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July 2007

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July 30, 2007 -- Belfast Telegraph

Mull it over: Tackle Kintyre's long-distance trail and discover why Paul McCartney is such a fan

Paul McCartney was right. I should have listened.

Just when I thought it was safe to remove my waterproofs and fish around in the backpack for sunglasses, a wind sprang up from nowhere, the temperature dropped, a soft rain fell, and everything was engulfed in a swirling mist rolling in from the sea ­ although I had to take the great man on trust for the last bit, because the sea was nowhere to be seen, merging with the land and sky in a uniform greyness.

Not half an hour earlier, the view from the lonely moor where the McCartney family found refuge after the Beatles broke up had been enough to make the tone-deaf burst into song.

Due west, the moorland flattened out across field, dune and beach to meet the sea at Machrihanish ­ stalwart of the shipping forecast with its history-making, Atlantic-spanning radio mast and celebrated golf links. Turning south-west, I had traced the clear outlines of Rathlin Island and the north coast of Northern Ireland -- stepping-stones for saints and traders who've been straddling the surprisingly narrow divide between the two countries since the beginning of recorded time. North-west, in different hues of purple and blue, lay a string of islands large and small ­ the tail end of the Hebrides.

But now they'd all sailed away in the gloaming, and I was left with the sheep and the gulls. Zipping up the backpack against the rain, I resumed my trek across the southern half of Kintyre ­ a part of Scotland that belongs neither to the mainland nor the islands. Forty miles long and eight miles wide, much of the peninsula lies south of Glasgow, but feels as removed from the hustle of urban life as the Shetlands. Virtually deserted after a potato famine in the 17th century, it remains one of the least populous areas of the British Isles.

"It's been like a little hideaway," Sir Paul once said of his remote farmhouse: "I can sort of breathe when I get up there, breathe pure air."

Stage five of the seven-leg Kintyre Way passes within telephoto-lens distance of the peninsula's most photographed farm. The McCartney residence is one of countless diverting landmarks along the 90-mile route which is helping to raise the profile of this little-known corner of Scotland. "The Long and Winding Way", as it's come to be known, was seven years in the making as the Forestry Commission, which created it, negotiated with 28 different landowners to secure access rights for walkers. The completed trail stretches from Tarbert in the north to Dunaverty in the south. In this part of the world, blameless nature-loving ramblers are regarded by some as roughly on a par with cattle rustlers.

Perhaps as a consequence of this, the Kintyre Way keeps a low profile as it criss-crosses the peninsula, advertising its presence with nothing more than turquoise-coloured wooden signposts every 100 yards or so. These give no indication of how far you've travelled, nor which way you should go next.

It's been less than two years since the walk officially opened, but some of the posts have already fallen victim to coastal erosion and land slippage on the rough moorland. However, a business management plan is being drawn up, and a permanent ranger will oversee maintenance projects for a minimum of three years.

For the time being, walkers need to be both hardy and resourceful to complete the journey. Essential requirements are an ability to make sense of a compass and a large-scale Ordnance Survey map, and a willingness to carry on your back enough clothing and emergency supplies to cope with weather changes as sudden as the one I experienced on McCartney moor.

Some bureaucratic barriers and high fences obstruct the ideal route, but the compromise instead manages to embrace most of Kintyre's high spots. The journey begins near the ruin of a 13th-century castle overlooking Tarbert, Scotland's finest natural harbour, where sea lochs on either side come within a mile of turning the peninsula into an island.

After a stretch of attractive woodland, the trail emerges on an elevated plateau, where the views to the south-east are exceptional. Instinct tells you that the mountains across the water belong to the mainland. But you're on the mainland. You're actually looking at an island. Bizarrely, Kintyre is separated from the rest of Scotland by the starkly beautiful Isle of Arran. Only now do you begin to appreciate the remoteness of Kintyre -- this far-westerly finger of bracken, woodland and rock.

The first landmark on the east coast is Skipness, where the well-restored medieval castle is left open for visitors to explore all year round. From there, the route heads inland, up across the spine of Kintyre to the other side of the narrow peninsula. Climbing to nearly 1,000ft, the going is rough in places, but if you time your arrival to coincide with the Atlantic sunset, the reward is a view that should put a spring in the step of the weariest walker.

Two miles off the coast is the long strip of Gigha, the most southerly of the Hebrides. Further out to sea are the imposing shapes of Islay and Jura -- the former known for its whisky, the latter for its "paps", a string of rounded mountains with a distinctly feminine shapeliness.

To give walkers the best chance of seeing them, the Kintyre Way hugs the west coast for 10 miles before turning inland again just after the small port of Tayinloan, where a ferry runs back and forth to Gigha. Rising higher than before, the path crosses moorland and skirts plantations of tall conifers before dropping down to Carradale, an attractive village with a hotel, bakery, superb beaches close by, and a golf course that can turn from friend to fiend in the blink of an eye. It's the only settlement of any size on the otherwise sleepy east coast.

A mile or two south, Saddell Beach was the setting, 30 years ago, for the video of the simple shanty that bestowed the Mull of Kintyre with worldwide fame. Paul McCartney, Wings, and 21 local pipers in full regalia paraded up and down the soft shingle, giving rise to the popular misconception that the whole peninsula is named the Mull of Kintyre. In fact, the Mull is merely the promontory at Kintyre's extreme south-west, rather nearer to Northern Ireland than to Saddell Beach. Locals report that the composer regularly walks along the beach when he visits his hideaway in the hills. Annoyingly, you find yourself humming his tune more or less continuously throughout your stay.

The final section of the walk bypasses the Mull and its lighthouse by cutting inland across some wild and exposed terrain, populated only by sheep and wild goats, with no facilities or shelter for 20 miles. Allow a full day, take a compass, and don't expect a mobile phone signal if you get lost. Proof of the unpredictable weather is the wreckage of various aircraft whose pilots have become disoriented in the mist and crashed into the moorland. But if the skies are clear, the Antrim coast seems close enough to touch, and you pass through the protected Largiebaan nature reserve, where you might encounter a peregrine, kestrel or golden eagle.

"Far have I travelled" indeed when at last the sea comes into view and the blue posts lead down to Keil Point, where Columba came ashore in the sixth century with his saintly message from Ireland. A ruined church is named after him, and two footprints set in a rock are attributed to him. One of these might indeed be ancient, but the other, disappointingly, was carved by a local stonemason in 1856 ­ presumably to give the saint two feet, like the rest of us, and make the story more believable.

Kintyre surpasses itself once more at the white crescent beach of Dunaverty Bay, overlooked by an ancient fort, and leading to an information board that confirms the walk is over. I stop a while to contemplate the legends, the beauty and the silence of it all. The bus back to civilisation leaves from a mile down the road, but even though time is pressing, it's best to let civilisation wait until the last possible moment.

Traveller's guide

GETTING THERE

The Kintyre peninsula is on the extreme west of mainland Scotland, about 100 miles from Glasgow. Take the A82 north-west of the city, joining the A83 near Inverary. Kintyre is not on the rail network, but Scottish Citylink (0870 550 5050; www.citylink.co.uk) operates three coach services a day between Glasgow and Campbeltown. Loganair subsidiary, BA (0870 850 9850; www.ba.com) flies weekdays between Glasgow and Macrahanish airport, 10 miles west of Campbeltown.

GETTING AROUND

Hire a car in the region through www.carrentals.co.uk from £111 ($222) per week, picking up from Glasgow airport.

STAYING THERE

Springside Bed and Breakfast, Tarbert (01880 820413). B&B starts at £55 ($110).

Balinakill Country House Hotel, Clachan (01880 740206; www.balinakill.com). Double rooms start at £90 ($180), including breakfast.

Carradale Hotel, Carradale (01583 431223; www.carradalehotel.com). Double rooms start at £70 ($140), including breakfast.

MORE INFORMATION

The Kintyre Way (www.kintyreway.com) is one of more than 900 routes on the Visit Scotland website (www.visitscotland.com/walking). Visit Scotland also publishes a walking guide, which includes detailed information about travel and suitable accommodation for walkers. Call 0845 22 55 121 for a copy.

In a recent interview to the French magazine VSD, Sir Paul McCartney, answers questions jovially amid personal turmoil during his divorce from Heather. The icon still amazes us with his extraordinary youthfulness and quick mindedness. McCartney agreed to meet with the journalist in his posh London office.

When questioned about the meaning of his song "The End Of The End", in which he described the way he wanted his funeral to be, he said, "It sounds like request doesn't it? Actually, I wanted to talk about the subject, that's all. Generally speaking, we sing about dance or love. This time I wanted to see whether I could find a way to treat the theme of death through music, so I imagined my funeral. I'm not quite sure that my family would appreciate fulfilling all my wishes."

Paul McCartney jokingly expressed the desire to be sniffed by Keith Richards and declared that he sniffed pepper when he replied to the journalist about the oddest thing he sniffed so far.

After 40 years, the one who bridged the gap between the last century and the new one, expressed his views about this generation and declared, "A lot of younger people say to me that their time was better, and I say it's not true, but I know what they mean. In my time things were exciting and special, there is no doubt about it. Today things seem boring. I would like to say 'it's up to you make things special again', because I don't think things will never happen again".

The rock veteran has no intention to retire at all, as long as the chemistry is still there. He will always sing because he loves what he's doing. As to his mate John Lennon; he said that they reconciled just before his death, and he will always love him.

Jack Black is the odd choice to play Sir Paul McCartney in a new rockumentary about a country rocker who never existed.

The White Stripes star Jack White will play Elvis Presley in the odd project, "Walk Hard", which stars John C. Reilly as a Johnny Cash contemporary.

The film also features Paul Rudd as John Lennon, while Jewel, Eddie Vedder and Ghostface Killah will play themselves.

July 27, 2007 -- Macca Report Exclusive (VIDEO)

Fan Report from the LIPA graduation in Liverpool July 27th

There were approximately 40-50 people waiting outside the Philharmonic Hall where the LIPA graduation was being held. Ben Elton (British comedian and novelist) and Anita Dobson (EastEnders) were being bestowed as honorary "LIPA Companions" for their support of LIPA and their work with the students.

Ben Elton was the first to arrive. He took his time with the crowd and signed for everyone who asked. He was laughing and joking and thanked people who congratulated him. Ben said, "I did not expect such a good turn out"!!!

While Ben was still signing Mike McCartney arrived with a few others, including John Gorman from The Scaffold. (and TISWAS which was the best kids program ever from the 1970s). Mike signed about 4 or 5 autographs, after a few people called him back. One signature was on a copy of 'Thank U Very Much' (Scaffold album).

Actress Anita Dobson (Eastenders) arrived shortly after with her husband, Brian May (Queen's guitarist). Again, both spent a lot of time with the waiting fans and Anita signed several autographs, but not as many as Brian May who was preferred by the crowd. Brian signed a CD for my daughter Eleanor (aged 5) and two other CDs we had taken along for friends.

All of the above happened under a bright summer sky (as summery as it can get in Liverpool!) THEN....

Paul arrived at approximately 1.30 pm, two minutes 'after;' the heavens had opened and a whole summers rain fell onto the fans!

Paul arrived, driving... got out of the car and into the rain and straight under an umbrella held by an employee of The Philharmonic Hall. He was about to walk straight in when he turned and held a play fight with my daughter, Eleanor before tickling her tummy and carrying on into the Hall saying he would sign later, inside. (Eleanor had met Paul 2 years ago when he signed a drum-skin for her and held her hand).

No autographs were obtained outside before Paul went in. His head of security came out 10 minutes later and took a few items of his choice in. A lot of fans items were ruined in the rain (I lost a CD cover signed to the whole family by George Martin and a photograph from the 1960s).

Then the sun came out!!!!

Gary (my husband) waited for Paul to leave the Philharmonic Hall, while I waited at the LIPA entrance (just in-case!). Gary saw Paul leave. He signed about 5 autographs then left. Paul waved to his fans as he was driven away - he did not go to the LIPA afterwards. We heard there was a Scaffold concert and he had left to see that (Do not know if that is correct!).

Those who handed items in had to collect them later and we had left by then and do not know how many were signed.

-- Donna, Gary, Mathew (8) and Eleanor (5) Williams (Macca Reporters)

July 27, 2007 -- Lancashire Evening Post

McCartney at graduation celebration

Sir Paul McCartney led the graduation celebrations at the Fame school he set up in his home city.

Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts (LIPA) opened in 1996 after a long campaign by the former Beatle.

Alongside the graduating students, celebrities Ben Elton and Anita Dobson were being made honorary Companions of the Institute.

Other Companions this year included Culture Club producer Steve Levine and Olivier Award-winning stage producer David Pugh.

Sir Paul, 65, who remains lead patron of LIPA, gave a speech to the graduates before they were presented with their certificates.

LIPA offers degree qualifications in acting, dance, music and theatre studies.

The ceremony took place at Liverpool's Philharmonic Hall.

Sir Paul told the graduates he loved them and spoke of his pride that the former derelict building was now "turning out so many good kids".

He added: "Be clear what you want and believe you are going to get it, work hard and you will get it - you are all brilliant."

Paul McCartney's neighbor selling Amagansett home

It's not such a long and winding road from this home to music superstar Sir Paul McCartney's summer place in Amagansett. This newly constructed English country-style dwelling on Fresh Pond Road has six bedrooms, 5 1/2 baths, a formal dining room and a master suite with marble bath, fireplace and two walk-in closets. The bluestone patio and heated gunite pool are accessible from almost every room.

Bryan Midlam of Prudential Douglas Elliman is listing the 5,500-square-foot, 2.4-acre spread for $3.495 million.

McCartney is known to vacation every August at his nearby estate.

(Webmaster's Note: This article was originally posted by Newsday with the title "Paul McCartney's summer home for sale in Amagansett" which has since been changed by Newsday to the above title...)

From McCartney to Weller, people called Paul have appeared on 57 number one singles since the UK chart began in 1953, according to Yahoo! Music.

John was the second most common name for chart-toppers, with the likes of Lennon and Queen bassist Deacon appearing on 54 best-selling songs.

David was third thanks to the success of artists like Bowie, while Brian - as in May and McFadden - came fourth.

TOP 10 POP NAMES
1. Paul - 57
2. John - 54
3. David - 53
4. Brian - 43
5. George - 38
6. Mark - 37
7. Peter - 32
8. Tony - 30
9. Andy - 27
10. Shane - 24

(Number of UK number one singles by acts featuring people with the above names. Source Yahoo! Musi)c

George Harrison, George Michael and Boy George helped their name into fifth place. Mark came sixth, with 37 number ones, including tracks featuring Take That's Mark Owen and Mark Feehily of Westlife.

But despite Paul's popularity with musicians' parents, the name no longer features in the UK's top 100 boys' names.

Ventura Barba from Yahoo! Music Europe said: "When you think of rock 'n' roll names, you instantly recall the unique ones like Bono, Prince and Slash.

"It's surprising to discover that an everyday name can lay claim to such an accolade."

Starbucks signs up Joni Mitchell

Singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell is to follow in the footsteps of Sir Paul McCartney by releasing her next album through the coffee chain Starbucks.

Shine, Mitchell's first collection of new material since 1998, will be available worldwide in late September.

McCartney's latest album, Memory Almost Full, was released last month by Hear Music, the label set up by Starbucks and the Concord Music Group.

It was played relentlessly in the chain's stores, selling 447,000 copies.

Starbucks says 47% of the albums were purchased in its coffee houses.

Macca and Heather to hold last-ditch summit Face-to-face meet to fix cash deal

Sir Paul McCartney is planning a secret summit with wife Heather in a last ditch bid to thrash out a divorce pay-off. There will be NO lawyers in sight during the face-to-face meeting at Macca's American mansion next month. And apart from four-year-old daughter Beatrice there will be NO family members there as the pair try to follow the advice of the Beatles' hit We Can Work It Out. Reports last week claimed ex-model Heather, 39, had accepted a £70 million ($140 million) divorce deal - the largest in British legal history. But in fact 65-year-old Macca - thought to be worth £825 million ($1.6 billion) - has NOT made a final agreement. And both of them are said to be appalled at the spiralling bills they are running up as their lawyers wrangle about how much Heather should get.

A source close to Heather said: "Both of them want the matter resolved as soon as possible.

"Despite his fabulous fortune, Sir Paul is haemorrhaging money on legal fees.

"And the same goes for Heather, who admits it's like pouring cash down a bottomless pit."

The source added: "Heather is still standing her ground.

"But she realises talking face to face with Sir Paul is the only way to try and resolve matters."

The couple will meet at Macca's house in the exclusive Hamptons district of Long Island, New York.

Ironically, it is the place where Heather claims in divorce papers that Macca tried to choke her after she asked him if he had been smoking dope in 2003 - just a year after they wed.

One of Heather's friends said last night: "Back in England she and Paul only talk face to face about Beatrice - nothing else.

"But with their lawyers locking horns and getting nowhere fast, they know that sorting things out themselves is the only option."

And McCartney sources said the Long Island summit would also give the couple a chance to be alone together with their daughter.

One said: "Sir Paul is devoted to Beatrice and believes he and Heather need to spend quality time together with her.

"The battle over the settlement is being driven by their lawyers.

"And his children want him to fight Heather hard in the courts.

"But Sir Paul just wants the stressful matter resolved as amicably as possible."

The source added: "By not talking to each other he knows matters will only be made worse."

The couple are believed to be on good terms at present - despite the bitter mud-slinging when they first split up.

And friends say they now manage to share child-raising duties equally without bickering.

But their divorce negotiations could be stretched out until next February when their case is listed for a five-day hearing before High Court judge Mr Justice Bennett of the Family Division.

Any deal is expected to include a clause banning either of them speaking publicly about private aspects of their marriage.

It is early spring, and Heather Mills, the estranged wife of Sir Paul McCartney, falls in love with a timber mountain lodge overlooking a serene and beautiful blue-green lake in Slovenia.

She decides to add it to her ever-expanding property portfolio, and her £400,000 ($800,000) offer is readily accepted.

The sale runs smoothly, unimpeded by the usual obstacles that beset buying property abroad, probably because the previous occupant is the country's president.

Sensing a tourism-boosting coup, a senior Slovenian government official even goes on TV to announce details of the deal. Everyone, it seems, is happy. Not quite.

Enter Dana Stankovic, an 84-year-old widow who lives in Cornwall ­ and whosefather built the house in 1937.

Mrs Stankovic reveals how the house still belongs to her family, how it was never the Slovenian government's to sell - and how her lawyers have now served notice on Ms Mills that they will fight to get it back.

"We had to abandon the house when the Second World War broke out," explained Mrs Stankovic.

"Then it was appropriated in turn by the Nazis, the Communists and the Slovenian government.

"And now this Mills woman ­ I had never heard of her until last week ­ has got her hands on it. But my family are the rightful owners.

"We've never sold it and now we want it back."

In a further twist, Mrs Stankovic's son, who is liaising with lawyers on behalf of his mother, is Major Milos Stankovic MBE, a former British Paratrooper who made headlines when he was wrongly accused of spying during the Bosnian conflict.

"We are not seeking compensation ­ we just want our house back," he said."We will fight this all the way."

Mrs Stankovic's London-based lawyer Stephen Barker has written to Ms Mills to outline his client's position.

He said: "There is EU protocol for the return of confiscated property.

"If Slovenia wants the benefits of EU membership then it needs to abide by all the rules."

In 1996 the Council of Europe passed a resolution stating that any "property illegally or unjustly seized by the state during the reign of Communist totalitarian systems" should "in principle" be returned in full to its original owners.

The issue was brought up by EU officials in meetings with Slovenian representatives in the run-up to the country joining the Union in 2004.

The EU officials said they expected Slovenia to return 'nationalised property' as soon as possible.

Mrs Stankovic said she was not daunted by the prospect of a complicated legal battle.

"I will never give up my fight to get the house back," she said. "It is my heart and soul.

"It means everything to me. We will do all we can to get it returned. It belongs to my family."

Risen Magazine Turns Back Time To 1967 The Summer of Love: Paul McCartney, Peter Max and Stan Lee Reflect on Life as Superstars and Superheroes on Sale July 23, 2007

Three Icons of the Summer of Love reflect on their experience in defining the social consciousness of the late 1960's in the July/August issue of Risen Magazine, on sale nationally at Barnes & Noble bookstores on July 23. Paul McCartney, Peter Max and Stan Lee were inadvertently thrust in the role as spokespersons for a new generation. In their exclusive interviews with Risen Magazine, each acclaimed artist shares in his own way how the 1967 Summer of Love shaped their destiny and legacy.

For Paul McCartney, being a member of the Beatles and arriving on America soil to a fan base and cultural mania never repeated to this day, the most important question was never how many records sold. McCartney did struggle with a different issue; did he have the right to think and to tell his truth and be a Rock Star. History certainly has one side of the story, but for Paul's side the rest of us will have to read his interview in the July/August issue of Risen Magazine, on sale at Barnes & Noble bookstores on July 23rd. The issue is full of revelations about three of the icons of a time that helped shape America's consciousness in the 1960's: Paul McCartney, Peter Max and Stan Lee take a look at the legacy they've created.

"Risen Magazine is often on the side of breaking the news of emerging artists and we're proud of our track record of capturing artists on the rising wave of their success, like Fergie & the Black Eyed Peas, Fall Out Boy, and Switchfoot. It is, however, extraordinary to be on the end of the wave with artists, like Paul McCartney, sitting metaphorically on the shore of their career and looking on their legacy," reflects Michael Sherman, publisher of the young magazine which seeks to report on the spiritual voyage of pop culture stars.

The July/August issue of Risen Magazine, Risen Magazine Paul McCartney Issue is resplendent with memories of the famous journey lived by some and raises an important inquiry for those artists beginning their own passage to immortality. If you could know now, like Paul, Peter or Stan, how your words will stand the test of time, what will you create for those generations that follow? You'll have to read the interviews to see if these superheroes are feeling lucky.

For subscriptions please call 858.481.5650 or subscribe online at Risen Magazine. All new subscribers will receive a copy of the landmark July/August issue with the art of Peter Max and Paul McCartney on the cover.

Ringo plugs Paul's new album!!!

In Ringo's latest video update he plugs Paul's album "Memory Almost Full" and mentions being at the Amoeba concert.

On June 26, 2007 Ringo Starr, Paul McCartney, Yoko Ono Lennon, Olivia Harrison and Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberté took part in a special dedication ceremony in honor of John Lennon and George Harrison at the LOVE theater in Las Vegas.

Later that day they joined Larry King for a remarkable television event that took place during the LOVE first year anniversary celebration. Larry King broadcast his show live from The Beatles Revolution Lounge in Las Vegas where Ringo appeared with Paul McCartney, Yoko Ono and Olivia Harrison, marking the first time ever the foursome had agreed to be interviewed on TV together. During the Larry King interview, Ringo, Paul McCartney, Yoko Ono and Olivia Harrison discussed the lasting influence of the Beatles' music, the contributions of the late John Lennon and George Harrison, and the magic of the LOVE show.

On Wednesday, June 27 Ringo and Paul were together again, when Ringo attended Paul's free, in-store performance at Amoeba Records.

Macca brother shows photos in village

Sir Paul McCartney's brother is to stage a rare show of his rock photographs in a remote Scottish village.

Mike McCartney will put on an exhibition of pictures he took at the London Live 8 concert.

Durness in Sutherland is hosting the John Lennon Northern Lights festival between September 28 and 30.

It celebrates the murdered ex-Beatle's long-running links with the area.

Mike, 63, agreed to bring his collection up a few days before the festival for a special exhibition.

His pictures feature many of the stars who played in London in July 2005 - including Annie Lennox, Fran Healy, The Killers and Pink Floyd.

He said: "I didn't want to put them on show during the festival, as the event is not about me.

"But I was happy to come up before and let everyone see the pictures.

"I am looking forward to coming to Durness and opening the exhibition - and where I go my camera always goes with me, so I hope to take some photographs of the area."

Some of Mike's pictures feature in the National Portrait Gallery in London.

Among the artists taking part in the Northern Lights festival are chart toppers Nizlopi, the Queen's Master of Music Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, artist Peter Howson, and singers Julie Fowlis and Donnie Munro.

Tragic tenor Jerry Hadley has died in hospital a week after shooting himself in an apparent suicide attempt. The opera star, who sang lead in Paul McCartney's Liverpool Oratorio, was reportedly struggling financially and opted to end his life at his home in Clinton Corners, New York. Upon hearing the now-fatal gunshot on 10 July , neighbours called emergency services and the 55-year-old was taken to hospital in Poughkeepsie, New York, where he was placed on life support. This was switched off on Monday (July 16) and the near-dead tenor was read his Last Rites by a priest.

Born in Illinois, Hadley was beloved in the opera world and developed a reputation for tackling demanding stage roles. He was a particular favourite of the composer Leonard Bernstein, who chose Hadley to sing the title role in a 1989 production of his celebrated musical Candide. Hadley performed onstage in Milan, London, Berlin, Paris and at opera houses all over America. His death comes just weeks after the passing of his mentor Beverly Sills, who discovered Hadley in the late 1970s.

Sir Paul McCartney has offered £20 million ($40 million) to Heather Mills - and she has said that she will accept £50 million ($100 million), The Times has learnt.

At one stage it was predicted that the divorce settlement could leave the former Beatle with a bill for £200 million ($400 million). But after recent court hearings a likely final settlement for Ms Mills is in the region of £25 million ($50 million) to £30 million ($60 million) out of Sir Paul's estimated £825 million ($1.6 billion) fortune.

Yet, the case could still be battled out in court. It is listed for a five-day hearing next February, before Mr Justice Bennett, a family High Court judge. One lawyer said: "It could well go to trial because they are both quite stubborn." He added: "Five days is only a relatively short hearing but then the issues are fairly straightforward and it was a short marriage."

Sir Paul, 65, and Ms Mills, 39, are using the same lawyers who acted in the divorce of the Prince and Princess of Wales. Sir Paul has Fiona Shackleton and Ms Mills has Anthony Julius.

Be sure to keep checking back to www.meyesight.com. More and more content is being added on regular basis. The latest additions include new videos: 'The NYC Adventure', 'Backstage at The ICA' , 'Backstage at Later with Jools Holland' and a fantastic shot of Paul taken at the iTunes Festival show.

Prior to the release of "Memory Almost Full", Paul thought it would be fun to issue some albums with a signed photo. There are 80 CD's with Macca's signature on the back of the photo that is attached to the regular CD edition.

US (20 signed CD's)
UK (10 signed CD's)
Germany (10 signed CD's)
France (10 signed CD's)
Italy (5 signed CD's)
Australia (5 signed CD's)
Japan (10 signed CD's)
S.E. Asia (25 signed CD's)
Mexico (5 signed CD's)

PM.com is delighted to confirm that the 'Ecce Cor Meum' DVD is to be released through EMI Classics on October 22nd 2007!

Details are to be confirmed very shortly, but the DVD is set include last year's complete Ecce performance from the Royal Albert Hall in London.

Click here for the Ecce Cor Meum promo video.

FOOL ON THE HOL

Sounds totally barmy, but nearly-divorced Paul and Heather McCartney plan a summer holiday-TOGETHER.

After a year of bitter wrangling Heather suggested the American break with three-year-old daughter Beatrice as "family bonding time".

A source close to Paul, 65-whose classic Beatles hits include Fool on the Hill, We Can Work It Out and Help!-said: "Incredible as it may seem the idea looks like a goer.

"It won't be a conventional family holiday, there's still tension.

"But if they go to Macca's Hamptons mansion in New York, as they're thinking, they'll be away from prying eyes and pretty much on neutral ground."

Multi-millionaire Paul has told aides he's willing to give Heather a chance, despite her branding him a booze-fuelled, drug-taking wife-beater.

Our source added: "That was last year. Macca's on a high now-all his troubles seem so far away."

Almost sounds like Yesterday...

Multi-instrumentalist Denny Laine will reveal the secrets behind his turbulent friendship with his former 'Wings' bandmate Sir Paul McCartney in his autobiography.

Laine and McCartney joined hands to form the band in 1971, but their team split in January 1980 after the former 'Beatle' was arrested at Tokyo airport for possessing marijuana.

The band had to cancel a number of international tour dates due to McCartney's arrest.

Laine never forgave McCartney because he considers his act betrayal.

Sources now say that Laine is taking the services of a professional ghost-writer to complete his autobiography, wherein he may talk about his fractured relationship with McCartney.

'Denny has been approached by one of music's most reputable authors about a much-anticipated biography. In the past, questionable motives. Denny would have none of it,' Contactmusic quoted a source close to Laine as saying.

'But this time, the project will be done on Denny's terms,' the source added.

The fashion designer - daughter of Beatles legend Sir Paul McCartney - is expecting her third child with husband Alasdhair Willis, just seven months after her second child was born.

A source told Britain's Daily Mirror newspaper: "Paul loves having family around him. It has been what has been getting him through his tough divorce from Heather Mills.

"He will be overjoyed with the new addition to the family."

The couple's new addition is due to be born at the end of this year.

Stella, 35, gave birth to daughter Bailey Linda Olywn on December 8 last year.

Her first child, son Miller Alasdhair James, was born on February 25, 2005.

It has been reported Stella will ask close friends supermodel Kate Moss or designer Sadie Frost to be the godmother of her next baby.

Meanwhile, Stella is set to make her London Fashion Week debut after more than a decade in the fashion industry.

Stella's main collection will continue to show in Paris, but her spring/summer 2008 line for Adidas will close London Fashion Week on September 20.

Adidas by Stella McCartney features clothes for running, gym, yoga, tennis, dance and swimming.

Paul McCartney Interview

In the latest issue of Clash, we have the very good fortune to meet our first musical knight: Sir Paul McCartney.

Here you can read an exclusive extract of the interview, conducted with Paul in his Soho office in London, one beautiful afternoon in May.

Throughout the course of our time with him, subjects broached included 'Memory Almost Full' his new and 21st album since leaving The Beatles, his controversial new record contract with Starbucks, his discoveries of new music via the internet, 40 years of 'Sgt. Pepper', the experimentation of The Beatles, and much, much more, in what is truly the most honest and candid interview Paul has given in years.

The interview was conducted by Clash editor Simon Harper, a lifelong Beatles fan, armed with a list of over 150 questions

CLASH: One track on your new album, 'Vintage Clothes', has a great beat on it, like a modern rhythm loop that's ripe for remixing. Back in The Beatles, you were using the latest cutting-edge technology to experiment with sounds, but nowadays, when a band is regarded as the heirs to The Beatles, it's usually a guitar band who aren't breaking genres. Surely the modern equivalent of such boundary breaking would be found in the technology embracing dance fraternity?

PAUL: You're right, that's where it happens. It's like an obvious platform for it, dance music, because you've got a trance thing that's gonna go on for 10 minutes, so you better experiment somewhere, or it's gonna be awfully boring! Whereas if you're looking at shorter songs, then it's actually not as easy to just break the song and come in with something. So I think it's probably true that it happens more in dance music. I've always been interested in that. I always loved that 'Tomorrow Never Knows', the tape loops on the Beatles track 'Tomorrow Never Knows'. That was like, 'Yes!' It's the same thing I'm trying to do now though, which is just do something to interest and excite myself. It's very selfish really, but why not? I mean, why else do you write music and write songs? It's not really for any other reason than to turn yourself on, you know? On this album there's a few more bits like that, just cos I wanted to I think the bit you're talking about is a Mellotron thing. I've still got an old Mellotron; I think it's THE original one! But it's a great sound! It's not actually a loop, but it sounds like a loop, so you can get that kind of experimenty sound. There's some backwards stuff. Some of it is kind of revisiting that [Beatles] thing, just cos I haven't done that for a little while.

CLASH: Even with all your experimentation, The Beatles' sound never lapsed into the self-indulgent, a frequent risk in experimental music. How did you achieve this?

PAUL: We were just very good. We were just really good. We were just really, really cool people! (Laughs) No, we just got it right. We followed our noses and if it didn't sound good we would blow it out and just say, "That's rubbish". The good thing about being in a band with four like-minded people was that there was always someone to say, "I don't like that" if it was just slightly not making it. Whereas yourself, you might think, 'Well it only slightly not makes it. I can still do it.' There would always be someone with us who'd go, "Hmm, it's crap". So generally whatever stuff we'd do would go beyond self-indulgent and it would just have to work. And also, we had George Martin, remember, as the kind of final arbiter. We were like the boss. We were like the four ­headed boss, but then George was the producer and it had to pass his test as well. So we had five pretty good heads on anything we did. It was only the good stuff that made it to the final cut.

CLASH: Your headline set at Glastonbury 2004 was a huge renaissance for your career. What were your thoughts when asked to play?

PAUL: I'd had my eye on playing Glastonbury forever, because it's like an iconic festival, and if you play music that's something you've got to look at. You think, 'Oh it would be great to do Glastonbury!' So many of my friends and so many people I know make the pilgrimage. But I'd been a little bit put off. I thought maybe it's not my scene. What happened was somebody had been there one year, a couple of guys I knew, and I was like, "How was it?" And they were saying, "Oh great, it's cool, a great festival". And somebody said to me, they said, "We were coming back at midnight from watching" whoever it was, it was a few years ago, I think it might have been Radiohead, "and all the people were sitting around their campfires singing Beatles songs." I went ­ ding! A little lightbulb went off. I said, "Well, I can do that!" So I just thought, 'It's okay. I should do it.' So I was up and running with my band - we were touring; we'd done Russia and a few places like that, so we were all fired up. I got the offer to do it. Michael Eavis said, "Do you want to do it this year?" I said, "Yeah, go on!" And it was great, man, really cool.

CLASH: You had grown men in tears ­ in a good way, of course! Some people still name it as their best ever festival moment. Had you planned anything special or did you know that the songs themselves would make it?

PAUL: Yeah, we were just gonna do a Glastonbury set. We chose the songs a bit, because it was slightly shorter a set than we would normally do. We just chose the songs we thought might work. And then just went and enjoyed it. That was one of the things, it was like, "Whatever we do, we're not gonna get uptight. This is Glastonbury. We're gonna get in with the vibe." It was a good night for us though, it was a blast, and the audience seemed to love it. It was raining, of course, but looking out at all the flags and the banners it was like the Battle of Agincourt. It was like, 'Yeah man! People have come together!' That's great; it's very uplifting.

The full Paul McCartney interview is in the latest issue of Clash Magazine on sale now at leading WH Smiths, HMV, Virgin and independent newsagents. Subscribe to Clash

Send an email to info@clashmagazine.com with subject: Back Issues to order just the McCartney Interview.

The former 'Beatle' feels that the suggestion that livestock farming is done in mankind's favour borders on myth.

"Livestock farming is one of the biggest destroyers of the planet. When you see the Amazon being cut down for hamburger cattle, that's pretty obvious," the Mirror quoted the 65-year-old as saying.

"And it's all done in the name of something that benefits humans, when in fact it's the opposite. It's all about attitudes, no one thinks they're the one who has to change," he added.

McCartney also recalled the spat his late wife Linda once had with the then President of the World Wildlife Fund, Prince Philip, over the shooting of birds.

"She said, 'You're the head of a wildlife organisation, how can you go out shooting birds?'" he said.

"'Are you vegetarian?' he asked, trying to catch us out. 'Yeah!', we both answered. Shooting birds, that's hypocrisy," he added.

Hey rock and rollers!

Welcome to my super special brand spanking new MySpace page!! I want to give a big thanks to Fiona Dixon of Blue Cherry for the great job she did.. hope you all like it as much as I do! Shout oouuuuut!

On another, more sombre note...

Music just lost one of the good guys.. John Roden... Paul McCartney, Ozzie and AC/DC's on stage monitor mixer just left the building. He was diagnosed with cancer and died 3 weeks later.

I want to take a moment to share with any of you who might have seen us play, a message from me to his wife on the day of his service.. If you saw me smiling a lot on tour, John Roden was one of the reasons why.

Hello Noreen,

It's me, Brian from Macca's band....

I just would like to send along my condolences to you and the family. I know it has been tough and I know you are surrounded by the very best of friends at this time. Fortunately, good humour and a kind disposition spreads from person to person and your John had a lot of that to share.

He was always smiling, always a gentleman, even when I flashed flagrant inane hand signals between notes, sung or played, flying his way in hopes that the sign was seen. I could just see the top of his head and glasses, between the side fills, off the stage sort of like Kilroy [of WW2 fame]... Every time, without fail he caught my signal and made it all OK.

The thing that will always stick with me is that he would personally bring me a bracing, strong, kick-ass coffee straight from his funky archaic old espresso maker each day at soundcheck. Macca would come to the stage and say, "Hey, Brian.. just had your coffee, eh?" because it was coming out my pores in the form of doppio espresso sweat.

I loved that guy... he was a superior person.
He gave respect and got lots in return.
He will be missed.

Here's to John Roden!!

Love,
Brian Ray

Have you always wanted to protest for animal rights but just didn't have the time to schlep around in the great outdoors carrying a big ol' sign?

Do it online instead. Oh-so-hip designer Stella McCartney has teamed up with (PETA) People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals for the first global virtual anti-fur protest. Beginning Thursday, July 12th animal rights supporters can log onto SecondLife.com - where users interact with each other in a virtual world - and join in on the activities staged on an "island."

The island will feature stables, horse jumps, a lake, picnic tables, tree houses, Linda McCartney mini-veggie-burger stalls and a "live" DJ booth.

Visitors will receive a goodie bag of anti-fur accessories, be invited to come up with the best anti-fur slogan and asked to wear a virtual T-shirt emblazoned with the motto, "I'd rather be pixelated than wear fur."

"Sometimes it's nice to have a bit of humor on serious subjects," McCartney said in a press release. The designer will choose the winning slogans with the first prize being two tickets to her spring-summer show in Paris this October; second prize is a faux-Appaloosa bag and third prize a full set of Care by Stella McCartney (her organic skin care line). The event will last until July 29th.

"Sometimes it's nice to have a bit of humor on serious subjects," McCartney said in a press release. The designer will choose the winning slogans with the first prize being two tickets to her spring-summer show in Paris this October; second prize is a faux-Appaloosa bag and third prize a full set of Care by Stella McCartney (her organic skin care line). The event will last until July 29th.

The day that Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr sang a new song to me in the Royal Box at Wembley Stadium

I've just watched the Larry King Live show on CNN in which he interviewed Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, along with Yoko Ono and Olivia Harrison.

The quartet discussed the lasting appeal of the Beatles music and the contributions of the late John Lennon and George Harrison. McCartney, Starr and the women were celebrating the first anniversary of the Cirque du Soleil's "Love" show, a Las Vegas production that celebrates the Beatles' music. They were joined by Cirque du Soleil founder and CEO Guy Laliberté for the interview.

This show brought back memories for me of what turned out to be one of my most embarrassing moments in journalism.

It was June 21, 1975, and Bill Doran, the deputy news editor of the Sunday People, a tabloid I was working for in London, England, had asked me to try and "gatecrash" the Royal Box where Doran said that Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr would be there to watch Elton John debut the freshly released Captain Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy album in its entirety to just short of 120,000 people.

Elton's support acts on the memorable day included The Beach Boys, The Eagles, Rufus with Chaka Khan, Joe Walsh, and Stackridge.

I somehow talked my way past the security man station outside the Royal Box and soon found myself in a room full of rock royalty. There was Paul with his wife Linda and their children, and Ringo with his family.

I gingerly walked up to Paul and asked him if he was enjoying the show. As I was apparently the only journalist in the room, his eyes narrowed and he asked pointedly, "Who do you work for ?"

"The Sunday People," I replied.

Paul smiled and suddenly began singing an impromptu song he had just made up which began, "He's from the Sunday People" Suddenly, scores of rock talent joined in - in four-part harmony - and I went purple with embarrassment.

After a few minutes, I plucked up courage again and approached Ringo and, before I could say anything, he also began singing, "He's from the Sunday People" to which everyone joined in including Paul.

I see that Paul has a new album called "Memory Almost Full," which has sped up the Billboard charts, and ranks No. 3. My wife Norma has just got a copy and I was saddened to see that he hasn't included "He's from the Sunday People" in it. Maybe it could be on your next one, Paul !

The Stew

Hello friends...

I just flew in from London and boy are my arms.... playing some small venue shows with Paul McCartney and it's been a lotta fun. I got to see some new and familiar faces at the Highline Ballroom in New York, Electric Ballroom and ICA Theatre in London and Amoeba Records in Hollywierd. That one was a particularly Angelomnian experience. Lots of star faces in the audience that I could see clearly because of the house lights.

The intimacy of these little gigs has been unlike any of the big tour arenas and stadiums. Unfortunately, very few people could get in but rumor has it that next year there will be a proper tour.

I've also got a show coming up with my band at the Viper Room in Hollywood on the 18th of July. Hope those of you in the area can make it. I believe we go on about 9:15 pm. The secret disco- password is "dresses".

I've been writing and recording in my studio. I have no excuse now but to eventually get an album together. Is that what they're called...albums? CDs? Whatever. Maybe we'll actually play a few new tunes at the Viper Room show.

I've also been writing and producing some songs with my friend Jordan Lawhead for his upcoming CD. We've got a deadline because his us tour is happening this fall. He's a very talented singer/songwriter from Scottsdale, Arizona. We've been having a gas creating together.

I read a great book that I would highly recommend for everyone called "The God Delusion" by Richard Dawkins. Also, "The Kite Runner" is a great fiction read that I understand is being made into a movie. (speaking of fiction, did you know that the band Fiction Plane containing Sting's son is an anagram for 'infant police'?)

I have officially become the tangent man! Anyway, don't forget to recycle and go as green as you can, spread good vibes and I will try and do the same.

Cheerio amigos and amigas,
-- Rusty

Listen to this story... by David Dye

* That Was Me
* Mr. Bellamy
* A Day in the Life
* When I'm 64
* Ever Present Past

World Cafe, July 6, 2007 · It's hard to quantify Paul McCartney's impact on music history: The former Beatle has written some of pop music's most indelible songs, both alone and with John Lennon, and become a knighted icon. He's listed in The Guinness Book of World Records as the most successful musician and composer in popular music history, with massive popularity in The Beatles, with Wings and as a solo artist.

In recent years, McCartney has attracted massive press attention in his personal life, but his musical output has also been notable: He dabbled in classical music with 2006's Ecce Cor Meum and recently signed with Starbucks' Hear Music label, which released his new album, Memory Almost Full. Written and recorded around McCartney's 64th birthday, the album often concerns itself with aging and mortality, but never loses the singer's sense of big-hearted optimism or his ear for infectious melodies.

He recently played an LA record store and Camden's Electric Ballroom. But as Sir Paul McCartney concerts go this was as intimate as it gets, and there was actually a feeling of disbelief as he launched into Drive My Car.

It was announced that tens of thousands had tried to get tickets. But with just 300 competition winners, and a few dozen more fans with the right connections, it was almost as cosy as being in McCartney's front room. And at one point that almost seemed possible.

"Great party huh?," he said after Wings' Let Me Roll It. "All back to mine then."

In fact, once McCartney alighted on the idea that this was a "little party", he didn't shut up about it. But as the host, at least his music selection was largely inspired, with a dozen Beatles songs over 90 minutes.

It will be interesting to see if any end up on iTunes, as these festival sets are being recorded throughout July for sale at the online music store.

With the Fab Four's music still unavailable for download, it would be quite something if you could buy those songs being performed by a former Beatle from iTunes.

In the short term, it's more likely they'll end up on YouTube, as fans took the chance to film a genuine music legend on cameras and mobiles. Others just declared their love for him. At 65, McCartney opted to appear slightly bemused to be getting such adoration. He was consistently chatty, though, informing us what DVD he last watched (Steven Spielberg's Munich) and even getting on to the weather.

His new album, Memory Almost Full, has sold pretty well and, playing a mandolin, he got a good reaction to the recent single Dance Tonight while That Was Me erupted into a rocking nostalgia trip. However, the stodgy, overblown House of Wax was just awful.

There was also some unwelcome rock posturing from his band, a ghastly guitar solo on Let It Be, and can anyone take Wings' Jet seriously after Alan Partridge punched the air to it?

But overall this was a generous, emotionally charged performance of superlative songs, including the acoustic Blackbird, a rousing Get Back and Here Today, dedicated to John Lennon, Linda McCartney and George Harrison.

The encore of I Saw Her Standing There was like rediscovering the blueprint to British rock.

And if The Long and Winding Road felt hemmed in by the venue, Hey Jude was an arm-waving, classic sing-along with McCartney pounding the piano.

Sir Paul McCartney paid tribute to a deceased crewmember by dedicating a rendition of Beatles hit Let It Be to him.

The Beatle was perforing an intimate set at London's Institute of Contemporary Arts on Thursday when he made the dedication to the late John Roden (monitor engineer on Paul's tours).

He said, "This next song I want to dedicate to a crew member John Roden, who just passed away last week. This is for you Johnny.

Heather Mills has been dubbed a "wolf" by the photographer accused of assaulting her.

Last month Sir Paul McCartney's estranged wife claimed at Brighton Magistrates Court that photographer Jay Kaycappa, 32, grabbed her shoulder as he attempted to take her photo in a Brighton, England subway in July 2006. On Thursday her lawyer Dale Sullivan told Kaycappa, "You hunted this lady. She was like Little Red Riding Hood."

Kaycappa responded, "I don't think she's Little Red Riding Hood, she's more like the wolf."

The photographer denies two charges of common assault. He claims time codes on the photos taken on the day of the alleged attack do not support her story, giving him just two seconds to run towards Mills to grab her, before running back to take another image. The trial continues.

July 5, 2007 -- Macca Report Exclusive

Paul's London iTunes Gig July 5th at the Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA)


Set List

Coming Up
Drive My Car
Only Mama Knows
Dance Tonight
C Moon
The Long and Winding Road
I'll Follow The Sun
Midnight Special
Calico Skies
That Was Me
Blackbird
Here Today
Back In The USSR
Nod Your Head
Jet
House of Wax
I've Got A Feeling
Matchbox
Let Me Roll It
Get Back
Baby Face
Hey Jude

Let It Be
Lady Madonna
I Saw Her Standing There

The band was in great form, though Rusty made a mistake during "Drive My Car" but he recovered from it pretty well.

Paul talked about getting emotional during "Here Today" at the Amoeba record store gig. He said that he was holding it together pretty well but when he saw some lady crying in the crowd, he just lost it .... It seemed to take a few seconds to compose himself after singing it tonight as well.

Three new songs were added to the setlist: "Coming Up", "Jet" and "Let Me Roll It". "I've Got A Feeling" had an extended ending.

Mary and James McCartney (wearing a pink shirt) were in attendance at the gig.

Everyone was given a free T-shirt and a card thingy with 10 free iTune vouchers on it.

400 wristbands were given out.

-- Paul Wharton (Macca Reporter)

The legendary singer performed a moving show before a small crowd of 300 people at the ICA in London.

Bounding onstage, the former Beatle was greeted with massive cheers when he shouted: "Good evening. Alright?" before launching into 1980 hit 'Coming Up'.

Like his recent shows, McCartney, who was dressed casually in a white and black sweater, ran through five tracks off his latest solo album 'Memory Almost Full' before treating the crowd to the likes of Beatles classics 'Hey Jude' and 'Get Back' along with Wings hit 'Jet'.

McCartney was on jovial form throughout the gig, engaging in plenty of banter with the crowd as he constantly referred to the show as a "party".

Leading into The Beatles track 'Blackbird' he joked: "It is like a party you can get a conversation going. I watched that film 'Munich' by Steven Spielberg last night. It was pretty good."

As previously reported on NME.COM, the singer became emotional during his recent LA show at Amoeba Records when a member of the audience shed tears during the song 'Here Today' which McCartney penned as a tribute to John Lennon in 1982.

Referring to the performance, he told the crowd tonight: "We just did a gig in a record shop in LA and I was singing that song and I was just about holding it together emotionally and then I saw this woman weeping and I just lost it man."

As ever the highlight of the gig, was The Beatles classic 'Hey Jude' which sparked a mass sing-a-long amongst the arm waving audience.

Conducting the song's catchy refrain McCartney invited both the "boys" and "girls" in the crowd to sing along before he shouted: "Now everyone all together."

Rounding off the show, the former Beatle dedicated 'Let It Be' to a long term monitor engineer who recently died before adding: "This next song I want to dedicate to a crew member John Roden, who just passed away last week. This is for you Johnny."

He wrapped up the gig with 'Lady Madonna' and 'I Saw Her Standing There'.

Former Beatle Paul McCartney has crossed over into dancehall with the release of a single on the heels of his new album, "Memory Almost Full". The remix single, "Nod Your Head," is produced by Sly and Robbie and features Sizzla, Lady Saw and Cherine Anderson.

The album, which should have all the niche markets nodding, is produced by David Kahne who was head of Columbia Records' A&R (artistes and records) department.

McCartney is often described as one of the most influential contributors to the history of rock music, but the rave reviews of Memory Almost Full suggest that Paul McCartney is far more significant than that. He has written over 50 top-ten hits, released well over 30 non-Beatles albums and was inducted eight years ago in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

But perhaps what in time may prove to be his most notable achievement is not as his website implies, the marrying of a supermodel half his age, but his current flirtation or infatuation with dancehall music.

Following in a long celebrated tradition of reggae/rock fusion for which Bob Marley is noted, influencing the likes of Eric Clapton, Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones, and the Police to mention a few, McCartney reaching out to dancehall can be seen as an appropriate acknowledgment that this Jamaican music genre is the missing ingredient in his almost full memory.

And what better way for the former member of the Beatles (the group whose music was quite popular in Jamaica), to complete the cycle, than to meet with this dynamic dancehall's triumvirate in Sizzla, Lady Saw and Cherine Anderson along with the twin icons of the Taxi Gang whose musical magnetism is international.

There is the hope that in the not-too-distant future, a world tour, or at least, repeat the rounds he made recently appearing in gigs at a Hollywood record shop, following shows in London and New York, attracting scores of fans performing classics like " he Long And Winding Road", "Hey Jude" and "Get Back", except this time round include these pre-eminent dancehall performers. One sure way of having everyone nodding their heads.

The song can be downloaded off of iTunes if you live in the UK. It is not available to the US yet on iTunes US.

July 5, 2007 -- Daily Mail

Sir Paul - pictured by Mary McCartney - goes under the hammer in Linda's memory

Mary McCartney is selling 36 of her celebrity photographic portraits - including one of Sir Paul - in her mother's memory.

Linda McCartney died from breast cancer in 1998.

Mary, a photographer like her mother, is selling the images to raise money for the Cancerbackup charity.

"As a photographer herself, she was my inspiration. I remember looking through her contact sheets as a child and being fascinated. Our styles are similar."

The photographs going under the hammer include Mary's intimate portraits of some of today's biggest stars including Bono, Jude Law and Tracey Emin.

The 37-year-old said: "Losing my mother prematurely has had a profound impact on my life in that it has made me appreciate the people around me.

"If I have one great sadness, it's that my mother never got to meet my two wonderful sons, Arthur, eight, and Elliot, four."

Mary said her mother's oncologist introduced the family to Cancerbackup. "They were invaluable, giving us emotional support and crucial information to help us understand the process. It feels like a privilege to give something back."

Mary said she was devastated by her mother's diagnosis. "I was relatively lucky in that my mother was living almost normally until the last few days of her life. I tried to spend as much time with her as I could."

The photographs are expected to fetch between £1,200 ($2,400) and £5,000 ($10,000) each at the Oxo Tower auction tomorrow.

Cancerbackup provides information, advice and support for cancer patients, their families and carers.

The 65-year-old, worth over £800 million ($1.6 billion), says: "I'll go on a bus and people will look at me a bit weird, you know, 'What is he doing on a bus?' And then they go, 'Well he's on a bus', and I go, 'I'm on a bus'."

He adds in Clash magazine: "I make sure I can do it. All you have to do is go and do it."

Well he has got a free pass...

Heather Mills is going to be neighbours with her estranged husband Sir Paul McCartney.

The former model, 39, is hunting for a new home a few miles from the ex-Beatle's sprawling state in Peasmarsh, East Sussex, for the sake of their daughter Beatrice, three.

A close friend revealed: "Six months ago, this would have been inconceivable. But they think it will be best for Bea to have both parents close in case she needs them."

Heather who plans to sell her £2 million ($4 million) art deco beachfront house in Hove, is looking in Rye - three miles from Paul.

Paul McCartney to headline Live Earth

The former Beatle is in talks with organisers about performing at the spectacular concert at London's new Wembley Stadium on Saturday (July 7).

According to reports, former US Vice President Al Gore - who has organised a series of concerts across the world to highlight the dangers of global warming - decided to personally approach McCartney after discovering the strict vegetarian and animal rights campaigner was a fan of his documentary 'An Inconvenient Truth.'

A source told Britain's Daily Mirror newspaper, "It's true that Paul has been asked to take part. He said the cause is very close to his heart and he has been impressed with what Gore has been doing to highlight it, but he's still deciding."

If McCartney, 65, declines the offer Madonna is expected to close the event.

The 48-year-old singer will perform a four-song set - including 'Ray of Light' and 'Hey You,' a track she has written especially for the concert - but it has not yet been decided where in the schedule she will appear.

Other acts confirmed to perform include the Beastie Boys, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Keane, Snow Patrol and David Gray. Genesis, fronted by Phil Collins, will kick off proceedings.

The 24-hour Live Earth concert series will begin in Sydney on Saturday and continue across seven continents with shows in Tokyo, Shanghai, Johannesburg, London, Hamburg, Istanbul and Rio de Janeiro, before concluding in New York.

LRMA to feature photo exhibit of works by Linda McCartney

The Lauren Rogers Museum of Art in Laurel will present "Linda McCartney's Sixties ­ Portrait of an Era" on display July 19 through Sept. 20 in the Lower Level Galleries. This exhibition was organized by the Estate of Linda McCartney in cooperation with the Bruce Museum of Greenwich, Conn.

The exhibit includes 51 of Linda Eastman McCartney's spontaneous photographs of some of the greatest names in the world of rock music captured in black and white on exquisite platinum prints, silvertone, and in color. Among the many bands and musicians portrayed are The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Aretha Franklin, The Rolling Stones, The Who, B. B. King, Janis Joplin, Ray Charles, The Grateful Dead, The Mamas and the Papas and more.

McCartney's career as an internationally renowned photographer spanned twenty-five years. Her exclusive photographs of The Rolling Stones taken in 1966 aboard a yacht sailing Manhattan's Hudson River marked her breakthrough into the world of music and commercial photography.

She covered the American music scene first as house photographer at New York City's famous Fillmore East concert hall, and then as the pioneering photographer for the start-up publication Rolling Stone.

In 1967, while on assignment in London, she met the Beatles. She married Paul McCartney two years later. She worked as a photographer throughout her life, even as she raised four children and toured with her husband.

Her work was largely inspired by two American icons of photography, Dorothea Lange and Walker Evans, whose influence is visible in her ability to catch the beauty of frozen moments and candid glimpses. McCartney's spontaneous style was the perfect match for that live-for-the-moment decade.

In addition to images from the Sixties, the exhibition features a short film, Paul McCartney's "The Grateful Dead ­ A Photofilm," as well as a group of three later photographs which serve as an epitaph to her photographic career.

One of these later photographs, Stallion and Standing Stone II, was featured in an exhibition that opened only a few weeks after her death in 1998.

In 1987, she was voted "U.S. Photographer of the Year" by Women in Photography, which led to an exhibition of her work at New York City's prestigious International Center of Photography. McCartney's work has been exhibited widely in the United States, the United Kingdom, South America, and Australia.

Opening events will include a Gallery Talk by Gabriele Abbott, North American Tour Coordinator for the Estate of Linda McCartney, at 6 p.m. July 19, with a Sixties Party following from 7-9 p.m.

This exhibit is sponsored by Foil Wyatt Architects & Planners, Laurel Ford, Lincoln, Mercury & Kia, Merrill Lynch, Jones County Medical Supplies, Laurel Bone & Joint Clinic and Reeder, Street & Thames.

The Lauren Rogers Museum of Art is located at the corner of Fifth Avenue and Seventh Street in historic downtown Laurel. The galleries are open from 10 a.m.-4:45 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and 1-4 p.m. Sundays. Admission is free, but donations are accepted. For more information, call (601) 649-6374 or visit www.LRMA.org.

Lauren Rogers Museum of Art
565 N. Fifth Avenue
Laurel, Mississippi
Telephone (601) 649-6374

The Stereogum Interview: Paul McCartney

Stereogum doesn't do traditional interviews, but when offered face time with Paul McCartney we ignored the staff handbook and sent Brandon into Manhattan armed with a page of questions and instructions not to embarrass us...

It's not often you get to share a couch with rock royalty. I reminded myself that when I was scheduling my day, so I showed up a few minutes early to NY Noise on June 14th, not wanting some subway logjam to make me lose my spot. Upon arrival I learned Sir Paul, who I was earlier told I could call "Paul," was running behind schedule, that I should maybe grab lunch.

When I returned to the studio 45 minutes later, I didn't want Paul to notice my coffee wasn't from Starbucks, so I decided to finish it outside. [Isn't that cute? ­Ed] Within seconds he came ambling down the street. The stories you hear (or read about in the New Yorker) are true: Everyone recognizes him; folks stop awestruck in their tracks. The best interaction: Some woman with a dog shouts, "I love your music" and Paul replies, more or less, "I love your dog." When he got closer, he asked his companion to snap a photo (or press play on the Paul Cam recorder) in front of the studio. I was framed in the shot, so I took two steps to the right, deciding to let him slip past and introduce myself later.

Unable to finish the somehow endless cup of Joe, I went inside and spent some time in "the waiting room" listening to folks talk about how the album was doing on radio. There were two radio DJ's scheduled to interview Paul; I was surprised at how shocked I felt to realize radio still existed. After about 20 minutes I was called into the office.

McCartney was sitting on a couch downstairs in a smaller, darker studio room. He stood up when I entered, and we shook hands. He's obviously given thousands of interviews, knows the drill, and as I expected, he was jovial and polite. The one thing I didn't expect, though, was for our discussion to begin with him asking the questions. He was curious about my tattoos and wanted to know the stories behind them. I gave brief explanations, trying not to cut into our time. Listening back to the tape, I basically rushed him ("Um, Pynchon and that's from this other book."). Sorry, Paul.

All said the interview went well. We didn't have that much time and I decided to focus on technology instead of asking for Beatles anecdotes or riffs on the new album (which, while not a full return to form, definitely has some good material). No, I don't write for Wired, but I was genuinely curious to know his thoughts on leaks, rips, and downloads. We ran out of time before I could query about the origins of the computer-era pun of Memory Almost Full.

During our talk, he sipped from a large a.k.a. venti Starbucks cup. I continued to sip from my no-name cup and couldn't help but wonder who was having the better coffee experience.

Note: After we said our goodbyes, I passed Whoopi Goldberg on the street. I should've told her McCartney was around the corner, but was too busy listening back to the recording, making sure I could hear Paul loud and clear.

STEREOGUM: Memory Almost Full's available as a digital download. The Beatles, as well as you in your solo work and with Wings, are known for pioneering recording techniques, audio fidelity. Are you concerned about people listening to the new album on crappy computer speakers?

PAUL MCCARTNEY: I figure people make that choice themselves. Anyone who's concerned about that would probably get the vinyl. We used to listen to stuff on the beach on a mono radio [makes mono music sound] and it still sounded cool. There was no fidelity, never mind low. It was just a record; it was just the vibe of the record. So I'm used to that. So no, I'm not really concerned; I think it's the peoples' choice. If you're a hi-fi nut, you'll get great equipment. There's a version you can get that's very hi-fi: Mr. David Kahne, in the studio here, provides great, top-grade sound. Like I say, if you want to listen to it on crap speakers that's your choice. [Laughs] But I would advise you not to 'cause there's so much better stuff in there if you actually hear it.

STEREOGUM: The Beatles discography's available on iTunes soon. What're your thoughts on that?

PM: I think it's good. We've been through a lot of media. We startedoff on vinyl -- all our music was only vinyl, because nothing else was available. Then it was the tape cassette: It was kind of "Wow, that's cool," and so we listened to stuff on tape cassette, mainly because it was portable. The feature of that was that if we did a mix in the early days of the Beatles, we would just put one of these little Phillips tape-cassette machines on the board and get a rough idea of the song we'd just done. Going back in the van we'd play it. We didn't put it through speakers, we weren't that sophisticated -- that came later, we did get little jacks and were able to do that. But at that time it was just great to take the mix home to Liverpool. Then you got CDs. They were sort of the new thing, and it was good to hear stuff on that. Now you have downloading, Internet. So, to me it doesn't really matter. To me it's the songs.

You can always go back to the original; you can always go back to the media that was intended. Some vinyl nuts will have a record player and the original vinyl records for the Beatles, and you're hearing it as we made it. A lot of engineer friends of mine will say that's the best way to listen to it. I was interested to hear the theory of vinyl vs. CDs. One of my engineers said we record something and the frequencies will go [makes high-pitched frequency sound] and beyond that we can't hear, but they are on the vinyl. Similarly, the other way [makes low-pitch sound] those frequencies that are in the bass. You can't hear them, but they're there in the vinyl. You can measure them on VU meters, but our ears can't pick them up. So he said, that's why vinyl's better. That's why people think of it as warmer and fuller, because it actually is. Whereas a CD, if you go [makes high-pitched sound again] the CD doesn't need any information above that, so it goes to whatever it is -- 5,000 KH -- and cuts off. Similarly in the bass. That's why engineers, some of my engineers anyway, don't think this is good. I think it's gotten better, for one reason or another, but I'm not a great audio guy I kind of will listen on anything -- to me the spirit of the song is more important. I like listening on great equipment, but I figure it's up to people.

STEREOGUM: Do you personally download music?

PM: I don't. Well, yeah, I do a little bit for iPod. I had a little period when I was on tour that I used my iPod quite a bit. On the plane, coming home after a gig where you've suddenly got a couple of hours, where you're just sitting around doing nothing -- that was the ideal time. I downloaded some stuff for that, just some albums I liked for late-night listening, instead of reading a book on the plane. But day-to-day I don't really do that. I'm more sort of a radioman or CD.

STEREOGUM: Recently a DJ in Chicago got a hold of the new WhiteStripes album prior to its release and played the entire thing on the air. Jack White, one half of the band, called the DJ up and, basically, let her have it. What are your thoughts on leaks and people ripping music to the web, etc?

PM: That's a pity. It is a pity just because these guys do it for a living. Artists, that's how they make the money. I don't think anyone would enjoy going into the paymaster at the end of the week and saying, "Can I have my wages," and he says, "No, sorry, some other guy just came in and had them. He just copied them and you're not getting paid this week.' Which is sorta what it's like. There was some young girl quite a few years ago now, when it first started happening with Napster, and it was quite a contentious idea, she said -- a young Italian girl -- she said, "I pick up all my music free off the Internet." I said, "That's very nice for you, but the artist who made it isn't getting paid." I said, "How do you feel, you go into your TV station the end of the week and don't get paid..." Let's say the artist has a family, a new baby or something ... you need some dough, you know. So I think that's a pity. I like now the fact that people are getting more pay.

So it is unfortunate, but it's a modern phenomenon you can't really escape. People can just pick it up. I was just talking on the way down here in the car about music biz and why it's down and we just figure because you can get so much of it free. You don't actually have to go and buy a CD anymore. The only people I feel sorry for are the new artists who might be relying on that as a good way to earn a living. So it's a pity if they don't get paid. But other than that, obviously it's nice for the people. [Laughs] You don't have to pay. You get a free ride. That's a nice thing. [Laughs] Everyone loves a freebie.

STEREOGUM: Speaking of the music business: You've likened contemporary record labels to dinosaurs...

PM: David Kahne, whose studio we're in, said that. He said, it's like the dinosaur sitting around discussing the asteroid. And when you talk to these guys at the labels, they're very conscious of that. Well, a lot of them are so conscious of it because they're getting little letters that say, 'you're laid off ... baby,` and that's gonna make you super conscious of it. I think a lot of them don't know how to deal with the modern phenomenon of downloading and the Internet, and what we're talking about, you know, free access. Suddenly the rug's pulled from underneath them where they had a nice little number going: You'd actually just put out a record, charge for it, and get paid. Now it's completely different, a new ball game. So, yeah, I think there is a dinosaur aspect of it and the world's changing so fast it's hard to keep up with it.

STEREOGUM: Is this why you decided to leave Capitol?

PM: My main reason was sitting with David, the producer, and just saying, "I really want to get excited about putting the next album out, I'm fed up with getting bored when release comes." It's like the end of your school year, those exams, and you know, it's not a great feeling. I don't have to take exams, in a way ... [Laughs] When I was in high school it was a reality -- I had to go and take them -- but when you've sorta got where I've got or when the band's met ... the exam is your album, and this idea of releasing it and it getting very boring and talking to a lot of corporate people about it and you find yourself yawning a lot, it just really, I just thought I don't want to do that. So we just tried to re-look at the whole thing. That meant a label change. The Starbucks people were just so passionate, they said, "Wow man, love your album" and the feedback we were getting from them, from Steve Jobs at iTunes, and from the whole new team we put that together to bring this into being, new art people and stuff, was just such a buzz that I said, "Yeah, this is what I want. I just want it to be exciting." It was exciting making it and now we've made it exciting to release it ... for us. That's really all I care about. It's kind of selfish, but why not?

STEREOGUM: Memory Almost Full debuted at #3 on Billboard. It's your highest charting solo album in ten years. Do you think this has anything to do with the label switch?

PM: I don't know, I don't know. It could be We certainly thought about this campaign. I said, "There's no point working all year to make an album and then just going to some guy you don't know, well, you put it out then. It's like, who is this guy? If he gets it wrong..." So we just said, "No no no, let's just get a bunch of people and ask 'what do you think, what do you think, what do you think?' 'I like that idea.' 'This is cool...'" It's just more exciting than sitting around and twiddling your thumbs thinking, "I hope they're doing the right thing with my record."

STEREOGUM: Okay, one backward glancing question: The 40th Anniversary of Sgt Pepper's just passed. Did you intentionally insert any references to past Beatles material in Memory Almost Full? "Nod Your Head," for instance, has a particular sound...

PM: I guess that could be a "Why Don't We Do It in The Road?" type vibe. I'm not really conscious of that. I just make music that appeals to me at the time. And because I'm me, there's naturally going to be echoes of Pepper, White Album, Revolver, whenever There's going to be echoes from throughout my writing career. I'm not really conscious of it, but I like it. It takes people to point it out to me. Some people say, 'That's really Wings, that tempo.' Is it? Cool. I like that. I must say I hadn't thought of "Nod Your Head" as Beatles-esque, but I'm happy to think it is...

STEREOGUM: Listen to it again. [Laughs]

PM: [Laughs] Yeah, we like the Beatles. The Beatles are good. Good band.

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