Paul McCartney (solo)

Infobox musical artist
Name = Paul McCartney


Img_capt = McCartney live in Prague, 6 June 2004
Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = James Paul McCartney
Born = birth date and age|1942|6|18|df=yes
Liverpool, Merseyside, England
Date of Death =
Instrument = Bass guitar, guitar, piano, keyboards, drums, mandolin
Genre = Rock, pop rock, psychedelic rock, experimental rock, rock and roll, classical
Occupation = Singer-songwriter, musician, artist, activist
Years_active = 1957—present
Label = Swan
Hear Music
Apple
Parlophone
Capitol
CBS
EMI
Associated_acts = The Beatles, The Fireman, The Quarrymen, Wings
URL = [http://www.paulmccartney.com www.paulmccartney.com]
Notable_instruments = Hofner 500/1
Rickenbacker 4001S
Gibson Les Paul
Epiphone Casino
Fender Jazz Bass

The solo career of Paul McCartney began after the break up of The Beatles in 1970.

1980s

As The Beatles were breaking up in 1970, McCartney was working on his debut solo album, "McCartney". Backing vocals were provided by his wife, Linda, whom he had married the previous year. McCartney had insisted from the beginning of their marriage that his wife should be involved in his musical projects, so that they did not have to be apart when he was on tour. Lewisohn, Mark. Wingspan: Little Brown, 2002. ISBN 0-316-86032-8] On his second solo album, "Ram", McCartney added select outside musicians, including drummer Denny Seiwell, who had to perform in a secret audition for Paul and Linda before being chosen.Wright, Jeb. [http://www.classicrockrevisited.com/interviews01/denny_seiwell_of_wings.htm Denny Seiwell of Wings] . Interview, "Classic Rock Revisted" website. Retrieved 17 May 2007.] (In 1977, McCartney supervised the release of an instrumental interpretation of "Ram" (recorded in June 1971, and arranged by Richard Hewson) with the release of "Thrillington" under the pseudonym of Percy "Thrills" Thrillington).

In August 1971, Seiwell and guitarist/singer Denny Laine joined Paul and Linda McCartney to record Paul's third post-Beatles project on Apple Records. The result was "Wild Life", released December 7. It was the first project to credit Wings as the artist, and not McCartney.Wright, Jeb. [http://www.classicrockrevisited.com/interviews01/denny_seiwell_of_wings.htm Denny Seiwell of Wings] . Interview, "Classic Rock Revisted" website. Retrieved 17 May 2007.]

McCartney carried on recording after the death of John Lennon in 1980, but did not play any live concerts for some time, saying that he was nervous that he would be the next to be murdered. Miles 1998. p594] Bonici, Ray. [http://beatles.ncf.ca/mpl.html Paul McCartney Wings It Alone] , "Music Express" issue #56, 1982. beatles.ncf.ca - Retrieved 11 June 2006.] This led to a disagreement with Denny Laine, who wanted to continue touring and subsequently left Wings, which McCartney disbanded in 1981. Lewisohn 2002. p168.] Also in 1981, six months after Lennon's death, McCartney sang backup on George Harrison's tribute to Lennon, "All Those Years Ago," along with Ringo Starr.cite web |first= |last= |url=http://www.connollyco.com/discography/george_harrison/allthose7.html |title=All Those Years Ago |publisher=Connally & Company |date=2005 |accessdate=2008-05-15]

Like "McCartney" before it, McCartney played every instrument on the 1980 release of "McCartney II", with an emphasis on synthesisers instead of guitars. [Holden, Stephen. [http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/paulmccartney/albums/album/207756/review/5942918/mccartney_ii Paul McCartney: McCartney II review] . "Rolling Stone" #322, 1980-07-22. rollingstone.com - Retrieved 11 June 2006.] [Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:3z5tk6kx9krj McCartney II review] . "Allmusic". allmusic.com - Retrieved 11 June 2006.] The single "Coming Up" reached #2 in Britain and #1 in the US. [ [http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=2099 “Coming Up” chart position] songfacts.com - Retrieved 16 November 2006 ] , and Waterfalls was another UK Top 10 hit. McCartney's next album, 1982's "Tug of War," reunited him with Beatles' producer George Martin [Calkin, Graham. [http://www.jpgr.co.uk/pctc259.html Tug of War - Graham Calkin's Beatles' Pages] jpgr.co.uk - Retrieved 11 June 2006.] and Ringo Starr and featured McCartney's duet with Stevie Wonder on "Ebony and Ivory" [http://www.everyhit.com/ UK top 40 database] everyhit.com - Retrieved 27 January 2007 ] as well as his tribute to Lennon, "Here Today". Two further hit duets followed, both with Michael Jackson: "The Girl Is Mine", from Jackson's "Thriller" album, and "Say Say Say", a single from McCartney's 1983 album "Pipes of Peace".

McCartney wrote and starred in the 1984 film "Give My Regards to Broad Street". The film and soundtrack featured the US and UK Top 10 hit [ [http://www.mplcommunications.com/McCartney/Discography_Search.asp?letter=14 “No more Lonely Nights” chart position in US] mplcommunications.com - Retrieved 16 November 2006 ] "No More Lonely Nights" (and the album reached #1 in the UK), but the film did not do well commercially [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/5087006.stm “Broad Street” a flop - 17 June 2006] bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment - Retrieved 29 January 2007 ] and received a negative critical response. Roger Ebert awarded the film a single star and wrote, "You can safely skip the movie and proceed directly to the sound track". [Ebert, Roger (1984-01-01). [http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/19840101/REVIEWS/401010342/1023| "Give My Regards to Broad Street" review] . RogerEbert.com. "Chicago Sun-Times". rogerebert.suntimes.com - Retrieved 11 June 2006.] Later that year, McCartney released "We All Stand Together", the title song from the animated film Rupert and the Frog Song and wrote and performed the title song to the movie "Spies Like Us".

In the second half of the decade McCartney would find new collaborators. Eric Stewart had appeared on McCartney's "Pipes of Peace" album, [Pipes of Peace, 9 August 1993, Catalogue number: CDP 89267] and he co-wrote most of McCartney's 1986 album "Press to Play". The album, and its lead single, "Press" became minor hits. [Press to Play, 9 August 1993, Catalogue number: CDP7892692] McCartney returned the favour by co-writing two songs for Stewart's band, 10cc: "Don't Break the Promises" ("...Meanwhile", 1992), and "Yvonne's the One" ("Mirror Mirror", 1995). In 1987, EMI released All the Best!.

In 1988, he released "Снова в СССР", which was a collection of old Rock and roll hits—written by others—that McCartney had admired over the years. It was originally released only in the USSR, eventually receiving a general release in 1991. McCartney also began a musical partnership with the singer-songwriter Elvis Costello (Declan MacManus). [http://www.geocities.com/sunsetstrip/amphitheatre/4512/costello.html Interview with McManus-Costello about McCartney] geocities.com/sunsetstrip - Retrieved 7 December 2006 ] The resulting songs would appear on several singles and albums by both artists, notably "Veronica" from Costello's album "Spike", and "My Brave Face" from McCartney's "Flowers in the Dirt", both released in 1989. [ [http://www.geetarz.org/reviews/beatles/macca_collaboration.htm McCartney and Costello collaborations] geetarz.org - Retrieved 29 January 2007 ] The album reached #1 in the UK. Further McCartney/MacManus compositions for "Flowers in the Dirt" surfaced on the 1991 album "Mighty Like a Rose" (Costello) and 1993's "Off the Ground" (McCartney). In late 1989, McCartney started his first concert tour since Lennon's murder, which the first tour of the U.S. in thirteen years. [ [http://www.paulmccartney4u.info/ First tour in 13 years] paulmccartney4u.info - Retrieved 2 December 2007 ]

1990s

The 1990s saw McCartney venture into classical music. In 1991 the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Society commissioned a musical piece by McCartney to celebrate its sesquicentennial."Contemporary Authors Online", Thomson Gale, 2006.] McCartney collaborated with Carl Davis to release "Liverpool Oratorio". [cite news | title=McCartney seeks chorus of approval for Latin piece | work=Vancouver Sun |date=3 August, 2006|language=English Retrieved: 10 November 2006] EMI Classics recorded the premiere of the oratorio and released it on a 2-CD album which topped the classical charts."Paul McCartney." Encyclopedia of World Biography Supplement, Vol. 24. Thomson Gale, 2005.] His next classical project to be released (in 1995) was "A Leaf", a solo-piano piece played by Royal College of Music gold-medal winner Anya Alexeyev. [ [http://www.beautyinmusic.com/artist_pages/anya_alexeyev.htm Anya Alexeyev’s web page] beautyinmusic.com - Retrieved 28 November 2006 ] The Prince of Wales later honoured McCartney as a Fellow of The Royal College of Music. Other forays into classical music included "Standing Stone" (1997), "Working Classical" (1999), and "Ecce Cor Meum" (2006).

In the early 1990s (after a world tour), McCartney reunited with Harrison and Starr to work on Apple's "The Beatles Anthology" documentary series. It included three double albums of alternative takes, live recordings, and previously unreleased Beatles songs, as well as a ten-hour video boxed set. "Anthology 1" was released in 1995, and featured "Free as a Bird", which was the first Beatles reunion track, while Anthology 2, released in 1996, included "Real Love" (1996), the second and final in the reunion series. Both reunion tracks were completed by adding new music and vocal tracks to Lennon's demos from the late 1970s. [ [http://observer.guardian.co.uk/omm/story/0,13887,1569834,00.html Macca beyond Interview – 18 September 2005] observer.guardian.co.uk - Retrieved 2 December 2007 ]

In 1997, McCartney released "Flaming Pie". The album garnered the best reviews for a McCartney album since "Tug of War". It debuted at #2 in the UK and the US, and was nominated in the category Album of the Year at the 1998 Grammy Awards. In 1999, McCartney released another album of rock 'n' roll songs, titled "Run Devil Run". That same year he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist.cite web |first= |last= |url=http://www.rockhall.com/inductee/paul-mccartney |title= Paul McCartney - Induction Year: 1999 - Induction Category: Performer |publisher=The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, Inc. |date=2007 |accessdate=2008-05-15]

2000s

In May 2000, McCartney released "", a retrospective documentary that features behind-the-scenes films and photographs that Paul and Linda McCartney (who had died in 1998) took of their family and bands.Wingspan, DVD, Catalogue number: 4779109, 19 November 2001 ] Interspersed throughout the 88 minute film is an interview by Mary McCartney with her father. Mary was the baby photographed inside McCartney's jacket on the back cover of his first solo album, "McCartney", and was one of the producers of the documentary. Lewisohn 2002. p21]

Earlier in the year, McCartney worked on what would become his new album, "Driving Rain", released on 12 November. "Driving Rain" featured many uplifting songs inspired by and written for his soon-to-be wife Heather. Clearly determined to follow the example of "Run Devil Run's" brisk recording pace, most of the album was recorded in two weeks, starting in February 2001. McCartney also composed and recorded the title track for the film "Vanilla Sky", released later that year. The track was nominated for—but did not win—an Oscar for Best Original Song [ [http://awardsdatabase.oscars.org/ampas_awards/DisplayMain.jsp;jsessionid=5AC046C65CB024D679E4147D437B363C.squash?curTime=1176658898431 Academy of Motion Pictures - 29 October 2001] awardsdatabase.oscars.org - Retrieved 15 February 2007 ]

McCartney took a lead role in organising The Concert for New York City in response to the events of September 11. [The Concert For New York City web site "concertfornyc".com has been established to remember the concert and features photos of McCartney both on stage and backstage at Madison Square Garden. Various Artists, The Concert for New York City, 01/29/2002, Columbia/SME CK 54205 (1C2D54205 Discs: 2] The concert took place on 20 October 2001.

In late 2001, McCartney was informed that his former classmate, neighbour, ex-Beatles' lead guitarist, and best friend of over 45 years, George Harrison, was losing his battle with cancer. Upon Harrison's death on 29 November, McCartney told "Entertainment Tonight", "Access Hollywood", "Extra", "Good Morning America", "The Early Show", "MTV", "VH-1" and "Today" that George was like his "baby brother". Harrison spent his last days in a Hollywood Hills mansion that was once leased by McCartney. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/1817780.stm George’s last days] bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment - Retrieved 29 January 2007 ] On 29 November 2002—on the first anniversary of George Harrison's death—McCartney played Harrison’s "Something" on a ukulele at the Concert for George. [The Concert for George, Cat. No: 0349702412]

In 2002, McCartney went on another world tour that continued through the following two years. During the tour he contributed to an album titled "Good Rockin' Tonight: The Legacy Of Sun Records"—which included a version of the Elvis Presley hit "That's All Right (Mama)"—recorded with Presley band members, Scotty Moore on lead guitar and drummer D.J. Fontana. [Good Rockin' Tonight: The Legacy Of Sun Records (DVD) Director: Bruce Sinofsky, 8 October, 2002 ] McCartney performed during the pre-game ceremonies at the NFL's Super Bowl XXXVI in 2002, and starred in the halftime show at Super Bowl XXXIX in 2005. In 2003, McCartney went to Russia to play a concert in Red Square. Vladimir Putin gave McCartney a tour of the Square, and McCartney performed a private version of "Let It Be". [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/2935244.stm McCartney plays Red Square - 24 May, 2003] bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment - Retrieved 29 January 2007 ]

In what would be his first British music festival appearance, McCartney headlined the Glastonbury Festival in June 2004. [cite news | url=http://www.nme.com/news/108962.htm NME.com | title=McCARTNEY WOWS GLASTO|date=27 July, 2004|work=New Musical Express|publisher=IPC Media] McCartney and festival organiser Michael Eavis picked up the NME Award on behalf of the festival, which won 'Best Live Event' in the 2005 awards. ["New Musical Express", [http://www.nme.com/news/111445.htm NME.com 17 February 2005] ] McCartney performed at the main Live 8 concert on 2 July 2005, playing "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" with U2 to open the Hyde Park event, although Ringo Starr criticised McCartney for not asking him to play. [cite web | url=http://www.contactmusic.com/new/xmlfeed.nsf/mndwebpages/starr%20slams%20mccartney%20for%20not%20inviting%20him%20to%20live%208 | title=Starr Slams McCartney for not inviting him to Live 8 | date=10 July, 2005 | accessdate=2006-05-17 Retrieved 29 January 2007 ]

On 18 June 2006, McCartney celebrated his 64th birthday, as in "When I'm Sixty-Four." Paul Vallely noted in "The Independent": cquote | "Paul McCartney’s 64th birthday is not merely a personal event. It is a cultural milestone for a generation. Such is the nature of celebrity, McCartney is one of those people who has represented the hopes and aspirations of those born in the baby-boom era, which had its awakening in the Sixties." [ [http://www.macca-central.com/macca-news/morenews.cfm?ID=2146 Paul McCartney: When I'm 64 by Paul Vallely - The Independent, 16 June 2006] macca-central.com - Retrieved 29 January 2007 ]

McCartney joined Jay-Z and Linkin Park onstage at the 2006 Grammy Awards in a performance of "Numb/Encore" & "Yesterday" to commemorate the recent passing of Coretta Scott King. McCartney later noted that it was the first time he had performed at the Grammys and quipped, "I finally passed the audition," which was a reference to Lennon's comment at the end of the "Let It Be" film: "I'd like to say thank you on behalf of the group and ourselves and I hope we passed the audition." Spitz 2005. p817.] McCartney was nominated for another Grammy Award in 2007 for "Jenny Wren"—a song from his 2005 album "Chaos and Creation in the Backyard", which itself had been nominated as Album of the Year in 2006. [ [http://www.paulmccartney.com/chaoscreation/index.php Chaos and Creation in the Backyard, McCartney's web page] paulmccartney.com - Retrieved 27 January 2007]

On 21 March 2007, McCartney left EMI to become the first artist signed to Starbucks's new record label, Los Angeles-based Hear Music, to be distributed by Concord Music Group. He made an appearance via a video-feed from London at the company's annual meeting. [ [http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070321/ap_on_en_mu/starbucks_mccartney "McCartney signed to new Starbucks label" AP March 21, 2007] ] "For me, the great thing is the commitment and the passion and the love of music, which as an artist is good to see. It's a new world now and people are thinking of new ways to reach the people, and that's always been my aim". [ [http://biz.yahoo.com/bizj/070321/1435181.html?.v=1 yahoo.com McCartney's statement] ]

On 2 April 2007, a crazed fan drove through the security fence on Paul McCartney's Peasmarsh county estate shouting that he had to "get at" the ex-Beatle. The incident echoed the murder of Lennon and the attempted murder of George Harrison. The assailant was arrested after a chase through Sussex country lanes. [ [http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,21485820-663,00.html Intruder] news.com.au -Retrieved 29 January 2007 ] [ [http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2007/04/02/paul-mccartney-nearly-attacked-by-bonkers-fan-robert-smiths-new-alarming-collaboration-emi-loosen-up/ Paul McCartney Nearly Attacked By Bonkers Fan, Robert Smith’s New Alarming Collaboration, EMI Loosen Up] rollingstone.com - Retrieved 29 october 2007 ] [ [http://www.starpulse.com/news/index.php/2007/04/02/crazy_fan_tries_to_break_into_paul_mccar Fan tries to break in] starpulse.com - Retrieved 29 February 2007 ]

McCartney played "secret gigs" in London, New York, and Los Angeles to promote his album. Several live recordings from these shows have been released as B-sides to Memory Almost Full's singles.

On 13 November 2007, "The McCartney Years", a 3-DVD set was released. It contains an exclusive commentary, behind the scenes footage, over 40 music videos and two hours of Historic Live Performances. Discs 1 and 2 contain McCartney's music videos. Disc 3 contains live performances taken from Wings' Rockshow in 1976, Unplugged in 1991, and Glastonbury in 2004. Other footage includes LIVE AID, the Super Bowl XXXIX Halftime Show, interviews with Melvyn Bragg and Michael Parkinson, and the 2005 documentary "Creating Chaos at Abbey Road". [ [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003630961 "McCartney Unearths Live Clips, Videos For DVD"] "billboard.com", 24 August 2007. Retrieved: 8 October 2007]

Notes

References

*Lewisohn, Mark] | title=Wingspan| publisher=Little, Brown and Company (New York)| year= id=ISBN 0-316-86032-8
*Miles, Barry | title=Many Years From Now | publisher=Vintage-Random House | year=1998 | id=ISBN 0-7493-8658-4

Persondata
NAME=McCartney, Paul
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=Sir James Paul McCartney
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Rock musician
DATE OF BIRTH=18 June 1942
PLACE OF BIRTH=Liverpool, England, United Kingdom
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=