Listen here.
Details:
Paul McCartney talks to John Wilson about his key influences and inspirations. In a candid conversation, in which he discusses his relationship with John Lennon, the break-up of The Beatles and his six decade career, he reveals some of his most formative artistic experiences and his creative process.
There's a fresh Q&A with Ringo on the Vulture website.
You’re 80 years old but have the aura of someone half your age.
I’m 24 in my mind. [Laughs.] I think that helps. I’m sticking with the 24 number.
What’s the most ambitious thing that you have left to do?
It’s funny that you bring that up. Barbara and I were watching something last night and they mentioned how Mount Everest was opening up again for climbers.
Ringo. Do you really want to climb Mount Everest?
We looked at each other and I said, “Uh, I don’t want to climb Everest.” [Laughs.] Everest is not one of the dreams. I can’t really imagine anything at this point. It’s been a great life. As a kid I was a bit dangerous and now these are the results of it. So if I do everything right in my mind, I’m truly grateful. And that’s how I live now.
Ringo's appearance on "The Late Show" with Stephen Colbert last night.
A new program announced by the BBC today:
BBC One and BBC Music are proud to announce Idris Elba meets Paul McCartney, a world exclusive show featuring music legend Paul McCartney in conversation with one of the most popular British actors of his generation, Idris Elba, to be broadcast on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in December, and on BBC Radio 2 and BBC Sounds.
This 60-minute entertainment special, to be recorded in London in the coming weeks, will see Idris interview Paul about his peerless career as the most successful musician and composer in pop music history, which began when he wrote his first song at the age of 14. The show will span Paul’s incredible history-making journey right up to the present day, as he continues to influence new generations, including Paul’s solo material and collaborations.
Paul will talk about his writing process which has produced some of the best loved and most performed songs ever. Idris will seek to find out what inspires Paul to continue to innovate creatively, on the eve of the release of his 26th post-Beatles album McCartney III, the third album in a trilogy of classics featuring Paul playing every instrument and writing and recording every song. Paul launched his solo career in 1970 with the release of McCartney.
Idris is a Golden Globe winning and multi Emmy nominated actor, producer, director, and musician who is the first male actor to receive dual Screen Actors Guild awards in one evening. Elba recently received the Bafta Special Award in recognition of his exceptional career and commitment to championing diversity and new talent in the industry. He can next be seen in Concrete Cowboy, The Suicide Squad and The Harder They Fall and is currently in production on George Miller’s Three Thousand Years Of Longing with Tilda Swilton. Idris is best known to BBC One viewers as DCI John Luther in Luther, the psychological crime drama which debuted in 2010. During the five series, Idris has been awarded with a Critic’s Choice television award, Golden Globe award and Screen Actors Guild award for his performance as John Luther, as well as four nominations for outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Movie at the Primetime Emmy awards.
Paul has sold over 100 million solo singles and over 700 million albums, generating over 1 billion worldwide record sales whilst winning over 70 major global awards - including 18 Grammys and 8 Brit awards. In 1990, Paul set the world record for largest concert attendance ever in Brazil 184,000 people and since the turn of the century alone Paul has played almost 500 concerts around the world.
Idris says: “When I was asked if I wanted to speak to Paul McCartney, after I realised it wasn’t a joke, I immediately said yes… who wouldn’t?! I am a massive fan of Paul’s! His work has inspired and driven me as a musician, and once I get through the shock of sharing the stage with him, I’m excited to talk about his music and craft. What an honour! Looking forward to sitting with you Paul.”
Paul says: “I’m looking forward to sitting down to a chat with the mighty Idris!”
Kate Phillips, Acting Controller, BBC One, says: “Paul McCartney has undoubtedly created some of the UK’s best loved songs, songs which are known throughout the world, so I’m thrilled that he’ll lift the lid on how he continues to create lyrics and music that will forever stand the test of time. The must see combination of Paul in conversation with one of our best loved actors and super fan, Idris Elba, as well as an incredible live performance from the Cavern, are the perfect Christmas presents for BBC audiences."
The original Cavern Club in Liverpool was where The Beatles played nearly 300 times between 1961-63. Over 50 years later in July 2018, Paul played a secret gig at the legendary venue, performing a 28-song set to 250 lucky gig-goers. Paul and his band performed songs from the 60s to (his then new album) Egypt Station, which was released 54 years after The Beatles had claimed their first hit Number One on the Billboard Album Charts. BBC One will broadcast this very special performance in December, with viewers being able to enjoy blistering performances of songs including I Saw Her Standing There, Lady Madonna, Band On The Run and Come On To Me.
Paul and Taylor Swift cover the new issue of Rolling Stone and engage in a lengthy conversation that you can read here.
Swift: I was wondering about the numerology element to McCartney III. McCartney I, II, and III have all come out on years with zeroes.
McCartney: Ends of decades.
Swift: Was that important?
McCartney: Yeah, well, this was being done in 2020, and I didn’t really think about it. I think everyone expected great things of 2020. “It’s gonna be great! Look at that number! 2020! Auspicious!” Then suddenly Covid hit, and it was like, “That’s gonna be auspicious all right, but maybe for the wrong reasons.” Someone said to me, “Well, you put out McCartney right after the Beatles broke up, and that was 1970, and then you did McCartney II in 1980.” And I said, “Oh, I’m going to release this in 2020 just for whatever you call it, the numerology.…”
Excerpts from the Limited Edition 10" clear vinyl; available at the 'DOUBLE FANTASY: John & Yoko' Tokyo exhibition. Recorded messages from John & Yoko to their Japanese fans in January and September 1971, talking about their albums (Wedding Album, John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band, Yoko Ono/Plastic Ono Band, Imagine and Fly), their Peace Campaign and Japanese memories: haiku, zen, kabuki, Japanese gardens and various stories that connect them to Japan.
 |
| Andy Peebles with John and Yoko, 1980 |
With a new album to promote, “Double Fantasy” with Yoko Ono, Lennon spoke candidly to Peebles about everything from The Beatles break-up, his relationship with Paul McCartney, political issues in the U.S. and U.K., his family and his homesickness for Liverpool. He also talked about working with Phil Spector, Elton John, Mick Jagger and David Bowie and how he produced many of his solo albums, which included anthems such as “Imagine” and “Give Peace A Chance.”
Do you think people’s behavior is going to change when we come out of this?
I think in the short-term, yes, people will act differently, because it’s going to be difficult to just pop along to a football match or a concert or the theatre, so those things are going to change us all. But one thing is true: we’re going to value the NHS more. That’s great, because people certainly took that for granted. I hope nurses will be looked after a bit better now. People have really understood the value of our health service. I suppose I’d like to think that people will simply be kinder. There will be a bit of that, of people thinking a bit harder about things, but at the back of it all is the thought that everyone just thinks, “Oh, sod it,” and goes back to their old ways.
In the interview, Starr talks about his longevity (one secret: “broccoli with everything and blueberries in the morning”); life in isolation (“I haven’t left the house in 11 weeks now”); hanging out with Keith Moon and John Bonham (“that’s two handfuls”); the early years of his solo career; Peter Jackson’s upcoming Let It Be-era Beatles documentary; missing George Harrison and John Lennon; and playing “Helter Skelter” on stage with Paul McCartney last year for the first time since he recorded it.
Starr also discussed Ringo’s Big Birthday Show, a virtual charity concert that will hit YouTube at 8 p.m. EST July 7th. The show will include a mix of at-home performances and unseen concert footage from Paul McCartney, Sheryl Crow, Gary Clark, Jr., Sheila E, Ben Harper, and others. The YouTube broadcast will benefit four charities: Black Lives Matter Global Network, The David Lynch Foundation, MusiCares, and WaterAid.
Sir Paul McCartney tells Nihal about persuading John Lennon to believe in himself, the one famous person that even he feels nervous around, and his new children’s book ‘Hey Grandude’ and how being a grandad inspires him.
