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April 2007 (Page 1)

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April 23, 2007 -- Uncut Magazine (UK)

Macca cover story

World Exclusive! Our cover story ­ an interview with Paul McCartney, by David Cavanagh, in which Paul talks about the final days of The Beatles, the impact on him of their eventual split and what inspired him to go back on the road with Wings.

Macca tells the UNTOLD story of Wings! From muggings in Nigeria to drug busts in Japan. . . It's a truly terrific read.

Paul McCartney talks to Rolling Stone about the 40th anniversary of Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club BandFor our fortieth anniversary, the editors of Rolling Stone interviewed twenty artists and leaders who helped shape our time. Over the next four weeks, every day, we'll be debuting exclusive audio clips from the Q&As, giving you unparalleled access to some of the most important personalities in history.

It's been almost forty years ago today since Sgt. Pepper taught the band to play, and we're marking the occasion (as well as our own 40th anniversary) by bringing you this interview with Sir Paul McCartney. As one half of the greatest songwriting tandem ever, McCartney helped shape the entire course of rock & roll music. He's widely considered the most successful artist in pop music history; his "Yesterday" is the most covered song ever; he refuses to sit on leather chairs.

Speaking to Anthony DeCurtis, McCartney reminisces about the circumstances that surrounded the recording of the 1967 masterpiece, why everyone still loves the Beatles, his philosophy for saving the world, as well as his memories of John and George. Listen to five highlights from the conversation, and for the magazine's definitive profile, pick up your own iridescent copy of our Fortieth Anniversary issue, on newsstands now.

* Nearly four decades years after Sgt. Pepper's release, Macca discusses the album's key influences and ponders why it''s still so influential: "The ideas were coming fast and thick. All sorts of new ideas - artistic, political, musical. We started writing stuff that was different because we were talking and thinking and feeling different." (AUDIO. mp3)

* Paul speaks candidly about the loss of fellow Beatles John and George: "I'd known John intimately for so long. I used the word 'privileged' before, but I always marvel at the fact that I was the guy who sat down with John to write all that stuff. It was just me and him in a room. That's pretty special. So to lose that guy was horrific." (AUDIO.mp3) WARNING: STRONG LANGUAGE!

* Macca gets scientific about why the Beatles are so enduring: "There is such a thing as magic, and the Beatles were magic. It depends on what you believe life is. Life is an energy field, a bunch of molecules. And these particular molecules formed to make these four guys, who then formed into this band called the Beatles and did all that work." (AUDIO. mp3)

* In today's tumultuous political climate, "All You Need Is Love" just doesn't cut it anymore. Or does it?: "What's needed is the same old thing: peace and love. Not to be frivolous, but that is still the great aim. Well, and you guys probably need a new leader! I mean, that would help."(AUDIO.mp3)

* As the man who wrote "When I'm 64" forty years ago, McCartney, now 64, thinks about his legacy: "I'd like for people to understand what I did and to think that there was great strength in it. There's an awful lot of it, and it's still coming." (AUDIO.mp3)

Verse One:

Well, I was found in the transit lounge
of a dirty airport town
What was I doing on the road to ruin
Well my mama laid me down
My mama laid me down

Verse Two:

Around my hand was a plastic band
With a picture of my face
I was crying, left to die
in this godforsaken place
This godforsaken place

Chorus:

Only Mama knows
what she laid me down
in this godforsaken town
She was running too
What she was running from
I always wondered
I never knew
Only Mama knows
Only Mama knows

Middle:

I'm passing through
I'm on my way
On the road, no ETA
I'm passing through
No fixed abode
And that is why....
I need to try
To hold on
I've got to hold on
I've got to hold on
I've got to hold on

Verse Three:

Was it planned as a one night stand
or did she live in disgrace
Well, I never
will I ever
see my father's face
See my father's face

Chorus
Only Mama knows
what she laid me down
in this godforsaken town
She was running too
What she was running from
I always wondered
I never knew
Only Mama knows
Only Mama knows

Only Mama knows
what she laid me down
in this godforsaken town
She was running too
What she was running from
I always wondered
I never knew
Only Mama knows
Only Mama knows

Gotta hold on...
Gotta hold on...
Gotta hold on...
Gotta hold on...

I'm not coming down
No matter what you say
I like it up here without you
Go light,
We'll have you down soon.

No one to tell me what to do
No one to hold my hand
Bellamy's got a lot to do
And I hope that you'll understand.

Nobody here to spoil the view
Interfere with my plans
Bellamy's got a job to do
And he's hoping you'll understand

Steady, Lads
and easy does It
Ooooh, don't frighten him!
Here we go...

I'm not coming down
No matter what you say
I like it up here anyway
Sit tight, Mister Bellamy
This shouldn't take long.

In the delusionary state
No wonder he's been feeling strange of late
In the delusionary state
No wonder he's been feeling strange of late

Nobody here to spoil the view
Interfere with my plans
Bellamy's got a job to do
And he's hoping you'll understand.

Steady, Lads
and easy does It
Don't frighten him!
Here we go...
Here we go...

I'm not coming down
No matter what you say
I like it up here without you.

Having seen Heather Mills become American TV's newest sweetheart, Sir Paul McCartney could be forgiven for shutting the curtains and brooding over his lot.

But the former Beatle showed it was Good Day Sunshine after he chased the blues away with his daughter and grandson.

The 64-year-old pop legend spent the day in London's sun-blushed Hyde Park with two-year-old grandson Miller and fashion designer daughter Stella, 35.

After all his recent divorce woes, Sir Paul seemed in a relaxed mood as he enjoyed an afternoon in London's Hyde Park with daughter Stella and grandson Miller

Sir Paul, who pushed toddler's pram along, even plucked a flower from a plant he was passing by to give to little Miller as a keepsake of their day out.
Sporting open-toe sandals and slacks with a jacket casually slung over his shoulder the rock-star grandad looked like he didn't have a care in the world.
No-one could blame the star if he bore a frown at the moment.

Last week it was revealed that his predicted wealth on the influential rich-list had nosedived amid expectations that he will have to pay out £100m in his divorce settlement to Heather Mills.

Experts have shunted him down from being the 65th richest person in Britain last year to 102nd this year. He is now valued at £725 million.

Meanwhile his former wife has become a reality TV star in the US after a string of performances in the U.S. version of Strictly Come Dancing. She is still in the contests and has won rave reviews.

Toddler Miller is Stella McCartney's first child by her husband of three years, magazine publisher Alasdhair Willis, 36, after the couple wed in 2003.

In December, Stella, gave birth to her second child, naming the child after her late mother Linda - Bailey Linda Olwyn Willis.

Sir Paul has four grandchildren in total. His other daughter Mary having two sons named Arthur and Elliot.

After his first wife Linda died in 1998, McCartney began a relationship with Mills which saw them married in 2002 and the following year she gave birth to their daughter Beatrice Milly McCartney.

April 22, 2007 -- The Sun/Hello Magazine

Doting Macca sure can pick 'em

It was a case of easy pickings for doting Sir Paul McCartney as he gave his little grandson a flower.

Sir Paul, 64, spent a few happy hours in the sunshine in London's Hyde Park with his daughter Stella, 35, and her two-year-old son Miller.

The trio walked around together, sat in the sun, had tea and watched the swans before the former Beatle wandered off for a stroll by himself.

The loving grandad saw the flower, picked it and gave it to Miller, to the youngster's delight.

But there is a chance Sir Paul's generosity could put him in hot water - picking the flower meant he had broken Royal Parks regulations and could face a fine.

But with an estimated £725 million ($1.5 billion) fortune and sitting 102nd in the Sunday Times Rich List, perhaps he should just let it be . . .

This might be the most delicate and refreshing scent that I have ever encountered. It reminds me of her original fragrance, Stella, yet it is more floral and not nearly as heavy. This summer scent is made from hearty roses, green apples, peony, lemon zest and amber.

The bottle is also equally grand. It's something that you'd be proud to display on a shelf. Would you really expect anything less from such a fab designer?

The bottle is a bit retro and was inspired by nature. It has a chic angular shape, with pink tinted perfume inside the clear bottle with metallic silver flowers layered throughout. Not only does this fragrance smell luxurious, but it looks it too!

It is available in a 3.3 oz Eau de Toilette only.

Paul McCartney closes his new album by singing about how he'd like to be remembered. The lyrics to the closing track on his upcoming studio set, called Memory Almost Full, were posted in their entirety on the unofficial fan website Macca Report.com. The lyrics to "End Of The End," which is the final song in the 15-minute musical montage that closes the album, paints the pictures of a wake or family memorial.

In the verse McCartney sings:

On the day that I die I'd like jokes to be told
And stories of old to be rolled out like carpets
That children have played on
And laid on while listening to stories of old

Elsewhere McCartney sings:
On the day that I die I'd like bells to be rung
And songs that were sung to be hung out like blankets
That lovers have played on
And laid on while listening to songs that were sung

The first single from Memory Almost Full, called "Ever Present Past," was released to radio April 20th. The song, which will be released commercially on April 30th, is rumored to become the first official Beatles-related release on the iTunes online music provider. There has been no word whether any of McCartney's customary exclusive b-sides would also be made available online.

McCartney has launched a new website, called myeyesight.com. Right now the site only features green screen footage of McCartney, singing along to a TV monitor playing a live concert performance of him performing the Beatles'"Drive My Car" from his recent live DVD, The Space Within US. (see above)

Judging from the extraneous sound and McCartney's outfit, it looks as though the spot was taped on March 21st, while he waited to address the Starbucks annual meeting of shareholders, where he made a surprise appearance via satellite to announce his deal with the company's offshoot label, Hear Music.

McCartney's new album is produced by David Kahne, who helmed his 2001 set, Driving Rain. According to online reports, McCartney is planning to hit the road in support of the album beginning in the fall.

Before this season of American Idol even started airing, rumors were circulating in the media that Paul McCartney would be a guest star on American Idol 6. However, American Idol producer Ken Warwick eventually denied that Paul McCartney would appear on the show.

In a recent conference call with media, Warwick elaborated on exactly why Paul McCartney will not appear on American Idol. Warwick explained "I'd love to have Paul McCartney as a mentor, yes, absolutely. The problem is ... and I don't know whether this is true or not. This is what I've heard, he kind of took exception to Simon's acid comments about the contestants. You know he's a nice guy and he didn't like Simon saying 'You're horrible. You're the worst I've ever heard. You shouldn't be singing,' or whatever he says. And so the chances of Paul coming on the show were pretty slim."

Last season, American Idol producer Nigel Lythgoe denied that Prince would be appearing on the show because he did not want to talk to the kids and did not have the time. Of course, Prince did appear on the American Idol 5 finale, but he didn't have to mentor the kids. Perhaps, American Idol producers should ask Paul McCartney if he will appear if Simon Cowell promises not to be mean for the entire night.

Heather Mills-McCartney has endured a second embarrassing fall of the week after failing to impress a plane full of miserable passengers with a mid-air dance.

Hundreds of fed up Virgin Atlantic customers travelling to London from LA had already endured 10 hours of misery after the in-flight entertainment broke down.

So in a bid to lift spirits Mills-McCartney decided to tango down the aisles with dance partner Jonathan Roberts.

Witnesses said the scenes were similar to the US television show - but with one big difference... no applause.

As the plane prepared for decent into Heathrow, the Captain made an apology announcement and then said he had a surprise for the passenger's to make up for their nightmare trip.

After some 'commotion and flapping' the curtains from the upper class section ripped open to reveal Mills-McCartney in white trousers and a bright pink boob tube.

It was really awkward because when they finished, no one clapped as we were all in such a bad mood.

Fashion writer Henry Conway who was onboard said: "Heather suddenly appeared with her dance partner and rushed down premium economy doing a dance.'

'We were at the end of our tether after flying through the night with nothing to keep us occupied. We'd all lost our sense of humour.'

'We were stunned and moved our legs out of the way, just in case they got caught up in the frenzy.'

'It was really surreal. We didn't know what to do because there was no music and we were all mid boredom.'

'It was really awkward because when they finished, no one clapped as we were all in such a bad mood.'

'There was a deafening silence except for the plane engines.'

'Half way down premium economy her partner flung Heather back into a dip before gallivanting back behind the partition.'

Mills, who fell over this week during competition on America's primetime Dancing With The Stars show, retreated back to Upper Class with her dance partner Jonathan.

After the gesture backfired, passengers on flight VF0024, were further frustrated by the 39-year-old, as cabin crew made a fuss over her and an entourage and the mountains of luggage.

Mr Conway added: 'By this point we all just wanted to get off the flight but some of the older passengers blocked our exit, scrambling for autographs with Heather.

'She was certainly given special treatment as the crew were all over her like a rash.'

Mills' spokesman for Phil Hall said: 'He hadn't heard about the incident.'

'Heather's back in the UK at the moment because she has joint custody of her daughter Bea and wants to be back with her,' he said.

Communication Director of Virgin Atlantic, Paul Charles said: 'The dance was her idea and was filmed.'

'The technical fault was caused by a power surge at LAX before we took off. All 280 passengers were compensated.'

See a behind-the-scenes video of Paul doing a Starbucks/Hear Music commercial.

CLICK To see new Paul video welcoming you to his new Website!

GO TO: http://www.meyesight.com/ and login with your PaulMcCartney.com email address if you are already registered.

Sir Paul is 'honoured' by tourism award win

The list of awards won by Sir Paul McCartney down the years is already huge. Last night he earned another one ­ for his Outstanding Contribution to Tourism. He shared the award with his home city at the annual English tourism "Oscars" held in London.

The winning partnership was one of 16 Gold awards to celebrate excellence in English tourism.

Bill Heckle, chairman of Cavern City Tours, collecting the award on Sir Paul's behalf, read a statement from the ex-Beatle, saying: "I'm honoured . . . particularly because of the Liverpool connection.

"It's great to think that in some small way I've done something to help tourism for the place of my birth, which I'm so proud of."

Organised by VisitBritain, the Enjoy England Awards for Excellence were held last night at the Banqueting House in London.

England Marketing Advisory Board chairman Hugh Taylor said: "Sir Paul McCartney has done great things for his home city of Liverpool, which has been completely transformed and seen visitor numbers more than double in the last five years.

"For many visitors, the emotional draw is that it is the home of The Beatles, and while Sir Paul modestly describes himself as 'just this kid from Liverpool', his influence on the success of Liverpool's tourism cannot be understated."

Keith Blundell, head of tourism at Liverpool Culture Company, said: "We're absolutely delighted with the award. When you see the list of previous recipients, it means we are now in the big league of UK destinations. To be seen in that kind of company is very significant for Liverpool."

£100 MILLION COST OF DIVORCE FOR SIR PAUL

Divorce will cost Sir Paul McCartney close to £100 million ($200 million), according to one of Britain's leading financial experts.

The former Beatle will lose £30 million ($60 million) in his settlement with estranged wife Heather Mills and more than double that amount on legal bills and loss of earnings.

His costly year means he will drop 63 places, from number 65 last year, to 102 on the annual Sunday Times Rich List.

The list, to be revealed in full later this month, will partly feature tonight in an ITV1 documentary called Britain's Rich List.

Co-presenter Dr. Philip Beresford, who has compiled the billionaires' guide for 19 years, said: "Sir Paul has dropped so many places this time based on a special adjustment for his settlement."

It is the first time in the list's history that Sir Paul has not featured in the Top 100. But Dr Beresford said: "When Apple EMI finally announces a deal about The Beatles's back catalogue, he should quickly find himself sitting back near the top again."

At the end of the end
It's the start of a journey
To a much better place
And this wasn't bad
So a much better place
would have to be special
No need to be sad

On the day that I die I'd like jokes to be told
And stories of old to be rolled out like carpets
That children have played on
And laid on while listening to stories of old

At the end of the end
It's the start of a journey
To a much better place
And a much better place
Would have to be special
No reason to cry

(whistling)

On the day that I die I'd like bells to be rung
And songs that were sung to be hung out like blankets
That lovers have played on
And laid on while listening to songs that were sung

At the end of the end
It's the start of a journey
To a much better place
And a much better place
Would have to be special
No reason to cry
No need to be sad
At the end of the end

The former Beatle has reportedly been astonished to learn whilst trying to hammer out the details of their divorce that Heather's team of 13 helpers cost £20,000 ($40,000) a week.

Mills' entourage is so big even her personal assistant has an assistant!

A source tells The People, "Paul is up in arms. He sees this as yet another attempt to extract money from him."

However, a friend of the former model tells it differently, saying, "She thinks she is behaving perfectly reasonably.

"Heather needs help juggling her busy schedule with her role as a mum. She also fears for the safety of her daughter and herself as a result of her status as Sir Paul's former wife. She has been assaulted twice since they split and can no longer go out alone because she fears people who have taken sides will attack her."

Heather Mills has earned fame and fans in the USA, thanks to her performances on ABC's Dancing With the Stars.

Mills - the show's first contestant with a prosthetic leg - has been praised by the show's judges, media and disabled activists. And fans have voted her through to the next round for four weeks straight. (There's another elimination round tonight at 9 ET/PT.)She "is seemingly winning the hearts of America, which has been a surprise to many," says People magazine's Bryan Alexander. "Her image is definitely improving (in the United States)."

But that positive impression has not translated to her native soil, where Mills is still one of the most reviled women in England. The estranged wife of former Beatle Paul McCartney is regularly vilified in the British press. The News of the World tabloid on Sunday printed lurid claims about her pre-McCartney life, the latest in a constant stream of negative stories. The tabloids have dubbed her "Lady Mucca," a play on McCartney's nickname, "Macca."

"The fact that she's doing a popular American TV show is not going to change the perception of her over here," says Max Clifford, a British publicist to the stars. "She has never been popular, because most people were suspicious of her reasons for marrying Paul McCartney."

In recent months, Mills has gone on the offensive, filing lawsuits against several British tabloids. Earlier this month, Mills won a settlement and apology from the Sunday Mirror, which admitted inaccurate claims about the divorce. But that's not likely to change public perception.

"Britons are going to believe what they are going to believe, as they have always been in the thick of this," Alexander says. Adds Clifford: "In a public-relations war with one of the most popular persons on the planet (McCartney), you're only going to come in second."

Mills stands to gain more than $60 million in the pending divorce settlement, which would make it the sixth-most-expensive celebrity divorce ever, Forbes magazine reported Thursday. Mills could improve her image at home, Clifford says, by settling the case quickly and cheaply.

Mills' spokeswoman Michele Elyzabeth says: "Heather's got better things to do than worry about her PR. The only thing she's worried about is doing a good job (on Dancing With the Stars). That's her concentration."

But her biggest challenge? The delicate dance with the British public.

Remember last week when the tracklist for Paul McCartney's new record, "Memory Almost Full," supposedly leaked online? Well according to the former Beatle's producer, David Kahne, the leaked list is totally fake. "This is a fake tracklisting. It has nothing to do with the album, pretty funny, though," Kahne said.

Al Gore's Live Earth was always going to spark a heated debate. In one corner we have the influential eco-worriers hooking up with canny popstar folk desperate to save the planet - or desperate, at any rate, to be seen to be saving the planet. In the other corner, the naysayers are busy pointing out that perhaps these ego-friendly popstars with their vast property portfolios, powerful cars and extensive shoe collections - Jimmy Choos rather than Birkenstocks obviously - may not be the best people to set a green example to the world.

This is a community who, let's face it, would pop to the shops in their private jets if they were let, so asking them to lecture the rest of us on our environmental duties is about as rich as Live Earth concert headliner Madonna. It's no surprise that in some quarters the 24-hour musical extravaganza which will span seven continents is being billed as the smugfest to be seen at this summer.

The July concert, organised by Gore's group SOS (Save Our Selves), will see 150 musicians taking part in seven concerts across the world in a bid to "trigger a mass-scale movement to combat our climate crisis", according to the Live Earth website. (Every time you log on the website an ominous end-of-the-world drum roll is played, just in case you weren't sure how scary this global warming stuff really is.)

The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Beyonce, The Rolling Stones and, naturally, Green Day are some of the other acts on board, and it's expected that the gigs will be beamed live to two billion viewers via television or the internet. Rumours that Paul McCartney will sing Here Comes the Sun have not been substantiated but, when it comes to global conscience-salving exercises, anything is possible.

The online community has been the most vocal in its disapproval, highlighting the self-promotional aspect of the enterprise. "It doesn't take a rocket scientist (or a climate scientist for that matter) to work out that getting a bit of global exposure won't do any of these acts any harm," writes Rob Lyons on the Spiked blog in a well-argued rant. "The newer performers will be hoping to use Live Earth as a platform to break through outside their own countries. Some of the older performers need all the credibility they can get. For the more superannuated acts involved - for whom Madonna is rapidly becoming the role model - it won't be Save Our Selves so much as Save Our Sales."

Lyons and his fellow bloggers aren't convinced by plans being drawn up at SOS HQ to ensure the stadium gigs are as green as possible; electricity to power the shows will be taken from renewable sources, there will be recycling bins in the venues and food and drink stands will all use biodegradable containers. John Picard, head of the Live Earth "greening" team, will go to the homes and offices of all the stars involved for a "sustainability consultation". "You have to walk the walk. You can't get up there and tell the public to save the planet but leave in a big car to go to your big home," he said. Maybe, but it's difficult to picture Madonna and co leaving the gig in a Mini bound for their terraced two-up and two-down.

Picard has a difficult job ahead. "There are areas where we are going to be really successful and areas where we are terribly challenged," he said. "The air travel involved in all of this is a nightmare and there is nothing you can do other than buy the offset. But, in terms of power in the venues, I think we will have a carbon neutral event."

Even if it's not a neutral happening, many environmental groups believe the giant carbon footprint left by Live Earth will have been worth it. "If it makes people sit up and take notice and pollute less, then I would consider it a worthwhile investment," says Oisín Coughlan of Friends of the Earth (Ireland). "There are obvious tensions between a rock star lifestyle and the kind of reductions in pollution we all need to make in order to avoid climate chaos. The fact is that, in the celebrity-driven culture we live in, people listen to what pop stars say and we need that in terms of mass mobilization and mass engagement with the issue."

In fairness, the popstars involved in Live Earth aren't in harmony on the issue, certainly not in the way they were for Live Aid and Live 8. English indie rockers Bloc Party confessed they had to think about it before agreeing to appear at Live Earth. Bassist Gordon Moakes said he wasn't sold on charity gigs. "I'm a bit wary of the idea, it's almost like the easy option. That's the danger - the fatigue that goes with seeing a really high profile gig being televised, not thinking what it's about." In the same vein, Matt Bellamy of rock band Muse, who may end up on the bill, waded in with his doubts. "Private jets for climate change, not sure about it. That seems to be a bit on edge really - that's an issue really, so we need to think about it," he, er, mused.

Between now and July we are going to be hearing a lot more from celebrities about energy efficient lightbulbs and compost bins and the like. At the launch of Live Earth, one of their celebrity spokesmodels, actress Cameron Diaz explained that her own personal planet-friendly regime included driving a hybrid Prius, recycling and "carbon neutral travel". Cammie was brimming with enthusiasm as she pointed out that the planet was, like, totally saveable if people just changed their behaviour. "We don't have to build some giant machine that goes up in the air and sucks all the carbon into outer space," she said. But what about making one for planet-saving celebrities?

Apparently, Heather Mills's jaunt on the American show 'Dancing With The Stars' has turned out to be a more successful venture than at first anticipated.

Having been roundly slated at the start - one review pointed out that her smile looked more wooden than her leg - it seems that those silly Americans are now offering her even more work, this time as a guest presenter on the 'Larry King Show'.

Mills, you may recall, featured as a stand-in host on the programme three years ago and interviewed a visibly uncomfortable Paul Newman.

It was one of the worst interviews ever seen and Newman was rumoured to be furious at the way she constantly brought the topic of conversation back to herself and so, we assumed, that was meant to be the end of her interviewing career.

Still, Larry King is about 128 these days, so they obviously need a replacement.

But couldn't they possibly get a better candidate? Maybe a journalist perhaps?

Or has she returned to her old tricks of claiming the work of a journalist also called Heather Mills as her own?

Former hooker Heather Mills McCartney once enjoyed a sex-for-cash foursome with an Arab prince and TV actress at the centre of the BAE slush fund scandal.

Party fixer Ros Ashley has revealed shocking details of the orgy when the tramp who became a Lady - as rock star Sir Paul's wife - joined Prince Turki bin Nasser, stunning Karajan Mallinder and another hooker in bed for £1,000 ($2,000) each.

She told us: "I couldn't believe my eyes when Heather FLOUNCED into the prince's hotel suite, STRIPPED down to her pants and PARADED up and down flashing her big boobs.

"The prince looked shocked. It was so brazen and unclassy."

Ros - a long-time mistress of arms dealer Adnan Khashoggi - unveiled the Mucca link after it was claimed that former Lovejoy star Karajan and her pal Anouska Bolton-Lee had mortgages and other bills paid from a secret £60 million ($120 million) fund allegedly set up by BAE Systems, Britain's biggest defence contractor, to clinch a massive deal with Saudi Arabia.

Her bombshell revelations tell how Macca's estranged wife Heather:

REVELLED in group sex as she plied her trade at luxury hotels with wealthy businessmen,

SHARED billionaire Khashoggi as a client with Karajan, taking it in turns to bed him, and

EARNED a reputation as crude and tarty, even shocking a fellow hooker in a lust-packed lesbian romp.

Ros, 49, recalled the four-in-a-bed session at London's Dorchester Hotel and told us: "It was the early Nineties and the prince had asked me to arrange for the girls to come.

"On occasions like that I'd invite my friends but I would also call up the madams and get extra girls laid on.

"Heather, Karajan and the third girl, Petrina Montrose, got £1,000 ($2,000) each in cash to sleep with Turki. But he'd also pay for his Arab workers to go with girls as well.

"And for making sure I gave him a good evening, he'd give me a present, about £3,000 ($6,000) in cash.

"This was the first time Karajan had met the prince. She and Petrina were in his bedroom talking to him-but Heather was desperate to vie for his attention.

"We were outside and she asked me, 'Where's the prince?' I told her she couldn't go in and said, 'It's private.'

"But she marched in anyway and started flaunting herself.

"Karajan remarked how good she looked and Heather said, 'Yes, I've been working out in the gym. Look, I'll show you.'

"That's when she stripped off and waltzed up and down.

"She had an amazing figure but her behaviour was so brassy. I walked out and left them to it." Petrina, 38, took up the story and told us: "The prince was lying naked on the bed with the blonde girl (Karajan) between his legs.

"Heather was naked on the bed, kneeling next to the prince's midriff. I took off my clothes and joined them. I knelt facing Heather and we performed a sex act for him.

"Then all four of us played together on the bed before the blonde had full sex with him."

Ros added: "Heather and Karajan both had sex with my Arab friends and were handsomely rewarded with cash and jewellery.

Brash

"The men don't like to think they're paying for sex. They want to think the girls like them for who they are.

"Karajan was Turki's favourite. He saw her quite a lot after that. She went to Los Angeles with him and he regarded her as a friend."

But the Dorchester orgy was not the only time Heather and Karajan shared clients.

They BOTH had sex with billionaire Adnan Khashoggi on the same night, shortly after Heather was first introduced to him in the late Eighties. Ros said: "The two girls met at an Italian restaurant in London when they were invited to dinner with Adnan, me and some other guests.

"I was married at the time and no longer his lover, but we have remained lifelong friends.

"Karajan didn't like Heather. She found her very loud and brash and thought of her as just a common working girl.

"But Adnan took them both back to the Hilton and slept with each of them individually.

"Heather went off at the end of the evening, but Karajan stayed with me at the hotel for another four days and continued to have sex with Adnan.

"He and Prince Turki both preferred Karajan because she had so much more class than Heather."

Ros - now writing a tell-all book about her exploits - then recalled the first time she met Heather, now 39. "Adnan was staying at The Grosvenor House Hotel and I'd travelled down to London to meet him. He told me he'd arranged for a selection of girls to sleep with him that night. He jokingly said they were in the 'holding suite' and asked me to check them out. One of them was Heather-she'd been sent by her madam.

"She was the second girl to go into Adnan's bedroom- wearing a mini-skirt and jacket with nothing underneath. She stayed in there for about 40 minutes.

"When she came out she had in her hand an envelope stuffed full of cash. In 1988 Adnan invited me to celebrate his birthday at his home in Marbella. Heather went over as well and was paid £2,000 ($4,000) for sex with him and another girl called Joanne.

"Joanne told me that when they were all in the bedroom together Heather suggested lesbian sex. Joanne was quite shocked and certainly felt that Heather was carrying out the gay side of things with real conviction and sexually enjoying it to the full." Another of Ros's friends, Denise Hewitt, has told the News of the World how she had a bisexual threesome with Heather and yet another member of the Saudi royal family.

She revealed that Heather received £5,000 ($10,000) in cash, wrapped up in two polythene packets, for five hours with the prince.

And Denise detailed how Heather's client list included members of the Maktoum horse racing dynasty.

Industry experts predict that Beatles tracks could fill the top end of the album and singles charts for months after they are made available on the web music store iTunes in the coming months.

The deal between the band's musical guardian Apple Corp, iTunes and EMI, which owns the recording rights, was first revealed by the Daily Mail on Wednesday.

The Beatles' back catalogue will be available online after a £30 million ($60 million) royalties deal.

The vast catalogue of Beatles hits has so far been barred from legal download sites at the surviving band members' insistence, despite protests from EMI.

Once the downloads begin, Sir Paul and John Lennon's widow Yoko Ono will take the lion's share of royalties as they hold most of the writing credits.

A source close to Sir Paul said: 'That might just be a few per cent, but on a billion pounds of sales, that is hundreds of millions for the likes of Paul and Yoko.

'The release of the back catalogue though iTunes will be the most extraordinary money-spinner. We are talking perhaps 14 remastered albums and numerous opportunities to release singles.'

The Mail can also reveal that Sir Paul and the theatre impresario Sally Green are in talks to bring a Beatles musical to the West End - which would further increase his £825 million ($1.6 billion) fortune.

The couple have had several meetings in London and at his Peasmarsh estate.

Heather no-show

It's often said that Britain and America are two countries separated by a common language. Now, they have their common celebrities, too.

And yet although Heather Mills successfully wooed the American public with her athletic dance routines on Dancing with the Stars, it seems the British public is still not ready to welcome her back.

I hear that comments made last week by Bruno Tonioli, a judge on both shows, praising Mills and saying that he would try to convince bosses to invite her on, have had rather the opposite effect.

Fearing a backlash from Macca fans, the BBC has now decided against inviting the Beatle's estranged wife on to the forthcoming series of sister-show Strictly Come Dancing.

"The BBC producers are very much aware that the majority of the British public are huge Macca fans," I'm told, "and although she's had a great response in America, it was agreed that she wouldn't be greeted so warmly here."

A BBC spokesman is happy to confirm my story: "I can categorically tell you that Heather Mills-McCartney will not be appearing on the show."

A LEG UP 'DANCING' FANS QUESTION HEATHER'S EASY CRITIQUES

Some fans think Heather Mills and dancing partner Jonathan Roberts have an unfair advantage.

Dancing with the Stars," TV's other top-rated reality show, now has its own version of "American Idol" lightning-rod Sanjaya Malakar - one-legged hoofer Heather Mills.

A large part of the "Dancing" fan base is fuming over the perception that the show's rules seem to be skewed for the disabled ex-model - who's reportedly close to settling her nasty divorce battle with Paul McCartney.

The outrage over Mills mirrors "Idol" fans incensed over Malakar, the affected, tousle-haired 17-year-old finalist who's continued on the show despite questionable talent.

"The judges speak to [Mills] differently and don't criticize her like they do the other contestants," a "Dancing" fan named Ohnojoy wrote on the show's official Internet message board.

"What's up with that? Do they think she's going to go ballistic if they cross her or something?"

Others are not so sure that something fishy might be going on.

"I am certain if she did anything wrong, the judges would [say] so," writes a fan going by the handle, kmwakak8.

Mills, who lost a leg in a motorcycle accident years ago, made it past the fourth round of "Dancing" Monday night (Leeza Gibbons got the boot).

While Mills hasn't been the worst dancer in this season's crop of B- and C-level celebrity dancers, viewers have been grumbling that she seems to be coddled each week by judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli and Len Goodman.

"[It] points to unfairness for the other dancers - unequal treatment - giving Heather an unfair advantage and then not judging her by the same standards the other dancers are," writes another fan, crystalwhimsey.

"I am disabled, and I would want to be judged on my merits according to the standards of each dance, just the same as the others!"

Mills first stirred controversy with a late-March performance on the show when she did a flip, a move in which both her feet left the ground.

In previous seasons, the judges had said that the move was illegal - but Mills was not penalized for it.

"She's judged by the same standards as anyone else," an ABC spokeswoman told The Post yesterday.

Overall, the venom directed at Mills is far less than what was expected when she joined the show.

Some cynics view her participation on "Dancing" as an attempt to win sympathy in the U.S. and silence critics in her native England - who've labeled her a "golddigger" for her three-year marriage to ex-Beatle McCartney.

Mills is expected to walk away from the marriage with around $50 million.

Memory Almost Full - Macca's hidden message to Linda?

Is the title of Paul McCartney's new album, "Memory Almost Full" really a secret anagram with a message to his late wife Linda?

An anagram is a word or phrase spelled by rearranging the letters of another word or phrase in order to discover a hidden meaning.

It has been suggested that if you take the title of McCartney's album and rearrange the letters you get this phrase; "FOR MY SOUL MATE LLM." The initials "LLM" stand for Linda Louise McCartney. A secret message for the dear departed Linda? Or the brainchild of a fan with too much time on their hands?

Other title theories are not as cosmic. A more literal meaning points to Paul's impending divorce, as a "purging" of a computer hard drive running out of space. Is Paul "dumping the trash" and making room for someone else?

Whatever the meaning behind "Memory Almost Full," there are haunting echoes of the Lovely Linda throughout the album. Songs such as "See Your Sunshine" reportedly have vocals eerily reminiscent of McCartney's better half.

The album is said to be a nod to McCartney's former band, Wings, a band that Paul and Linda nurtured successfully in the aftermath of The Beatles.

"Mister Bellamy" is an angry message to McCartney's soon to be ex-wife Heather Mills. If one makes an anagram from the title, it spells "MILLS BETRAY ME."

For fans there is plenty of pop, rock Macca revisiting his Beatles past and his solo years on the album. McCartney plays most of the instruments, with some help from his touring band, Brian Ray, Rusty Anderson, Abe Laboriel, Jr. and Paul "Wix" Wickens who recorded at Abbey Road Studios with their boss and album producer David Kahne, back in 2005.

The highlight of the album promises to be a fifteen-minute suite that some say reminds them of The Beatles "Abbey Road" album.

Glenn Barros, CEO of Concord Music Group, partnered with Starbucks' new Hear Music label launching the album, was quoted in Rolling Stone saying, "You can hear real elements of the Wings and Beatles eras."

The release date of June 5th might still be a long wait for hardcore McCartney fans, who having been anticipating a new Macca album since 2005 when the Grammy nominated "Chaos and Creation in the Backyard" was released. And a rumored tour this fall in Europe and the UK might keep fans in credit card debt forever.

Macca's memory maybe "almost full" but for us fans we just can't get enough. So clear off your CD shelf and make room for McCartney's latest endeavor which promises to be his best ever.

Jorie B. Gracen is the author of "Paul McCartney: I Saw Him Standing There" (Billboard Books) and the Webmaster of The Macca Report, the most popular and informative Paul McCartney news page on the Net.

Laurence Juber slides his tray along the lunchtime line at Pastabilities on Wednesday. Nobody in the crowded booths bothers to stray from their food or conversation as the salt-and-pepper-haired man grabs his soup and pasta.

It's not until the native of London maneuvers to a corner table in the side room and starts talking shop that it becomes obvious that he's music royalty. And by the time the man who played lead guitar for Sir Paul McCartney's band Wings starts enthusing about those three magical years, those that certainly would notice are out of earshot.

Central New York fans of melodic work can catch up with Juber on Friday night at the Center for the Arts on East Genesee Street, where he'll perform on his Martin Signature model guitar.

His words and ways are full of energy as he talks about the time in his life that fell between the day McCartney chose him from a London TV-show house band to join Wings in 1978 and when he and wife Linda (who died in 1998) decided to disband Wings in 1981.

"I don't get tired of talking about it," Juber says. "It was a remarkable period of my life. I like to think of it like this: I got my bachelor's degree in music from London University and my master's degree in music from McCartney's University."

He said that besides playing - his impressive solo runs, including his work in the song "Rockestra" from Wings' album "Back to the Egg," won Juber a Grammy for best rock instrumental - he looked, listened and learned.

"The business of music. The process of getting out and touring. And, probably as much as anything else, Paul and Linda had that amazing relationship," Juber says, ticking off his favorite lessons. "It was not just a band. It was a family."

Juber says McCartney regularly provided a window into his musical genius.

"In the studio, you never knew what he'd walk in with," Juber says. "He was a creative artist. Magical things would happen. Some of his work from that period stands up with the best of his career.

"Also, while it was happening, you knew that you were a part of history," Juber says.

Juber recalls the time when Paul and Linda got back from a visit to a cabaret in France, where they had caught a show by the Mills Brothers. Paul decided to write a song, "My Baby's Request," in tribute.

"They were big in the '30s, but Paul was taken by them," Juber says. "There was one place in the song where he wanted a solo, but not a guitar solo. That wouldn't fit the style. So Paul decides a trombone solo would fit. I told him that one of London's best trombone players happened to be in the next room (at Abbey Road studios).

"He said no. He wanted to work the mini-Moog (synthesizer) on it, to sound like a trombone solo," Juber says. "I thought that was odd. Then I thought back to (the Beatles album) 'Abbey Road' when he used the full Moog. He knew how to be different."

Juber has gone on to a successful career, recording and touring solo. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Hope. Yes, he learned from Paul and Linda. The Jubers recently celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary.

2. "Ever Present Past" - (radio single) Musically quirky (McCartney II fans will love this one), hooky and clever with great lyrics, addictive robotic rhythm, nifty distorted guitar riffs and terrific double-tracked vocals. Fully realized top-drawer Macca Pop in every respect. Opening line: "I've got too much on my plate - I've got no time to be a decent lover". A+

3. "See Your Sunshine" Creative, commercial pop love song with wonderful bass playing. Echoes of Linda in the background vocal department (as on "Run Devil Run", the vocal ghost of Linda shows up repeatedly throughout the album, as least to my ears). Middle section features a neat tempo change and fastly sung lyric. Romantic. Accapella ending.

4. "Only Mama Knows" Orgasmically great Power Pop! Back To The Egg-esque energy! Great vocal! Junior's Farm-esque gutbucket feel, quirky lyric, lots of Linda/Denny/Wings guitar energy. My early favorite, rocks like a bitch!

5. "You Tell Me" - Stunning, heartfelt, bittersweet non-silly, post-love song, Acoustic based with great confessional lyric (ala "Dear Friend") and astounding, emotional vocal. Very Wings - echoes of Denny and Linda abound. "When was that summer of a dozen words" (let the Heather/divorce lyric hunting begin).

6. "Mister Bellamy" - I can't believe how great this track is; the odd, glorious musical structure and chord changes will surprise you at every turn. An A Cappella breakdown to die for. VERY early 10CC (think "Sheet Music"), with goofy vocal interjections (if you are familiar with 10CC's "The Worst Band in The World" you're halfway there).

7. "Gratitude" - Pop/gospel w/shouty, "Oh, Darling" vocal. Nice tune and interesting arrangement but overemoting vocal ruins it for me. Possible grower.

8. "Vintage Clothes" - not positive but I think this is the first track of the album-ending Medley, ala RRSpeedway/ARoad. Lyrically a modern-day "Dedicated Follower of Fashion"-a tongue in cheek (I think) sendup/lampooning of modern clothing/fashion trends. Possibly inspired by daughter/clothing designer Stella? Strong lyric, ultrahooky tune and great arrangement, w/Beatlesque swirly backwards mellotrons and highly compressed tack piano (the opening piano riff is almost identical to Fleetwood Mac's "Say You Love Me"). Perfect pop.

9. "That Was Me" (title?) Backwards drum loop, rockabilly guitar riffs on acoustic, with great dissonant piano stabs, ala "I Want To Tell You". Autobiographical lyric speaks of/chronicles events in Paul's childhood, The Cavern Club, success...

10. "Feet In The Clouds" - Top track, features Brian Wilsonesque vocal breakdown section (with vocodor!) and another strong autobiographical lyric.

11. "House Of Wax" - moody, forboding, cinematic - think a darker "Beware My Love". Great lyric/arrangement, unexpected chord changes from heaven, screaming guitar solos and one of Paul's best vocals ever.

12. "The End Of The End" - (last song of the 15 minute song suite) touching, confessional album closer, unlike anything that Paul has recorded. The lyric speaks to how he would like to be remembered/celebrated after he's gone. A heavy lyric tempered by upbeat, song-closing whistling coda (echoing whistling on opening track).

13. "Nod Your Head" bonus track? - Silly, brief album closer, ala "Boil Crisis". Probably (hopefully) a bonus/hidden track. Musically similar to the also-hidden instrumental track that closes Chaos (sounds like the same session).

MORE

April 12, 2007 -- The Daily Telegraph

Paul's odd couple

Paul McCartney's "Mull of Kintyre" may have sold more than two million copies in the UK, but the video was on the bland side. So I'm pleased to hear that Macca has put a bit more effort into the visuals for his next album, entitled "Memory Almost Full," expected to be released in June.

"Paul has just finished filming the video which stars Natalie Portman and The Office star Mackenzie Crook,'' I'm told. (see Macca Report News - above)

"Macca's always been a huge fan of Natalie's, but he recently met her through his daughter, Stella, who makes the 'vegetarian' shoes that Natalie likes to wear, and asked her if she'd like to work on the project. She and Mackenzie are quite an odd combination, but the end result looks fantastic: it involves Paul being visited by various ghoulish figures.''

Macca popped in for Easter Sunday lunch at the Eight Bells pub in Church Street.

Regulars at the bar were stunned to see the ex-Beatle, who was with a party including fashion designer daughter Stella and Beatrice, his daughter with Heather Mills.

Sir Paul was apparently looking for some down-to-earth hospitality.

Drinkers said he sat in the bar and gave one regular his autograph.

Landlord Neil Hargreaves, who runs the 14th Century hostelry with wife Julie, was tight-lipped about his celebrity customer.

However, one Chipping Campden resident said: "He was booked in by his daughter, Stella, who's been here before.

"But I don't think the landlord knew Sir Paul was coming.

"The locals soon realised who it was - if he goes out in public it's 99% sure he's going to be recognised.

"We were there in the evening and there was still a buzz about the place." Regulars who hadn't gone for a midday pint were miffed. Elaine Fowle said: "I'd have loved to have seen him."

Town councillor Clive Constable added: "I'm a Rolling Stones fan and not impressed by famous names, but his visit's good for Campden."

Organisers of this summer's Princess of Wales memorial concert have avoided a tricky dilemma, now that Sir Paul McCartney is not performing.

While Sir Elton John, Take That, James Blunt and Duran Duran headline the Wembley Stadium gig on July 1, the former Beatle is not among those listed, despite reports that Prince William and Prince Harry wanted him involved.

Now industry insiders claim Sir Paul's participation would have caused problems with fellow rock veteran Sir Elton, who famously sang at Diana's funeral.

"It has long been accepted that Paul always tops the bill, as he did at Live 8 and the Queen's Golden Jubilee concert, " explains an industry source. 'However, this would have been tricky for the Diana event as Elton inevitably is a lot more closely associated with the Princess and it's fitting that he should be the main act.

"Diana was a Duran Duran fan more than a McCartney fan, so they are expecting to be high up on the bill, too. If Paul had become involved, it would have caused all kinds of headaches for the organisers!"

SONG TITLES FAKES!!!

According to David Kahne, who produced Paul McCartney's new album "Memory Almost Full," the track listing posted on a Starbuck's gossip blog yesterday is totally fake.

Kahne said, "This is a fake track listing. It has nothing to do with the album, pretty funny, though."

The Starbucks Gossip Blog - Bogus Track Listing

"To Be Said" - Based on the poem. A short string quartet piece. Delicate.

"Bring The Dawn" - Huge production number, mellotrons to brass, booming drums.

"Memory Almost Full" - Nice pop song (see "Driving Rain"), likely (the)first single. Some electronica.

"Love Hear My Thunder" - (Rolling) Stones-like rocker. (Sounds like) peak Wings.

"Robber Of Soul" - Funky jazz/brass number, unlike anything in (McCartney's) catalog so far.

"Cracks In The Earth" - Electric piano ballad, sounds like a Chaos And Creation In The Backyard track.

"Buy The Farm" - Solid rocker, Steve Miller-ish.

"It Happens Every Time" - Tight rocker, best song here.

"Silent Water" - Piano/organ/electronica song -- nice lyrics.

"God Damn Rock 'n Roll" - Sounds like a Back To The Egg outtake- almost punk.

"Pizza And Fairytales" - Most Beatle-esque. Reminds (me) of (McCartney's unreleased 1987 song) "Return To Pepperland."

"Pictures In Song Suite" - Almost 15 minutes. A true song suite, divided into four movements. Most people won't get how good this is.

2007 Classical Brits - Nomination and Voting News!

The Classical Brits 2007 announced that Paul McCartney's Ecce Cor Meum has been nominated for NS&I Album of the Year. This award is decided by a public vote.

VOTE for the NS&I Album of the Year online at www.classicfm.com/brits.

Each voter has the chance to win one of five pairs of tickets to the Awards. You need to be a member of their 'Behind the Music' section before you can vote, but once you have signed up you will be able to cast one vote - so use it wisely!

The Classical BRIT Awards 2007 with NS&I will be broadcast on Sunday May 6, on ITV1.

Tickets for The Classical BRIT Awards 2007 with NS&I are now available from the Royal Albert Hall Box Office on 020 7589 8212.

Paul McCartney has christened his upcoming studio album 'Memory Almost Full'.

The album, his first since 'Chaos and Creation In The Backyard' was produced by David Kahne (The Strokes).

McCartney is investigating new business models to promote the album. For starters, it will be initially released through Starbucks in the US and generally through Concord Music and distributed through Universal.

The album is said to reflect his Beatles and Wings period and will include a 15 minute suite, similar in style to side 2 of 'Abbey Road'.

'Memory Almost Full' will be released on June 5th.

I'm a firm believer that parents reap what they sow when bringing up children.

Take Paul McCartney, whose kids are a credit to him, as he never let them forget his roots.

All state-educated, Stella, Mary, Heather and James have been brought up with great family values and a sound work ethic.

None of them has ever been involved in privileged "wild child" antics.

They also spend a lot of time with their dad, which is testimony to the way he and Linda brought them up.

MUCCA THE TV MOVIE

Film bosses are planning to lift the lid on the sensational life of Heather Mills in a blockbuster TV documentary.

They are convinced it would be a global smash as interest in the former model intensifies.

And they are determined to get 39-yearold Heather on board with a lucrative contract to tempt her into reavealing all about her chequered past.

The film would chart her life from her early modelling days, which saw her pose for a German sex manual and her alleged job as high-class hooker for rich Arabs.

Film bosses would also get her to talk about the horror of losing her leg in a road accident, her marriage to Sir Paul McCartney, 64, and their current bitter divorce battle.

An industry source said: "Love her or hate her, everyone has an opinion about Heather. She's had such an eventful life and it would be easy to turn it into a film.

"It would be a perfect opportunity for Heather to set the record straight on a few things."

Producers are planning to ask her to hand over some of her home-made videos to give fans a real insight into her life.

Heather has been recording a video diary since her split from ex-Beatle Paul last year after four years of marriage.

The fierce animal rights and anti-landmine campaigner is currently wowing fans in US talent show Dancing With The Stars with her stunning performances.

A source close to Heather said: "She'd love to put the record straight on a few things.

"If the deal's right, she'll consider it."

Heather Mills once had her eye on Mick Jagger, according to her former brother-in-law.

Denys Karmal claimed she set her sights on the Rolling Stone when he visited a London club where they both worked.

Denys - brother to Heather's ex-husband Alfie - told Closer magazine, out today: "The other girls in Bananas club just thought he (Mick Jagger) was old and wrinkly, but Heather had her eyes peeled for a rich, influential man even then.

"But he (Jagger) wasn't remotely interested. She was only about 16 and got the (club) job because she dated the owner, (who was) in his late 70s."

The Wombats frontman Murph sang a song about a stripper to Sir Paul McCartney - hours after he'd discovered estranged wife Heather had once posed for naked pictures.

The singer, real name Matthew Murphy, made the gaff when he met The Beatles legend while a student at the Liverpool Institute For Performing Arts.

The college is run by multi-millionaire Sir Paul who paid a visit last June, on the day saucy snaps of Heather - taken in the 1980s - had surfaced in a German soft porn mag.

And when Murph sampled one of his songs for Sir Paul, he inappropriately chose Patricia The Stripper.

The Wombats star told the Sunday Mercury:

"It was amazing to meet Sir Paul, although he wasn't chatting much because he'd just split up with Heather. He was on the phone to his lawyers for most of the time.

"Then I played him the song about a woman who's a bit of a whore. He just said afterwards: 'I'm guessing that could be a bit of a bad thing'.

Their next single, Backfire At The Disco, is out on April 16 and they play Bar Academy in Birmingham on May 9. Tickets are still available.

The Beatles' original drummer Pete Best has invited Sir Paul McCartney to break his 40 years of silence and get in touch.

Best was famously sacked in favour of Ringo Starr just before the Fab Four hit the big time, but the 65-year-old says he'd like to finally speak to Paul again for the first time since he was booted out of the band.

He explains to the Mail, "We're not getting any younger. We know what we've done and we're not going to think any worse of each other if we had a chat now. God bless us all: it was all 40-odd years ago."

Heather Mills has a new bionic false leg which makers claim will not fly off when she's dancing in the US skate show. However, bookies Paddy Power are offering odds of 66/1 that the leg WILL fly off during Dancing With The Stars.

I'll bet it will too - just about the time Ms Mills finds herself behind on points and needs a few sympathy votes.

Granted, Mr. McCartney doesn't move as many units as he once did; his last CD, 2005's favorably reviewed "Chaos and Creation in the Backyard," has sold a middling 533,000 copies in the United States. Dissatisfaction with that figure provoked Mr. McCartney into bailing from his longtime home at Capitol Records and plumping for the fledging Hear Music label.

Hear Music is a joint venture between Starbucks and Concord Music Group, the Beverly Hills, Calif.-based specialty label that has collaborated successfully with Starbucks on marketing releases such as late soul legend Ray Charles' multiplatinum "Genius Loves Company" and Brazilian crossover star Sergio Mendes' "Timeless."

With his peerless reputation, Mr. McCartney's move away from a traditional major label sent a shockwave through the music industry.

Starbucks sold 3.6 million albums in its last fiscal year (October 2005 to September 2006), according to data provided by the company. For a chain that boasts 8,000 franchises in the U.S. alone, that's not exactly an industry-transforming figure. It shakes out to about one or two sales a day per franchise.

For perspective, consider how many CDs have been sold via non- Starbucks outlets so far this year - about 99 million. (That's down a whopping 17 percent over last year, according to Nielsen SoundScan, a decline that no doubt has sent teeth in search of fingernails.)

Overall, Starbucks accounts for less than one-half of 1 percent of domestic U.S. music sales, according to Russ Crupnick, senior industry analyst with the NPD Group, a market research firm.

In stark contrast to less aesthetically conscious retailers such as Target and Wal-Mart, both of which offer exclusive CD releases, Starbucks franchises carry a maximum of 20 titles at any given time - more specifically, 20 titles that are in the direct sightline of 44 million affluent American coffee drinkers whose cultural preferences Starbucks has proved it can well predict.

"If you're lucky enough to be one of those titles, you have this massive distribution to a very targeted audience," the source says. "It's so wide and deep. A typical record can't get that type of exposure anymore. You can see why the music business is so excited about it."

This is what Mr. Crupnick means when he calls Starbucks, despite its puny raw market share, a "thought leader."

"They don't move very many products, so it remains to be seen if Starbucks is truly a lifestyle brand and not just a coffee company," says David Card, music and media analyst with Jupiter Research. "But they're on their way to convincing me."

A crucial test of seriousness for the Hear Music label, Mr. Card says, is whether it succeeds in distributing music outside of Starbucks coffee shops. Thus far, he says, Starbucks has done a good job of "managing medium-sized hits" - which may satisfy boutique label executives but may ultimately fail to attract artists.

Still, as digital music sales tick ever-upward and as the allure of combing through stacks of plastic and cardboard at record stores continues to fade, the Starbucks brand may come to represent a kind of last-ditch offensive for established artists like Mr. McCartney, whose draw at the concert box office remains strong even as he struggles to sell new material.

This is to say nothing of the plum publicity platform Hear Music will be for the eight "emerging" artists the label plans to introduce this year following Mr. McCartney's forthcoming release.

The Starbucks music-business model may not stand to alter the face of the industry; rather, it offers a zero-sum promotional lifeline to a select few artists.

McCartney, who was brought up on an organic farm by her dad and mother, Linda, shares a country home with husband Alasdhair Willis, son Miller, 2, and daughter Bailey, born in December ­ and livestock.

McCartney, 35, tells the UK's Easy Living magazine that the sheep they raise are "more pets, really," as are the horses at their large Georgian home on the Gloucester-Worcestershire border.

And the whole gang likes living off the land. "I've got my organic veg patch and fruit; we're very garden-obsessed, my husband and I," she says in the magazine's May issue. "He designed a garden for me for Christmas, so beautiful! Alasdhair's very good at the proportion and ground work, and I come in and do the planting and the color scheme."

McCartney, who recently launched an organic skincare line, says her upbringing influenced her current lifestyle. "I was brought up on an organic farm," she says. "My mum and dad were really into that stuff."

In fact, when she and her husband got married, "[We] asked guests to just give us trees so we could plant a wedding wood at our house. We're quite a tree-friendly family."

But farm life and design don't always mix. Her attempt to have her sheeps' wool knitted into sweaters for her husband and son turned out to be a sartorial disaster.

"When you've got a real wool jumper, it's got all that lanolin in it," she says. "They're rock hard. Concrete sweaters. They can't wear them."

Asked how she juggles designing, looking after the farm and being a mom, she says, "Oh, I'm one of those women who just get on with it."

Jet lag theft excuse

A QANTAS steward who is the daughter of surf legend Nat Young used jet lag as an excuse yesterday for stealing a Stella McCartney garment from Target.
In the latest fiasco involving a Qantas airline hostess, Naomi Williams had a shoplifting charge dismissed in Manly Local Court but was given a 12-month good behaviour bond.

The court heard Williams, 35, of Harbord, visited Warringah Mall's Target store to do some shopping with her two-year-old daughter the day after a long haul flight from London.

While she was there the married mother of two not only purchased more than $140 worth of goods, she pocketed other items along the way.

She was spotted by a Target security officer about 11.30am on March 13 stuffing the McCartney designer wear in her handbag.

"How did the garment end up in her handbag?" Magistrate Andrew George asked her solicitor Arthur Carney.

He replied: "She says that it had fallen off the rack and she shoved it in her bag. She doesn't deny taking it, she was just very tired from her flight."

After paying for some goods with her Visa card, Williams was later questioned by security and asked to return the stolen merchandise.

She then produced mens socks, wrapping paper, a packet of Huggies nappies and the Stella McCartney garment she hadn't paid for, which came to a total of $168.31.

Mr Carney told the court Williams could not recall "how the wrapping paper and Huggies got in her trolley".

"There are extenuating circumstances. She had just gotten off a long haul flight from London the night before. Her kids woke her up very early the next morning, she wasn't thinking," he said.

He also said it was a first offence.

He argued she was on medication for postnatal depression and suffered from bipolar disease, which may have triggered her irresponsible behaviour.

George told the court "many people suffer different illnesses" however they refrain from crime.

George dismissed the charge of shoplifting under a Section 10 because Williams had no previous convictions. However, he placed her on a 12-month good behaviour bond after she admitted taking the goods.

The incident comes after Qantas flight attendant Philip Woodward-Brown, 57, claimed unfair dismissal after he allegedly stole chocolates and biscuits, and stewardess Lisa Robertson was sacked after having sex on a flight with actor Ralph Fiennes.

Stella McCartney isn't the first designer to roll out a signature cosmetics line. But in a nod to her vegetarian upbringing, the daughter of Paul and Linda McCartney opted to create a luxury skin-care brand free of animal-derived ingredients and animal testing . CARE has no genetically modified ingredients, endangered plant species, or chemical preservatives.

With last month's launch, the British designer is the latest to ride the wave of ecology-conscious beauty products.

"I have so much respect for Stella McCartney," says Helena Cohen , owner of Arden Spa in Wellesley. "She really gets it. She really does her home work." When Cohen reopened her spa in 2005, she brought in Organic Elements , a luxury Italian line for which she says she is the exclusive US retailer .

"I saw this organic thing coming. Everyone's using glycolics and retinols, and skin is so stressed now," she says. "With pharmaceuticals, it's fast-fast fast, and the body rejects it." Organic Elements uses ingredients from its own organic farm in Parma and does not test its products on animals. "It's about respect for our skin and for the treatment of every living creature," Cohen says.

Cohen says her s ales of the products, which include an entire de-stressing line ($42 to $69), are robust. "People love it. You pat this on; it goes right in and . . . your skin wants it.

"People are realizing that if you absorb nicotine and birth control formulas via skin patches, then petrochemicals and toxic elements are also entering the body," she continues. "That's why, just like switching to organically produced food, they also want cosmetics made with organics."

More and more, cosmetics companies are switching to organically produced plant derivatives. Aveda, which pioneered botanical-based, non-animal-tested cosmetics, is one such company. Laura Sullivan, general manager of Pyara Spa and Salon (pyaraaveda.com ) in Harvard Square, says the comp any's goal is for 100 percent organic ingredients, but the level is currently around 75 percent, because hair and make up lines need more chemical s to work effectively.

Some of Aveda's organic products include the rose attar Pure-Fume Absolute , Outer Peace acne relief products (with citrus, rose geranium, and tea tree oils, and organically derived salicylic acid), and the Earth Month soy candle (organically produced with Bulgarian lavender). Proceeds from candle sales are slated to go to the Global Greengrants Fund to create clean drinking water worldwide.

Sullivan says she is often struck by the fact that people will spend $125 on a natural salon treatment, and then opt to use cheaper chemical-based cosmetics at home .

As more companies like CARE offer alternatives, she adds, people will realize there are better options for themselves and their environment. "The devastation we've had environmentally in the past few years has opened people's eyes. Hopefully they'll now make better decisions. Small changes make a big difference."

Chip off the old rocker block: Sir Paul with son James, 29 on a family evening out. They were joined by James' sister Mary and her husband Alistair Donald.

It was the latest family night for Sir Paul, who has spent more time with his older children, including daughter Stella, 35, since his split from Heather Mills.
His youngest daughter, Beatrice, three, is in Los Angeles, where her mother is taking part in American reality TV show Dancing With The Stars.

Paul's photographer daughter Mary with director and television producer husband Alistair Donald (WEBMASTER'S NOTE: This isn't Alistair Donald, Mary and her husband are separated)

Beatrice is dressed for the occasion in a pretty yellow mini-ballroom gown, the same colour as the dress her mum wore later on in the recording of the show.

The two enjoy practicing their dance exercises, using a metal railing for a ballet barre, in the backstage area of the studio lot where the popular reality show is filmed.

And Beatrice is happy to follow her mum - now a near expert dancer - who takes the lead.

The estranged wife of Sir Paul McCartney has won consistent praise for her daring and energetic dance routines on the programme with partner Jonathan Roberts.

Following last week's spectacular backflip, in this week's performance, Heather did a cartwheel, and the pair were awarded joint highest score.

Stella McCartney was so grief-stricken following the death of her mother Linda in 1998, she was struck down with horrific acne. Stella, then 26, found herself battling bad skin for the first time. The designer, who has a new skincare range called Care, explains, "I understood what it means to have bad skin when my mother passed away. My skin broke out terribly for the first time in my life."

Paul McCartney's death riddle has topped a new online poll to find rock's greatest myth. The 'Paul is dead' fable beat Stevie Nicks' anal drug fixation to land at the top of Rolling Stone magazine's ridiculous rumours list. Music fans voted for their favourite myth over the weekend.

Here's the top 10:

1. PAUL McCARTNEY is dead
2. STEVIE NICKS had to find alternative ways of getting cocaine into her system after destroying her nasal passages.
3. THE MAMAS + THE PAPAS star MAMA CASS died after choking on a ham sandwich
4. ANGIE BOWIE caught her husband in bed with MICK JAGGER
5. MDC was an assassin programmed to kill JOHN LENNON by the CIA.

by Claudio Dirani (Macca Reporter)

Every Paul McCartney new release turns out to be such an event - in the positive and in the negative way, you must admit. Aware of all kinds of mixed feelings and unbased comments that circulate I concluded: there is nothing better than REAL information. Even better than this are actual facts that come from reliable personnel.

And so here we have a few of brand new details about Macca's forthcoming record - the first pop/rock album he puts out after his very successful Chaos And Creation In The Backyard, released in 2005. It's worth to mention that the source who gave the author all these informations kindly and gently asked me not to reveal her/his identity. Your request is my command dear friend...

Speculation

It's already no secret that Paul McCartney did record several tracks for his next album which is due next June, although not everything produced will appear in the final tracklisting. The source didn't feel like to be specific on how many songs were taped or even get into detail on extra recording information. All this reservation is due the ammount of gossip that has been spread out the internet about Paul McCartney's next recordings. Here's what the source had to say about those unpleasant events: "I don't really want to give any more details about the album, especially as you tell me that people are speculating about it (in a kind of negative way)."The speculators can figure it out for themselves".

To debunk a few of these "wise" comments that appeared on several websites last week, the source was firm to admit that there will not be a single track on the CD considered of being such a leftover off Paul McCartney's latest efforts. "They recorded a lot of songs and made an amazing album. There's no songs from Driving Rain or Chaos. It's all new.", the insider has declared.

This information is useful to clarify that, contrary to what's been broadcast on devil's radio, the album won't be comprised of fillers. And to calm down the nervous system of some folks who wondered about the possibility of the record being built out of Chaos and Creation outtakes, it's safe to say that the so-called "songs that Nigel rejected" will not appear on it. Every item picked by McCartney for his next musical step is made up of brand new material.

Emotional

Personal issues have not been the main subject of Paul McCartney songs since the Beatles era. At least, Paul has always been a master of writing lyrics with a sorf of general meaning to describe his feelings. As his work gets even more mature, the musician has decided to write in a more personal way. His latest efforts, starting with Flaming Pie ten years ago, have brought several tracks composed in the fist person. According to the source, Paul McCartney's upcoming album will bring to the public another bunch of direct songs. "The songs are very aggressive...and more important: they are really very emotional", confirmed the source.

Finally, as has been reported before, the sessions for the Chaos And Creation In The Backyard follow-up spanned through 2003-2007 in different studios, including London's Abbey Road and McCartney's private shrine called The Mill, in Peasmarsh, East Sussex, with different line-ups. And this is what the insider had to comment about the sessions in some detail: "Most of the album is all Paul, although the band (Rusty Anderson, Brian Ray, Abe Laboriel, Jr and Wix) are playing parts on some of the songs and singing background sometimes".

Without listening to the whole thing is really hard to say how the songs in the album may sound like. Due to obvious industrial (and Beatle-faithfulness) matters, the insider couldn't play a single note to help killing my curiosity. In spite of all the mystery, the big wig made sure that the new collection of McCartney original songs due next spring sounds really fab. "I'm pretty sure when you hear the album you will like it. Everyone who listened to it has been astounded by it!", the excited source revealed.

Despite his Starbucks deal, Sir Paul is not leaving EMI

Sir Paul McCartney is to continue his working relationship with EMI, despite the announcement last week that the former Beatle has signed a new deal with coffee giant Starbucks.

While the deal with Starbucks ends a long association with EMI in terms of his frontline pop releases, McCartney is not splitting entirely from the major. In addition to retaining the singer's solo, Wings and Beatles back catalogues, it is also understood that McCartney's relationship with EMI Classics - who released his 2006 Ecce Cor Meum album - will continue. As part of this, a guitar concerto he is working on is likely to be released through the classical division.

Starbucks confirmed the much-mooted rumours that it had signed McCartney for a one-album deal last Wednesday at the company's annual meeting, at which McCartney made a surprise appearance by satellite link-up.

His new pop album will be the inaugural project for the company's recorded division, Hear Music, which is a joint venture between Starbucks and Concord Music Group, and will be released globally in June through both traditional record retailers and Starbucks' 14,000 worldwide coffee shops. However, the nature of the deal with Hear Music means McCartney will again be free to sign with another label, or return to EMI, following the album's release.

Concord Music Group president and CEO Glen Barros says he is confident that Hear Music can use Starbuck's brand strength to McCartney's advantage. "I think we can do a lot to reconnect him with his audiences from the past and certainly build new audiences," says Barros. "You have 44m people walking through Starbucks stores every week, and that creates a tremendous amount of awareness. We intend to take both a conventional and unconventional approach to making sure that we achieve the greatest possible awareness, and we'll use certainly the digital medium in a very creative way."

There has already been much media speculation that McCartney's defection to Starbucks was prompted by his unhappiness at the way EMI promoted his last mainstream release, 2005's Grammy-nominated Chaos And Creation In The Backyard. Starbucks Entertainment president Ken Lombard says that, after an initial approach, a deal with McCartney was brokered in just "six to eight weeks".

The album, which Barros says is "nearly completed", will be the first of three albums scheduled to be released by Starbucks this year, although Lombard and Barros are remaining tight-lipped as to who the other two artists will be.

The deal is also notable for bringing McCartney into contact with Universal for the first time, following Universal's announcement of a joint distribution and licensing deal with Concord in January.

A spokesman for EMI says, "We fully respect McCartney's decision to try something new with his new record, and we wish him every success.

The local man was arrested after a security officer reported seeing him driving suspiciously in the vicinity of Woodlands Farm, Peasmarsh, East Sussex.

The incident took place at about 1330 BST (1:30 pm) on Friday.

Sussex Police confirmed on Sunday that he would not be facing any criminal charges (???!!!) after being detained.

Hey, wasn't John Lennon the 'smart' Beatle with glasses? Never-before-seen photos of the Beatles prove that Paul McCartney also wore glasses, something millions of his avid fans never knew. Seems McCartney, the 'cute Beatle,' was rarely photographed wearing his glasses because he felt they didn't fit with his image. But in a just-released series of rare photos taken of the Fab Four in the Abbey Road studios recording "With a Little Help From Your Friends," McCartney can be seen (above) wearing black horn rims. And he looks a bit like Elvis Costello or Damien Hirst.

The shots were taken by acclaimed photographer Frank Herrmann on March 30, 1967, exactly forty years ago. Later that day, the Liverpool lads posed for the cover of the legendary 'Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band' album. According to an article in The Mail on Sunday's Live Night and Day magazine, cameramen were rarely given entry to recording sessions. Some of the negatives have been lost but thanks to digital technology, prints have been made from contact sheets Herrmann had stored in a box for 40 years.

A private viewing of the photos and contact sheets will be held on June 1, 2007, at the Saint Giles Street Gallery in Norwich, England. The gallery is owned by David Koppel, who was in West Hollywood this week checking out the local galleries and venue for future exhibitions. To see more never-before-seen candid Beatles photos- including more of Paul in glasses - all available in limited editions, check out the gallery's website.

Some of Herrmann's unseen photos will be included in a new book that celebrates the 40th anniversary of the Beatles' groundbreaking album titled "Summer of Love: The Making of Sergeant Pepper," written by George Martin (with William Pearson), published by Genesis Publications. For more information, go to www.genesis-publications.com

Photo Credit: Copyright Frank Herrmann/St. Giles St. Gallery

WEBMASTER'S NOTE: Those are "John's" horn-rimmed glasses Paul is wearing in the photo.

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