Part of the iconic Lennon-McCartney duo, Sir James Paul McCartney has made an undeniable impact on music as we know him. Whether you prefer his music with The Beatles such as the songs Hey Jude or Let It Be, or his solo career with stellar albums such as Ram and McCartney II, we have 15 random facts about the man himself that may prompt you to look at more than his music…
“I believe in Yesterday” – Yesterday (1965)
The tune of the song “Yesterday”, the most covered Beatles song of all time, came to him in a dream. At first he thought he was remembering a song by someone else!
“Try to see it my way” – We Can Work it Out (1965)
Paul is left handed, which is why his bass is facing the opposite way to John and George’s guitars in his performances.
“Love has a nasty habit of disappearing overnight…” – I’m Looking Through You (1965)
When Paul was born, his father Jim McCartney actually went to the local bar and cried due to the fact he thought Paul was an ugly baby.
“Someone’s knockin’ at the door” – Let ‘Em In (1976)
Sigmund Freud’s grandson appeared on the album cover for “Band On The Run,” by Paul McCartney. He also appears in his second band Wings, pictured just under Linda McCartney.
“It was twenty years ago today” – Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967)
Paul didn’t learn the guitar first, surprisingly. He actually started with a trumpet his father gave him for his 14th birthday.
“Flew in from Miami Beach BOAC” – Back in the U.S.S.R. (1968)
Paul is actually an honourary detective of the NYPD, after he hosted a charity concert for the victims of the 9/11 disaster.
“When I find myself in times of trouble” – Let It Be (1970)
The police have arrested him six times in total, starting when he was just 18
“Somebody’s ringin’ the bell…” – Let ‘Em In (1976)
He’s actually been a vegetarian since 1975. His late wife, Linda were pioneers in terms of vegetarianism amongst celebrities.
“Hey Jude, don’t make it bad” – Hey Jude (1968)
He was quite prevalent in John Lennon’s first son, Julian’s, life. He took care of him when his father was not around. To this day Julian still calls him “Uncle Paul”
“Too many people preaching practices…” – Ram (1971)
His debut solo album Ram, which was released in 1971, is actually widely considered the first ever Indie album
“Maybe I’m amazed” – Maybe I’m Amazed (1970)
His favourite song is “God only knows” by The Beach Boys from their album Pet Sounds. In 2009, he said that it still moved him to tears every time he hears it
“Baby, can’t you see?” – Drive My Car (1965)
He has a chipped front tooth from when he had a moped accident in December of 1965, when he was going to see family in Liverpool
“I don’t care too much for money” – Can’t Buy Me Love (1964)
Growing up, he thought Elizabeth II was a “babe” in his words
“Take these broken wings and learn to fly…” – Blackbird (1968)
He wrote the song Blackbird as a song of hope to people of colour in the 1960s
“We hope you will enjoy the show…” – Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967)
Paul McCartney cowrote the songs for a musical partially based off his life called Liverpool Oratorio with Carl Davis.
We hope you’ve enjoyed these intriguing and perhaps lesser known facts about the music legend that is Paul McCartney. If you have any more facts about this legend of a man, please leave a comment!
