Happy Birthday musician Paul McCartney

Born: June 18, 1942 in Liverpool, Merseyside, England, UK

Married: Nancy Shevell (9 October 2011 – present)

Heather Mills (11 June 2002 – 17 March 2008) (divorced) (1 child)

Linda McCartney (12 March 1969 – 17 April 1998) (her death) (4 children)

QUOTES:

If anyone wants to save the planet, all they have to do is just stop eating meat. It’s staggering when you think about it. Vegetarianism takes care of so many things in one shot: ecology, famine, cruelty.

On his knighthood in 1997: It’s a fantastic honor and I am very gratefully receiving it on behalf of all the people of Liverpool and the other Beatles, without whom it wouldn’t have been possible.

Playing live was great then – and it’s great now. The big difference is you can hear what you’re doing. It was more like a football match in the old days. We were all part of some big celebration. Now with modern stage equipment, good sound and video screens it’s much easier. I remember going to see Genesis at Wembley Stadium and I couldn’t see who was on stage. All I saw were these little matchstick people miles away. I couldn’t tell which one was Phil Collins. It was like…where is he? So I developed the idea that if somebody was right at the back of the venue they’d still be a part of my show. I enjoy playing live more now. I’m a lot more comfortable with it.

When you start off in the music business you have the idea people are gonna hate you. You think, ‘I’m no good and they’re gonna boo me off.’ I’ve now got to the stage where I think, ‘The tickets are sold out so these people probably want to see me.’ Treat the audience like they’re your mates. I feel like I’m playing to family.

John and George were real mates. I have a huge fondness for them. They were both part of my life and who I am. There are little reminders of them all the time. Today, somebody brought me a new book by 1960s photographer Duffy and I saw a picture of John in it. Now, if I write a song, I’m always cross-checking in my mind, ‘Would John have let me write that line or is it just too soppy?’ Sometimes, I just think, ‘Too bad, it’s my song.’ But I’m always cross-checking with him.

The combination of those four guys was pretty interesting. We weren’t together that long but think of the work we put in. Every album was different. Album after album, single after single beat the last one. The nice thing now is I don’t have to be modest about The Beatles any more. I can call them great because it’s over. There was something very special about The Beatles.