2013.

According to Celebrity Net Worth, McCartney's net worth is estimated at $1.2 billion. However, Forbes does not consider him a billionaire because that number includes the revenue his wife, Nancy Shevell, earns. CNNMoney reports that he's worth an estimated $660 million.

While it's true that money can't buy you love, McCartney earns quite a bit of it. Here's a look at Macca's money.

1. Named Most Successful Songwriter in 1979!
The Guinness Book of World Records has considered McCartney the Most Successful Songwriter of all time since 1979. Thanks to his wok with John Lennon during The Beatles, his solo hits and his hits with his '70s group Wings, McCartney's name is on 32 number one hits in the U.S., including 23 co-written songs. In the U.K., he has 28 number one singles, which is one behind Lennon.

McCartney has a whopping 192 songs chart in the U.K. His 192nd was "All Day," which he co-wrote with Kanye West in 2015. Of that total, 32 songs were with The Beatles, 21 with Wings and 36 as a solo artist or part of a duo. The number also includes songs McCartney wrote, but didn't record.

2. Nancy Shevell's Family Makes Millions in Trucking
McCartney's third wife is Nancy Shevell, the daughter of Myron "Mike" P. Shevell, who runs a group of trucking companies. That includes Eastern Freightways, New England Motor Freight and Apex Transportation. The companies are all under the Shevell Group of Companies, L.L.C. Nancy is listed as a Vice President of the company. Forbes estimates that the company earns $300 million a year.

McCartney and his band performed at the American Trucking Associations' Management Conference & Exhibition in October 2015, with Nancy and other members of the Shevell family in attendance for the private performance. He reportedly performed The Beatles song "Drive My Car" as "Drive My Truck."

3. McCartney's Shows Sell Out, Bringing in More Millions
McCartney certainly doesn't have to perform as often as he does, but he clearly has no intention of stopping, not when he still sells out venues. In 2014, he had Billboard's No. 1 tour with his "Out There" Tour, which grossed $165 million up to that point. During one week in October 2014, he made $10.6 million from five shows.
McCartney is now on his "One On One" Tour which will return to the U.S. on July 8 for SummerFest in Milwaukee. He's also expected to perform at Desert Trip, which will also feature Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones and The Who. It's been reported that each act will earn at least $7 million.

4. Heather Mills Got $48.6 Million in Divorce Settlement
One of the most bitter celebrity divorces in recent years was between McCartney and his second wife, Heather Mills. After four years of marriage, the two split and spent two years fighting. Mills originally sought $250 million, People reported at the time, and McCartney proposed $30 million. But the jury awarded Mills $48.6 million. Mills was under the impression that McCartney was worth $1.6 billion and insisted that their daughter, Beatrice, "is obviously meant to travel B class while her father travels A class."

Mills continues to criticize McCartney. In March 2015, she said that McCartney only works with the likes of Kanye West and Rihanna to stay relevant.

"This is just someone I fell in love with who to me was a normal guy that happened to write a few cool songs in the '60s and a few in the '70s," she told Ireland's The Late Late Show. "Like everybody that's a partner - you fall in love, you get married, you sometimes then go 'Oh my God, this is completely wrong,' you wake up, and you move on."

5. He's Actively Trying to Get The Beatles Publishing
While McCartney does own his own music publishing rights, he is still trying to get the ownership for the most of songs he and Lennon wrote during the Beatles years. He famously lost out to Michael Jackson in 1985 after Jackson spent $47.5 million on ATV Music, which had owned the rights to the Beatles songs at that point. The Jackson estate is reportedly planning to sell its 50 percent stake in Sony/ATV Music, which could open a window for McCartney. Billboard reported in December that McCartney is already starting the process.

McCartney's MPL Music Publishing is a big business, owning songs by McCartney's idols, Buddy Holly and Carl Perkins. MPL also owns songs by Fats Waller, Bessie Smith and Frank Loesser. McCartney does own the publishing rights to two Beatles songs: "Love Me Do" and "P.S. I Love You," the songs that made up the Fab Four's first single.

As I mentioned in my last post, I plan on eventually using this blog to explore the connection between faith and art. To set the stage or mood for that project, I thought it might be fun to start sharing music with you on a regular basis. Why not on Fridays? Why not call it a "Friday Jam"? It's on the nose, maybe  cliche, but it's clear and direct.

Paul McCartney and Wings - Love Is Strange

This inaugural FJ (transformed into an acronym already? Sheesh) comes to you courtesy of Wings first album, 1971's Wild Life. It's probably not the BEST album Paul McCartney made with Wings, but it's certainly overlooked and underrated. I think it's accurate to think of this album as sort of a proto lo-fi, indie rock album. It was quite a turn from the refined, take-heavy studio work of The Beatles. Wild Life sounds like it was recorded by a bunch of friends hanging out in a home studio one weekend. I consider "Love is Strange" the stand-out track on the album. The song, originally written by Ethel Smith, Mickey Baker, and Sylvia Robinson, is so sweet and relaxed that it's been accused by critics of being "cloying".

I beg to differ. I think the sweet, relaxed feeling of the album reflects where Paul was emotionally at the time. Sure, The Beatles are over and a new phase of life had begun ­ but there was so much love between Paul and Linda that Paul makes the transition seem placid. This album, and this song in particular, is really just a celebration of domestic bliss, and the slow, easy, and relaxed songs are a testament to marriage.

"Many people, they don't understand / They think having love is like having money in the hand."

May 24, 2016 -- PM.com

Paul collaborates with Jaunt to Produce new 'Pure McCartney' VR, Six-Part Documentary Series

Award-winning team includes Tony Kaye and Geoff Emerick to produce immersive VR retrospectives

Paul has teamed up once more with Jaunt - the leading producer and publisher of fully-immersive cinematic virtual reality experiences - and today release the first two episodes of 'Pure McCartney VR', a six-part series of virtual reality (VR) documentary shorts. As part of the upcoming launch of 'Pure McCartney', a career­spanning compilation album, each of these complementary immersive VR experiences delve into the stories behind some of Paul's most iconic songs.

Filmed in his private home studio, fans will embark on a personal journey with Paul as he recounts memories and anecdotes related to various tracks, while sharing archival and never-before-seen footage. The 'Pure McCartney VR' episodes, which chronicle 'Dance Tonight', 'Coming Up', 'My Valentine', 'Mull of Kintyre' and 'Early Days', will be released episodically, starting today, and continuing through the coming weeks up to the release of 'Pure McCartney'.

In building the series, the team sought out the creative expertise of some of the most innovative minds in the business, including award-winning Director, Tony Kaye; Producer and Soundscape Architect Geoff Emerick; and Executive Producers Cliff Plumer, Lucas Wilson and Doug Allenstein. The resulting VR experiences include not only high quality cinematic VR, but digitally remastered and spatially oriented ambisonic audio mixed in Dolby Atmos. This project marks the first time an original Paul McCartney track has been remixed in Dolby Atmos.

"It is an honour to be part of such a tremendously talented team of artists, tasked with documenting the thinking of this great man, in order to bring his fans a new means of experiencing some of his greatest songs," said Tony Kaye, Director for 'Pure McCartney VR'. "His musical genius is now on display for the world in an entirely new light.

Paul and director Tony Kaye on set

"We used to see artists connect with their fans through album covers and liner notes but that personal expression, and deeper understanding  of the music, has diminished over the years," said Cliff Plumer, President of Jaunt Studios. "With virtual reality, Paul McCartney is taking the most innovative step yet; he's connecting directly with his fans, to share his innermost thoughts and experiences, in an entirely new, personal and immersive way."

Each track will be released into the custom Paul McCartney world within the Jaunt VR App. Jaunt VR is available on iOS, Android, Gear VR, Oculus Rift, HTC Vive and Desktop 360.

Get the Jaunt app by clicking HERE!

The 'Pure McCartney VR' series is presented by the British Tourist Authority and the GREAT Britain campaign. Paul McCartney has played, and continues to play, a central role in Britain's music heritage and the GREAT Britain campaign is proud to be associated with this innovative and ground-breaking initiative.

Pure McCartney "Dance Tonight" VR

'Pure McCartney'

'Pure McCartney' - Paul's curated career-spanning compilation - is released on Friday 10th June. Fans can pre-order the album today from their local record store, or online through the links below:

Amazon Standard - Click HERE!
Amazon Deluxe - Click HERE!
iTunes - Click HERE!
Pure McCartney Store - Click HERE!

March 18, 2016 -- Irish Examiner

First glimpse of Paul McCartney's cameo for Sport Relief's Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em sketch

Paul McCartney is the latest big name to shoot a cameo for the hotly-anticipated Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em sketch for Sport Relief.

So what will the legendary Beatle be doing in his sitcom appearance? Well, somewhat understatedly, he'll just be taking a stroll in a local park while chatting on his phone when he comes across Frank Spencer.

The beloved sitcom is making a return for one night only, with Michael Crawford reprising his famous role of Frank ­ last seen in 1978 ­ alongside Michele Dotrice as his long-suffering wife Betty.

Bond Girl Gemma Arterton has been signed up as their grown-up daughter Jessica.

Frank faces a desperate race involving a bike, rollerskates and a double-decker bus to reach the Olympic velodrome in time to watch her compete in the 10-minute sketch.

Other big name appearances include F1 driver Jenson Button, comedian David Walliams and cyclist Sir Bradley Wiggins.

The sketch will air on Sport Relief night on March 18 on BBC One from 7pm.

SEATING CHART

MAY 5TH:
VIP TICKETS LINK
GENERAL ADMISSION LINK

MAY 4TH:
VIP TICKETS LINK
GENERAL ADMISSION LINK

Due to the overwhelming response to yesterday's announcement of his May 4 date at the Target Center, Paul McCartney has confirmed a second Minneapolis stop on his brand new 'One On One' tour.

On May 5, Paul will play a second night the Target Center-added to satisfy incredible demand for tickets to Paul's first Twin Cities engagement since his legendary sold out August 2, 2014 evening at Target Field.

Tickets for the newly announced dates will be on sale March 17 at 8am CT local time.

American Express® Card Members can purchase tickets in Minneapolis before the general public beginning Thursday, March 17 at 10am local time through Sunday, March 20 at 10pm local time.

VIP TICKETS LINK

REGULAR TICKETS LINK

SEATING CHART

PAUL McCARTNEY 'ONE ON ONE'
Spanish Date Of New Tour Confirmed

Thursday 2nd June ­ Vicente Calderón Stadium, Madrid

Paul McCartney has confirmed a brand new date for his 'One On One' tour in Spain this summer.

As with the launch of every new Paul McCartney tour, 'One On One' promises to unveil a dazzling re-designed set, dozens of classics from the most beloved catalog in popular music, spanning Paul's entire career - as a solo artist, member of Wings and of course as a Beatle - and no shortage of surprises.

'One On One' will arrive in Madrid on 2nd June with Paul's first appearance there since 2004. The Madrid show follows the announcement of the first 'One On One' European tour dates kicking off in Germany in May.

Fans registered with PaulMcCartney.com by 9am (CET / 8am GMT) on Tuesday 15th March will be eligible to purchase pre-sale tickets for Paul's Madrid concert through the website at 10am (CET / 9am GMT) on the same day (Tuesday 15th March). LINK

VIP PRE-SALE TUE 15/03 9am (CET / 8am GMT) LINK

Register with PaulMcCartney.com by clicking HERE!

NORTH AMERICA:
13th April: SaveMart Arena - Fresno, CA
15th April: Moda Center - Portland, OR
17th April: Key Arena- Seattle, WA
19th April: Rogers Arena - Vancouver, BC
20th April: Rogers Arena - Vancouver, BC
30th April: Verizon Arena - Little Rock, AR
02nd May: Denny Sanford Premier Center - Sioux Falls, SD
 
GERMANY:
28th May: Esprit Arena - Dusseldorf
10th June: Olympic Stadium - Munich
14th June: Waldbuhne - Berlin TICKET LINK

SPAIN:
2nd June: Vicente Calderón Stadium - Madrid (VIP PRE-SALE TUE 15/03 9am (CET / 8am GMT) LINK
 
Paul McCartney has confirmed the first dates of his brand new 'One On One' tour.
 
As with the launch of every new Paul McCartney tour, 'One On One' promises to unveil a dazzling re-designed set, dozens of classics from the most beloved catalog in popular music, spanning Paul's entire career - as a solo artist, member of Wings and of course as a Beatle - and no shortage of surprises. 

PAUL McCARTNEY 'ONE ON ONE' NORTH AMERICA PRE-SALE INFORMATION:

PAULMcCARTNEY.COM PRE-SALE TICKETS WILL GO ON SALE FOR ALL DATES ON THURSDAY 10TH MARCH. FOR DETAILS FOLLOW THE LINKS BELOW:
Pre-sale tickets will be available through Ticketmaster for the below North America shows from 8am PST / 11am EST / 4pm GMT on Thursday 10th March. To purchase pre-sale tickets onThursday, click the link below and enter the following password: 1ON1WITHPAUL

13th April: SaveMart Arena, FRESNO, CA
GET PRE-SALE TICKETS HERE! / PASSWORD: 1ON1WITHPAUL

15th April: Moda Center, PORTLAND, OR
GET PRE-SALE TICKETS HERE! / PASSWORD: 1ON1WITHPAUL

17th April: Key Arena, SEATTLE, WA
GET PRE-SALE TICKETS HERE! / PASSWORD: 1ON1WITHPAUL

19th April: Rogers Arena, VANCOUVER, BC
GET PRE-SALE TICKETS HERE! / PASSWORD: 1ON1WITHPAUL

20th April: Rogers Arena, VANCOUVER, BC
GET PRE-SALE TICKETS HERE! / PASSWORD: 1ON1WITHPAUL
TICKETMASTER PAGE

30th April: Verizon Arena, LITTLE ROCK, AR
GET PRE-SALE TICKETS HERE! / PASSWORD: 1ON1WITHPAUL

2nd May: Denny Sanford Premier Center, SIOUX FALLS, SD
GET PRE-SALE TICKETS HERE! / PASSWORD: 1ON1WITHPAUL

US FANS: Tickets for the North American dates will be on general sale Monday, March 14th at 10am local time.

American Express® Card Members can purchase tickets before the general public beginning Thursday, March 10 at 10am local time through Sunday, March 13 at 10pm local time.

NORTH AMERICAN PRE-SALE DETAILS - CLICK HERE!

At 8:00am (CET / 7:00GMT) on Thursday 10th March pre-sale tickets will be available via the following links:

28th May: Esprit Arena, Dusseldorf
GET PRE-SALE TICKETS HERE!

10th June: Olympic Stadium, Munich
GET PRE-SALE TICKETS HERE!

14th June: Waldbuhne, Berlin
GET PRE-SALE TICKETS HERE!

GERMANY PRE-SALE DETAILS - CLICK HERE!
GERMANY FANS: Tickets for the Germany dates will be on general sale Saturday 12th March at 9am local time.

I'm so sad to hear the news of the passing of dear George Martin. I have so many wonderful memories of this great man that will be with me forever. He was a true gentleman and like a second father to me. He guided the career of The Beatles with such skill and good humour that he became a true friend to me and my family. If anyone earned the title of the fifth Beatle it was George. From the day that he gave The Beatles our first recording contract, to the last time I saw him, he was the most generous, intelligent and musical person I've ever had the pleasure to know.
 
It's hard to choose favourite memories of my time with George, there are so many but one that comes to mind was the time I brought the song 'Yesterday' to a recording session and the guys in the band suggested that I sang it solo and accompany myself on guitar. After I had done this George Martin said to me, "Paul I have an idea of putting a string quartet on the record". I said, "Oh no George, we are a rock and roll band and I don't think it's a good idea".  With the gentle bedside manner of a great producer he said to me, "Let us try it and if it doesn't work we won't use it and we'll go with your solo version".  I agreed to this and went round to his house the next day to work on the arrangement.
 
He took my chords that I showed him and spread the notes out across the piano, putting the cello in the low octave and the first violin in a high octave and gave me my first lesson in how strings were voiced for a quartet. When we recorded the string quartet at Abbey Road, it was so thrilling to know his idea was so correct that I went round telling people about it for weeks. His idea obviously worked because the song subsequently became one of the most recorded songs ever with versions by Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, Ray Charles, Marvin Gaye and thousands more.
 
This is just one of the many memories I have of George who went on to help me with arrangements on 'Eleanor Rigby', 'Live and Let Die' and many other songs of mine.
 
I am proud to have known such a fine gentleman with such a keen sense of humour, who had the ability to poke fun at himself. Even when he was Knighted by the Queen there was never the slightest trace of snobbery about him.
 
My family and I, to whom he was a dear friend, will miss him greatly and send our love to his wife Judy and their kids Giles and Lucy, and the grandkids.
 
The world has lost a truly great man who left an indelible mark on my soul and the history of British music.
 
God bless you George and all who sail in you!
Paul

He's the proud father of five successful children.

And doting dad Paul McCartney couldn't contain his pride as he settled in to watch daughter Stella McCartney present her eponymous label line for Paris Fashion Week on Sunday. Paul looked the vision of health and happiness as he cosied up to Nancy ahead of his daughter's show.

Paul seemed to be enjoying himself ahead of the show, pretending to play the guitar and dancing around before heading in to watch his daughter present her designs on the runway.

Joined by wife Nancy Shevell, the former Beatles frontman, 73, beamed with anticipation as he headed into the show to take his rightful place on the front row - cutting a dapper figure in a tailored black suit and crisp white shirt with his eyes concealed by a pair of black sunglasses.

Standing by his side, Nancy, 56, cut a glamorous figure for the show, donning a pair of cropped white trousers in polka dot print, with a ruffled cream and coral jumper. 

Layering up in a chic peach coat, the star rounded off her ensemble in a pair of nude loafers with a cleated white sole and carried a small brown bucket bag.

Wearing her chestnut coloured tresses loose and tousled, she styled her glossy locks in a centre parting, framing her heart shaped face which bore a neutral make-up palette, allowing her natural beauty to shine through.  

Pretty as a peach! Nancy, 56, cut a glamorous figure for the show, donning a pair of cropped white trousers in polka dot print, with a ruffled cream and coral jumper. Layering up in a chic peach coat, the star rounded off her ensemble in a pair of nude loafers.

Stella McCartney Instagram photo

Paul seemed impressed with his daughter's work as he gave the designs a once-over on the catwalk. He kept to himself at the show ensuring all eyes were on his daughter's designs and not on himself.

But despite being surrounded by famous friends and glamorous stars, Stella was no doubt most keen to see her father in the audience as she stepped out onto the catwalk after the show. 

The Macca Report has learned that Paul will announce concert dates for the USA this month, which includes a rumored July show in the Midwest!

February 10, 2016 -- NL Times (Thanks to Jaap Janse, Macca Reporter)

Paul McCartney expected at Pinkpop

Paul McCartney is widely expected to headline and close the 2016 edition of music festival Pinkpop. Just days later, American rock legend Bruce Springsteen is set to perform in Den Haag.

McCartney is "99 percent certain" to perform at the Limburg event, according to local media outlet 1Limburg. A verbal agreement was reportedly reached between McCartney's management and Pinkpop director Jan Smeets, the broadcaster reported.

The performance would likely close the three-day event in Landgraaf on June 12, just six days before McCartney's 74th birthday.

As announced today, Paul has partnered with communications giant Skype to compose music to accompany ten "Love Mojis".

Shortly after Paul had been in the studio working on the audio, we were able to catch up with him to ask him about the project

What attracted you to the project?

Paul McCartney: My team is always on the look out for interesting ideas. They had been talking to Skype and suggested that I would write music for some new "Mojis" to be used around Valentine's Day.

I was intrigued and thought it would be a bit of fun to see if I could do it! And it turned out to be a great laugh at the same time as challenging because you suddenly realise you've got to compress a musical interpretation of an emotion into less than five seconds. So with some of them, which were five and a half or six seconds, we had to work out a way to take the front off or just squeeze this or just take that bit out.

It was great! It was like doing a huge crossword puzzle and coming up with all these solutions. And at the same time it was musical so it was great practice for me in the studio.

As you were expressing universal emotions using music rather than language was composing for this project different from how you usually write, and did you learn anything from the process?

Paul: Yeah, that was the thing. The decision I had to make was if I was going to use my voice; which I thought might be a good thing because it then identifies it with me. But it would have to be without using words.

And you know, I've seen kids' cartoons that use sounds rather than words, but you still kind of know what they're saying! [Impersonates cartoon character.] So I thought I'll do that and just use "Doo-Dee-Do-Deee" and kind of sing it so it's me and my voice, but at the same time no words. So yes, that was a conscious decision.

CLICK TO WATCH

What instruments did you use during the recording sessions?

Paul: I wanted to try and make the whole set have a signature sound, something that pulled it all together rather than just use a different instrument for every single sound so that it was like a portfolio of musical "Mojis".

I decided to start roughing them all out with the Moog synthesizer. So I did a musical phrase on the Moog for each of the 20 emotions. Then I decided sometimes we don't need a Moog, sometimes another instrument would be better.

The Moog was the first part and then I added my voice. Then I added xylophone to some of them, which is like a call sign. It's kind of like an airport tannoy, but I wanted that. I wanted it to sound like something you might find on your computer. So it was, "Do-Do-Doo" [mimics airport call sign].

So that mix of the Moog and the xylophone is something you'll hear, and then sometimes I added a guitar, voice, piano, harpsichord, and electric guitar. And then drums on the more sort of funky ones, like 'I'm solo and loving it'. I thought, "OK! I'm gonna get a funky drum track on that!" So it was great fun! Really, I thought it might take a day ­ it took a week!

Was there any reason why you fleshed out the ideas on the Moog?

Paul: I wanted it to be modern. I wanted it to sound sort of electronic so I wanted the signature to be an electronic signature rather than acoustic guitar, for instance. So I got the whole overall signature on the Moog in order to give it a modern flavour.

Which was the easiest expression to compose for?

Paul: I must say I didn't have too much trouble with many of them because it was instant. It was like, "I'm not going to spend a week composing this!" I'm just going to go [sings], "I love you, Do-Whee-Doo'. And then I gave another variation like, "Do-Whee-Oo-Oo". So really it was like, "First thought, best thought".

'Lust' [laughs], that was a good one to do. It's a great exercise. How do you do that? It's similar to composing a song; you're trying to get an emotion like, "I love you," or an "I miss you" emotion, or a "Don't leave me" emotion.

'Solo and loving it' was the other one that was good fun to do. 'Be My Valentine?' was nice too, and I think those three I just mentioned have a little more instrumentation than some of the others. I kept some of them very spare, because they sounded like they worked - just like a call sign.

But it was really first thought, best thought. I thought, "I can't deliberate over this - I've got to race them all out". Then I thought, "Well, I'll give a couple of alternatives," which were mainly for me to choose from. But I ended up liking the alternatives so I thought, "I'll let Skype choose".

Which was the hardest expression to compose for?

Paul: There were a couple that were more challenging; 'Flirting' and 'Blushing'. But I just kind of had a go at it and thought, "There you go!" And then if I didn't think it was enough, I might just add another instrument to try and get the feeling.

Is it exciting to think that potentially millions of people around the world will be using your music to express their feelings?

Paul: Yes very, it really is! It's already very exciting being a composer and a recording artist because you know in America, UK, Japan, Europe, etc. people are going to be listening to your records, to your music and that's a very exciting thing. With modern technology now you get the idea that millions of people at one point could actually be 'using' your music.

I like that, it's very exciting and it's very human. It brings us all together. We all go, "I love you," together. I'm interested to see how it goes. Anyone I tell about this I say, "If it comes off", because I'm always terrified with these kinds of projects that you might spend a week doing it all, and then somebody goes, "No, we tried it on the bosses and they don't like it!" If it comes off, I do love the idea of it - someone in America, signaling someone in Japan. It's just great communication. It's all about communication, baby!

Do you use Skype to communicate with family and friends?

Paul: I do when I'm on tour to keep in touch with friends and family. The big Skype user in the group is Wix! He's 'Mr Skype,' he's always at rehearsals moving his iPad round the room with his wife and child. I will say hi to his family!

Are you a fan of "Emojis" and do you use them with your family and friends?

Paul: Yeah I do! When I text I put a little thing. The one I happen to like a lot ­ I'm really lo-fi ­ is a little smiley face with shades, so it's cool and it's smiley!  

As these audio "Mojis" will be published around Valentine's Day, how would you define 'Love'?

Paul: I think it's one of the most important emotions in life!

Mojis sketches

The Mojis are available on Skype now.

Paul on composing music for Skype's "Love Mojis


CLICK TO WATCH

Today, a collaboration has been announced between the world's most celebrated living musician and its foremost video chat and online communication platform: Paul McCartney and  Skype have partnered to launch a new range of animated love themed Mojis for Valentine's Day featuring exclusive new McCartney music coupled with Skype's animated designs. This new set contains ten specially created Mojis.

Paul McCartney's career is unparalleled. His music has reached hundreds of millions of people globally, spanning generations. Be it through live performances, composing pop songs, classical works, electronic music, film themes and scores, and most recently composing for the most anticipated video game of the last decade ­ 'Destiny', Paul has continued to explore new ways to reach people. Paul's music brings people together and breaks down language and cultural barriers. 

Mojis are short animated clips that you can use during Skype chats when words just aren't enough. These Mojis will be completely unique to hundreds of millions of Skype users and feature sound as well as video, giving the users chat a whole new dimension. This collaboration will allow Skype users to use this medium to convey love through music in a new and original way. 
Skype has long since been used by people all over the world to communicate and share personal moments. Like music, Skype can be used anywhere in the world to share the love, regardless of the user's location.  Visual emoticons have become increasingly more popular in recent years and have been used to communicate everyday emotions.  Today's announcement marks the launch of a new kind of digital expression ­ the audio emoticon.  Music has always had the power to express a range of different feelings and sharing an audio emoticon is a fun way of expressing feelings via brand new Paul McCartney music.
 
Paul was set a brief by Skype to compose for specific emotions. More used to writing chart-topping songs around the three-minute mark than expressing an emotion musically in a number of seconds Paul embraced the task.
 
Talking about the experience Paul said:
"It turned out to be a great laugh at the same time as challenging because you suddenly realise you've got to compress a musical interpretation of an expression into less than five seconds. It was like doing a huge crossword puzzle and coming up with all these solutions. And at the same time it was musical so it was great practice for me in the studio."

Paul recorded his compositions over a week at his Hog Hill Mill studio in Sussex. Using a variety of instruments including guitars, keyboards, drums, xylophone and his voice. In order to give the whole set a signature sound Paul started the compositions on a Moog synthesizer.

Paul explained:
"I wanted it to sound sort of electronic so I wanted the signature to sound electronic rather than acoustic guitar, for instance. So I got the overall signature on the Moog in order to give it a modern flavour." 

Speaking about the collaboration Gurdeen Pall, Corporate Vice President at Skype said:
"As one of the most iconic artists of all time, Paul McCartney is known for expressing his passion through music. When it comes to composing love songs there is no other artist in the world who has a better track record. Paul's music has touched the hearts of millions of people all over the world. We are thrilled to lend some of his magic to a set of Mojis conveying the world's most powerful emotion, love, through music and art. It was a great creative challenge for us to create the animations to match his legendary sound". 

EXCLUSIVE: The Beatles' Macca running a microbrewery from his East Sussex home

Sir Paul McCartney is brewing his own beer using hops from his estate.

The Beatles legend, 73, named the ale Old Stinkhorn after a phallic-shaped mushroom which also grows on his farm.

The concoction is bottled on his land in East Sussex and given as gifts to colleagues and friends.

Fran Healy, 42, of the band Travis has received regular crates since the pair worked together on his solo album in 2010.

He said: "A box turns up every year. It's really nice."

Macca took up his secret home-brewing hobby several years ago. A source close to the star said: "Paul has been making the beer for a while now. It's delicious.

He is rarely seen in public with both daughters simultaneously. 

But Sir Paul McCartney changed all that when he stepped out with daughters Mary and Stella on Friday evening in central London.

The Liverpudlian star, 73, looked delighted to join his glamorous offspring at the BAFTA screening of new film "This Beautiful Fantastic".

Cutting a dapper figure, The Beatles star had clearly dressed to impress for the occasion. Stepping out in a navy blue, pin-striped suit, he matched the ensemble with a classic white shirt and a pair of leather-effect shoes. Sporting brown hair, he looked considerably younger than his years.

Not to be out-done, Mary was also out in force - wearing a conservative, yet trendy, look. This consisted of a pair of fitted, black trousers with a square-neck blouse and a silk jacket, complete with baseball collars and equinn detailing. Scooping her hair up into a classy bun, she struck a dramatic resemblance to her famous father.

Fashion designer Stella was also looking good in her less-is-more choice of attire. Sporting a safe, but successful, sartorial get-up, she worked a little black dress which she teamed with thick, black tights and a pair of ankle boots. Wearing her hair down in a centre-parting, she managed to be both understated yet glam. Not that they were the only famous faces there, of course.

A host of British acting and fashion talent also attended the screening, including Noel Gallagher, Chrissie Hynde and hairdresser John Frieda.

The Pretenders singer, 64, looked typically cool in her trademark skinny jeans, grey jacket and bleach blonde hair. Her indie style was capped with a stunning pair of Grenson shoes in high-shine white leather-effect.

CLICK TO WATCH

The musical legend has endorsed our Give to GOSH appeal and recorded a special message for the hospital

Former Beatle Sir Paul McCartney has backed the Independent's Give to GOSH appeal with a heartfelt tribute to the generosity of reader and the great work of the hospital's staff and volunteers.

The endorsement from the former member of the Fab Four comes at the start of the final week of the appeal for Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH), which has already smashed all previous records for our seasonal appeal by raising more than £3m ($4.3 million).

In a video message he has updated his 1967 hit "When I'm Sixty-Four" in honour of Great Ormond Street Hospital.

He said: "This is Paul McCartney here and this is a message on behalf of the Great Ormond Street Hospital. I want to thank everybody who has donated to their latest campaign and has given money to keep this great hospital and the great work it does going."

Sir Paul has a long history of supporting GOSH, including a paying surprise visit to the wards, performing karaoke sessions with patients and attending the hospital's annual Christmas party for patients.

Two portraits of Paul McCartney painted in The Beatles' heyday in 1967 are on display together for the first time.

The oils are among a raft of pictures of celebrities painted by John Bratby, one of Britain's most acclaimed artists of the 1950s and 1960s.

He fell out of fashion in the 1970s and moved to Hastings in East Sussex.

The town's Jerwood Gallery has brought the paintings of McCartney together in the first retrospective exhibition of Bratby's work.

The gallery, in collaboration with Bratby's family, launched an appeal to owners of his work to submit them for the show.

More than 300 entries were submitted, including the portraits of McCartney owned by collectors in London and Plymouth.

In all, Bratby - who was known for his "kitchen sink realism" style - painted three portraits of McCartney. It is believed the musician himself owns the third.

Actor and comedian Michael Palin, who was invited to sit for Bratby in 1981, is among those who contributed portraits to the exhibition.

Palin said: "He wrote to me and said 'Come down to Hastings one day - it will only take an afternoon'.

"He worked very solidly for about three-and-a -half hours then he said, 'The work is done - it's yours for £700' ($1,017.00)

"I didn't like it at all but I paid the money.

"I really like it now and actually I am rather fond of his work."

Other paintings in the exhibition include still lifes, pop art and domestic scenes.

John Bratby: Everything But the Kitchen Sink Including the Kitchen Sink runs until 17 April.

Jerwood Gallery
Rock-a-Nore Road
Hastings Old Town
East Sussex
TN34 3DW
Tel: + 44 (0)1424 728377
Email: info@jerwoodgallery.org
www.jerwoodgallery.org

More....

Mojo Magazine
By Danny Eccleston

1967 Paul McCartney Portraits Star In John Bratby Retrospective

Two paintings of the Beatle reunited for the first time in Hastings gallery. But where's the third?

CAPTURING THE WHIMSICAL SPIRIT of one of the world's great musicians and one of the '60s best-dressed men, painter John Bratby's Paul McCartney portraits ooze character, one of them freezing the Beatles tunesmith in mid-whistle, or perhaps even a trademark 'Ooooooh!'.

One of the two Bratby McCartneys on display at the Jerwood through April 17th.

Two Macca portraits that Bratby painted in 1967 are reunited for the first time at Hastings' Jerwood Gallery between January 30 and April 17, 2016, in a show of the late painter's works entitled John Bratby: Everything But The Kitchen Sink, Including The Kitchen Sink.

But a third McCartney by Bratby ­ this one, presumably ­ appears to have hunkered down and has so far eluded curators.

Bratby, who died in his adopted home town of Hastings in 1992 whilst walking home from his local fish and chip shop the day after his 64th birthday, was one of the British art scene's great "radical realists" of the 1950s and '60s. Celebrities who sat for him included McCartney, Michael Palin, Arthur Askey and Claire Rayner. He is thought to have painted over 3,000 works, and many of the exhibition's most fascinating items were crowdsourced after an appeal for submissions elicited an avalanche of letters, photos and eccentric Bratby stories.

Jerwood Gallery Director Liz Gilmore says "a retrospective of John Bratby's work is long overdue, and where better for it to take place than in the town that he made his home. John Bratby was a complex and intense personality but I hope the show captures some of his moments of genius.

For more information about John Bratby: Everything but the Kitchen Sink, Including the Kitchen Sink follow @jerwoodgallery on Twitter and visit www.jerwoodgallery.org

And of course, if anyone knows the location of the missing Macca, both MOJO and the Jerwood Gallery would be delighted to hear from you.

Illustrations: Paul McCartney, 1967, by John Bratby. © Copyright the artists's estate and Bridgema

January 15, 2016 -- Paul McCartney Twitter

Throwback Thursday Photo

Paul at AIR Studios, London, 1982. Photo by Linda McCartney

"I send my deepest sympathies to his family and will always remember the great laughs we had through the years. His star will shine in the sky forever."

- Paul

Photo of Paul and David Bowie by Linda McCartney, 1985

Stella McCartney had a her Autumn 2016 Fashion show at Amoeba Music Tuesday, January 12th in Los Angeles, CA. It was a star studded event with Ringo Starr and Barbara Bach in attendance as well as, Beck, Katy Perry, Kate Hudson, Nicole Richie, Gwyneth Paltrow, Sarah Silverman, Mary J Blige, Maya Rudolph, Fred Armisen, Pink, Dallas Green, Orlando Bloom, Kate Upton, Demi Lovato, Selma Blair, Pamela Anderson, Quincy Jones and his daughter Rashida, Kelly Osbourne, Chelsea Handler and others. There were live performances by Dhani Harrison and his band Thenewno2, Brian Wilson, Marilyn Mason and Johnny Depp, The Dirty Dozen Brass band and You + Me.

Ringo Starr and Barbara Bach (left)

Stella who was mourning the death of beloved rock icon David Bowie, had posters of him displayed for attendees to sign. His newly released final album "Blackstar" was played over the PA system.

On her Instagram page Stella posted a photo of her and Bowie and wrote...

"The man who fell to earth as a star and left us holding him in our hearts. He inspired me from the first time I dreamt and still inspires as I sleep... Thank you for being you, David, my heart goes out to Iman and the kids whom I love dearly. X Stella"

Researching the history of a McCartney signature is important. Even if a person has an autograph that was personally signed for them, the main issue with an autograph is convincing someone else the signature is authentic. It really doesn't matter if your signature of an LP, like "Press To Play", is on display in your house, and as a conversational piece, you tell people about it all the time. The minute you'd like to sell it on to someone else, correct information is vital. If someone is willing to part with high amounts of money, you owe it to them to be an honest seller, to avoid the issue of having to refund back the amount of the sale. If you are a buyer, the major issue is not with spending money but not being taken advantage of based on what you receive.

Fake autographs are everywhere and common place. Information about autographs should be correct but often are not. Wording and phrases used in the market place are meant to attract attention. "Pre-Printed", "Copy," or any explanation that makes you aware that a computer printer could have been used to produce an autograph are items that should be avoided. Anything described as "Hand Signed", "In person," or "Actual" should have something substantial to back up these claims. Also, both buyer and seller should be knowledgeable about what McCartney's autograph should look like, and what types of items he is known to sign.

Aside from having an idea which autographs are authentic, considering having a Certificate Of Authenticity(COA) is a really good idea. Separately, using well known appraisers that specifically deal in Rock and Roll signatures or even an auction house that can provide the key information, goes a long way. The amount of money spent to authenticate an item is marginally small compared with the hassle of dealing with a fake item.

Actual Solo McCartney autographs can be priced anywhere in the range of thousands(depending on currency rates) but also in the mid-hundreds depending on the item. For example, a common photo with little value can bring a price down compared to something like one of Paul's signatures on a charity item or a promotional item from a record company. Anything he autographed that was relatively easy to obtain, should not be expected to be worth thousands, yet it doesn't mean that sellers will offer a price that reflects the actual amount of its value.

Even as a solo artist and during the period after The Beatles broke up, actual Paul autographs can have an intricate history behind it. It should go without saying, based on the popularity of McCartney autographs, if something is too good to be true, it probably is. Also, it may be better to have all the correct information before thinking how you could increase your income. If your going to part with an autograph, you should become reputable as seller. Good Luck!

You can read more of Meredith's collector blogs here: maccameri.blogspot.co.uk

Should WINGS be nominated into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? There's a debate amongst Beatles/Paul McCartney fans whether Wings is covered by Paul's induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a "solo artist." Does Wings qualify as a band and are they worthy with a string of number one hits during the '70s? Should its band members be recognized for their contributions?

PLEASE SIGN THIS PETITION

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Macca Report news continues with September to December 2015

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Macca Report current Paul News!!!

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Jorie Gracen