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November 27, 2005 -- Brian Ray Tour Blog

Hello friends!

I'm out here in the middle of the desert in Las Vegas with Paul McCartney on a trippy hot day in November. Wow, we're only 3 shows from the end of this hot US tour and I just want to keep going!

C'mon!! I mean we're all warmed up and everything, right?.. Ok.. yeah, we've played 35 shows for half a million smiling singing freaking crying screaming people, covering the continent but hell... I'm not tired.

TEXAS? Outta hand!!! Seeing the crew of the Space Shuttle Discovery walk on stage in Houston in their Blue jumpsuits was a real rush.. Now THOSE folks are rock stars! Wendy had a tear in her eye as she left the stage.. STEADY!!! Phoenix was a blast, another desert scene... Last night here in Vegas the folks were unbelievably happy for a bunch of peeps who are losing their asses gambling! We offer a vacation for 3 hours for those who need one.

Well, off to LA, my home town for our final 2 shows... melancholy sets in... du daaaaa!! [serious dark soundtrack, dramatic flair].

Listen, to keep me going, will you all be there even after the tour... offer me room service, wardrobe [with or without malfunction] and some late night parties to let me down slow?? Skip the pyro, it scares the neighbors.

I'll be playing with my own band, Brian Ray and Black Unicorn at the Viper room, Dec. 14th... 8 pm sharp!... We will be filming too, so bring your rocking-est gear! Come one, come all, ok?

Also, 500 downloads of my new iTunes exclusive, "Tears of a Clown"!! Thank you all for the kind support.

Continue head bobbing and general rocking motion. Until the next and last tour blog, signing off like William Shatner.

Love,
Brian

The former Beatle condemned images of the animals being killed in a fur market in the Guangzhou region of southern China, adding that he intends to stay away from the 2008 Beijing Olympics. He and his wife, Heather, a committed animals right supporter, also urged people to boycott Chinese goods, which drew a sharp response from the Chinese embassy in London.

In the film, shot for the People for the Ethical treatment of Animals (Peta) campaign group, dogs and cats are pictured being thrown from the top deck of a converted bus on to concrete pavements. The screaming animals, many with their paws now smashed from the fall, are then lifted up with long metal tongs and thrown over a 7ft fence.

Some are beaten by laughing workers. All are then killed and skinned for their fur. Many are believed still to be alive as their skins are peeled away.

The McCartneys looked close to tears as they watched the footage for a special report on BBC1's Six O'Clock News, to be screened tomorrow night. 'This is barbaric. Horrific,' Paul McCartney said. 'It's like something out of the Dark Ages. And they seem to get a kick out it. They're just sick, sick people.

'I wouldn't even dream of going over there to play, in the same way I wouldn't go to a country that supported apartheid. This is just disgusting. It's against every rule of humanity.'

In another piece of harrowing footage, shot by an undercover investigator connected to Peta, cats are seen squirming inside a sack, which is then thrown into a vat of steaming water. They are boiled to death and skinned by a fleecing machine.

Campaigners estimate that more than two million dogs and cats are killed for their fur in China every year. The rapidly expanding economic giant, which also farms animals such as mink for their fur, makes over half of the world's fur products.

The comments by McCartney will come as a blow for his Chinese fans - the Beatles are hugely popular in the world's most populous state.

'People think because China is going to host the Olympics then they must be coming into the modern world, but then you see this sort of stuff,' he said. 'Surely the authorities there must realise how bad this looks? How can the host nation of the Olympics be seen allowing animals to be treated in this terrible way?

'If they want to consider themselves a civilised nation, they're going to have to stop this.'

The footage also provoked fierce criticism from Heather Mills McCartney. 'I don't understand why they don't at least treat them humanely,' she said. 'Why do they have to torture them in this way? What do they get out of it? They're not even killed cleanly. I've seen so much footage where these poor creatures are clearly alive when they're skinned. And for what? For fashion? It's sick.

'People in every other country in the world should now boycott Chinese goods. If we can hit them in their pockets, maybe they'll do something to stop this.'

China's embassy in Britain strongly rejected the McCartneys' claims. A spokesman said: 'I have not seen this footage so am yet to be convinced of its authenticity. The distribution of the fur trade happens mostly in the European and American markets, so the fashion industries in Europe and America are to be at least partly blamed for this. I do not agree with the call for a boycott of Chinese goods. Sir Paul should be calling for a boycott of the fashion industry using fur in the European and American markets.'

Sir Paul McCartney is bidding to save the Liverpool Art College building where his former Beatles bandmate John Lennon studied from being torn down.

Multi-millionaire McCartney, who owns the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts (LIPA) situated next door, will try to stop the landmark college from being demolished or made into appartments.

The Institute's co-founder Mark Featherstone-Witty, says, "It would be poetic if LIPA, which is on the site of Paul's old school, and the building that was John's old art college were joined together.

"We are looking to expand, so it has come at a good time for us. I would like to see the buildings preserved for artistic purposes."

A spokesman for local tour company Cavern City Tour's Magical Mystery Bus Trip says, "That building is synonymous with The Beatles. It's where John and (his first wife) Cynthia met and there's a fantastic photo of the two sitting on the steps outside.

"Paul and George (Harrison) were at the grammar school next door. They used to jump over the adjoining wall into the art college to visit their mates."November 25, 2005 -- PaulMcCartney.com

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November 24, 2005

New Brian Ray interview in "20th Century Guitar" magazine!

Brian Ray is featured in "20th Century Guitar" magazine's December issue. The interview was done by rock journalist Robert Silverstein and the introduction was written by author Jorie B. Gracen. Pick up a copy on your newsstands.

The full-length interview will be online next month. The link will be posted.

Scalped ticket got him into concert -- briefly

Buying tickets from a scalper has always been a risky business.

Jerry Poffenroth thought he was acting cautiously when he made a ticket scalper escort him to the front door of KeyArena for the Paul McCartney concert a couple of weeks ago.

"As I was suspicious that the ticket would not be valid and perhaps fraudulent, I didn't complete the transaction until the bar code was scanned by the ticket taker," Poffenroth wrote from Mukilteo.

However, he found his seat occupied and when he sought an usher for help, the usher discovered that Poffenroth's ticket was invalid. Poffenroth was asked to leave the building and his ticket was confiscated.

Question: How could the ticket have been valid at the entrance, but later found to be a phony?

Answer: If the bar code had already been scanned, any further attempts to scan the same code should have failed. The fact that it didn't is a mistake. KeyArena administrators do not know how this glitch could have happened.

But it goes to show yet again that ticket scalping, even now that it is legal, is ripe for rip-off.

This kind of mistake happens about once every 10 concerts, said Perry Cooper, spokesman for KeyArena and the Seattle Center. Sometimes it is difficult to determine who would be the valid ticket holder in such cases, so ushers will ask patrons where they bought the ticket. If a patron says the ticket was bought from a scalper, the policy is not to honor the scalped ticket.

The ticket Poffenroth bought was made using Ticketmaster's ticketFast system. These tickets are paid for online, then downloaded in a PDF format and printed from the buyer's computer. The system is "fabulous" for convenience, said Bonnie Poindexter, Ticketmaster spokeswoman. But the company has heard of problems with people buying tickets, then making copies and selling them.

"The only way there could be two tickets with the same unique bar code is if the buyer made a copy," Poindexter said. And a legitimate buyer wouldn't want to make a copy because the copy might put the original ticket in jeopardy.

Each ticket is assigned an individual bar code. KeyArena does not allow re-entry, so once the bar code is scanned at the entrance, it can't be used again. For example, if a scalper buys a ticket, makes copies then sells those tickets, at least one of those tickets will work. Any others will have been canceled.

Whether downloaded or in their traditional card form, tickets also can be invalidated before a performance if they were bought with a stolen credit card. So, a thief could buy a bunch of tickets and sell them right away as real tickets, but they could be rendered worthless before the event.

Poindexter said she did not know how often that happens, but it's a growing problem.

"Buying a ticket in the secondary marketplace is risky," she said.

Neither Poffenroth nor KeyArena nor Ticketmaster knows whether the man sitting in the seat Poffenroth thought he bought was the original buyer, but probably not. There is no way to find out now.

Poffenroth could have approached the man and found out if he, too, had bought from a scalper. He could have taken down the buyer's name and ticket information, too. But he didn't want to make a scene.

"There are so many things I wish I did differently," he said.

Speaking out for turkeys this holiday season, Heather Mills McCartney has recorded a PSA for the animal group Viva!USA. It focuses on the amputation of turkeys' toes by farmers and implores the public to forgo eating turkeys this holiday season.

"When I found out from my friends at Viva!USA that turkeys have their toes cut off or microwaved, I was shocked. Amputation causes the birds great pain and many can barely walk. The procedure should be banned immediately.

"I speak out about all suffering, whether it is a result of landmines or factory farming. It's the holiday season, a time for giving thanks, and I feel it's time to give the animals something to be thankful for. For me, that means eating vegetarian -- for the holidays and every day."

Approximately 45 million turkeys are killed every year in the U.S. just for the holidays. In addition to having their toes cut off, they also have the tips of their beaks painfully cut. They are bred to grow so quickly that many have difficulty walking due to their size and inability to balance without their full toes.

Overcrowding causes aggression in which animals may claw each other. The industry responds by cramming thousands of birds into sheds and cutting off body parts rather than giving them more room.

"Most people oppose cruelty to animals, but they just have no idea about what takes place in factory farms. Paul and I are 100 percent committed to Viva!'s campaign to end the suffering."

Heather closes the new PSA by saying: "Go on, celebrate life -­ and save one!"

To view the PSA Click here.

To broaden the reach of its groundbreaking partnership with Paul McCartney, Lexus has created an integrated marketing campaign to reach McCartney fans and Lexus owners at multiple touch points. The partnership -- which runs through March 2006 -- represents the first time McCartney has ever partnered with a commercial brand in his distinguished career.

"My partnership with Lexus is a natural fit. Lexus and I share the same philosophy and approach to creating the best work possible -- me with my music and art and Lexus with the vehicles they create," said McCartney. "This is a fun and rewarding experience for all."

"The Paul McCartney US Tour Presented by Lexus offers us a unique opportunity to align with such an icon and create memorable experiences for fans and Lexus owners," said Keith Dahl, Lexus national event marketing manager. "We wanted this to be an experience that would be remembered long after the concert series is over." Lexus' marketing extensions include the following:

* Paul McCartney Signature Edition RX 400h -- Lexus has created a single, one-of-a-kind Paul McCartney-themed RX 400h to benefit Adopt-a-Minefield, an organization dedicated to resolving the global landmine crisis and a charity close to McCartney's heart. The vehicle features McCartney's famous Hofner Bass and VOX amplifier throughout the design and will be awarded with a 1962 reissue Hofner Bass and VOX amplifier to the winner of Adopt-a-Minefield's online fundraising sweepstakes at www.landmines.org. The vehicle will be traveling with the concert tour and will be on display at each venue.

* Lexus Experience -- To support the launch of McCartney's new CD "Chaos And Creation In The Backyard," Lexus has created a special sweepstakes that gives McCartney fans one more opportunity for tickets to his sold-out concert tour. Fans that purchase specially marked CDs at select retail outlets obtain a unique code to enter the sweepstakes for a chance to win one of five prizes, including a Lexus Experience at McCartney's final concert in Los Angeles. The winner of this prize will receive a trip for two to Los Angeles, stay at the Peninsula Beverly Hills and be chauffeured in a Lexus to the McCartney concert. Other exciting prizes include the world's first luxury hybrid SUV Lexus RX 400h, a premium Mark Levinson home sound system and collections of McCartney's music.

* McCartney and Lexus Partnership Web site -- Lexus owners and McCartney fans interested in listening to McCartney's new music or learning more about him and the special programs Lexus has created to celebrate the sponsorship, can visit the McCartney micro site at www.Lexus.com/McCartney. Fans can also purchase McCartney's new CD on the site.

* Special Owner Benefits -- Lexus has created many memorable programs for its customers: -- A special Paul McCartney music compilation CD, titled "Motor of Love," featuring music selected by McCartney, was packaged with his new CD and given to Lexus dealers to provide to their customers. -- Lexus also held a special ticket sweepstakes on the Lexus owner web site to award several lucky owners two tickets each to McCartney concerts in each tour city. -- Additionally, Lexus owners received an exclusive peak into McCartney's life through two feature articles in the Lexus magazine.

* Lexus Hospitality -- In select tour markets, Lexus is hosting invitation-only hospitality events that pay homage to McCartney's varied artistic career, featuring his artwork, photographs, poems, animations and children's books.

* Advertising -- McCartney lent his new hit song "Fine Line" to Lexus for the new RX 400h luxury hybrid SUV advertisement titled "Alternative." McCartney, a long-time environmentalist, owns an RX 400h, and it was Lexus' commitment to environmental consciousness that made for a particularly attractive partnership. In addition to "Alternative," Lexus is running a print advertisement titled "Green Carpet," which features the Lexus RX 400h against a white background with a green carpet leading to the vehicle. The ad highlights Lexus' sponsorship of the McCartney concert and will run in various lifestyle publications such as Entertainment Weekly and Vanity Fair.

For more information about the "Paul McCartney 'US' Tour Presented by Lexus" visit www.lexus.com/mccartney.

POP: McCartney talks of new music, new wife, new openness

Paul McCartney comes to American Airlines Center tonight on the heels of Chaos and Creation in the Backyard, arguably his best album in 20 years ­ though, admittedly, that isn't saying that much (anyone listen to Press to Play lately?)

On Chaos, Sir Paul sounds invigorated by working with Nigel Godrich, the demanding 33-year-old producer behind Radiohead and Beck. But as always, Mr. McCartney downplays his new songs onstage in favor of Beatles classics: He's doling out nearly two dozen Fab Four hits during his 2 12-hour concerts.

We spoke with him by phone last weekend before his show in Anaheim, Calif. ­ the first concert ever broadcast to the international space station. "We're gonna be spaced out, man," he said in that familiar sing-song voice. "It's quite trippy."

Question: Did you think you had an album this good left in you?

McCartney: Without sounding too big-headed, yeah. Actually, on this one, I was determined to make a very good album. Normally, I'd say to myself, 'I hope I make a good album.' But this time, I said to myself, 'I'm going to make a good album.' So I kind of brought myself on the line, on the spot, which meant I had to be careful to find someone who could help me with the production. So, yeah, I did think I had it in me.

Question: How does being happily married again affect your music ­ or is that not a factor?

McCartney: I think it's good for it really. All you need is love. You know, we all have our ups and downs, but for me, this has been a good period, and it coincides with the period since I met Heather, so I do see some sort of link. Having said that, there are songs on the album like "Riding into Vanity Fair," which is about the darker side. So I don't think that if you're in a happy marriage it means you write happy songs ­ it's a little bit too black-and-white to put it like that. But it can give you the confidence to explore a bit further, you know?

Question: This is the first tour on which you're playing "Helter Skelter," one of the heaviest songs you ever wrote for the Beatles. Why did you never play it live before?

McCartney: I never thought to ­ but you might say that about all the others I've never done. There's so many. Originally, with the Beatles, we used to play for about a half an hour, so there just wasn't time to do all our recorded work. You had to make choices: You had to do "Please, Please Me" and "She Loves You," and maybe not "Paperback Writer."

Question: But did you avoid "Helter Skelter" in the past because of the whole Charles Manson thing? [Manson claimed the song was a call to arms for a racial war.]

McCartney: Actually, that's one of the reasons it's good to bring it back, to show that's not what the song was about. That was one man's perception of it ­ nobody else quite thought of it like that. I certainly didn't. So that was a hurdle to get over. But by doing it, I think we negate that whole theory and make it a bit silly.

Question: You're turning 64 next year, but you're not singing "When I'm Sixty Four" on this tour. Have you grown leery of that song?

McCartney: I don't feel leery about it at all. It's funny, really. You write a song about something way in the future, about an age you never expect to come. ... Let's face it, when you're 20, it's all fantasy, being 64. Sixty-five is retirement age, so that's what I was doing, saying when I'm very near to retirement age, 'Will you still need me?' It was a parody on the whole thing. I wasn't seriously thinking I'd ever reach that point. But now I am, and I'm not bothered by it at all. When I hit that age, it's going to mean something to people. I shouldn't think it'll mean that much to me, though. I'm not ageist.

Question: In a recent interview, you spoke about your lyrics by saying, "If it's good enough to take to your psychiatrist, it's good enough to make a song of." Have you spent much time in therapy?

McCartney: Just from time to time, these days; I might have had some hard times where I would need to bring somebody. ... It's not so much being in therapy as much as just knowing a couple of people who I can ring up and say, 'Oh, wow. This is really freaking me out. What do you think?' Coming from Liverpool, I grew up thinking, 'No way would I ever involve anyone else in my problems.' But the world's a different place now ... and I think it can be helpful. You need to get your emotions out ­ you can tell a friend, a loved one, your kids, or a counselor or somebody like that. In the past, I would have not considered that. Nowadays, I don't mind that kind of thing.

Question: So are you saying that the older you get, the more open you've become?

McCartney: It's true. Your horizons widen. If I was 18, I wouldn't have liked the idea of discussing or being seen to cry. The whole idea of baring your emotion would have been something I would fight, whereas now, I wouldn't. We have tears, and there's got to be a reason we have them. I'm much more comfortable talking in those areas. You learn it's OK.

Question: You've been performing concerts for nearly 50 years: What's the strangest thing you've seen during one of your shows?

McCartney: That's a hard one, because our fans are pretty straightforward and cool. We don't get very bizarre people. We've had some unusual things, like we had a guy propose to his wife in front of 20,000 people. I saw a sign in the fourth row that said, 'Can Ben propose to Melissa?' and I said, 'Yeah, sure!' Or we had three kids in Sgt. Pepper's outfits come up onstage. But our show doesn't invite really strange behavior. ... There's no dove-biting.

Question: Bono of U2 recently told Rolling Stone: "The collision of the Beatles and Bob Dylan gave us the galaxy that our planet is in" ­ implying the Beatles and Dylan weren't nearly as important alone as you were combined. Is he on to something?

McCartney: I think he is. But it's not that simple. You have to include a lot of other people. You have to include all the blues and rock 'n' roll that came before, and then you have to include the Beach Boys and Motown and all of that. It's a wider spectrum. But his is a neater, more succinct quote.

Question: You've had a pretty amazing career, but what's the one thing you'd still like to do musically, or just in general?

McCartney: There are lots of things I'd like to do. But one thing that holds me back is you don't want to be this renaissance man or jack-of-all-trades. Like painting. I just did it for myself, but after about 10 years ... after I'd done probably 500 of them ... I was asked by someone perfectly serious to do an exhibition in Germany.

I've also been taking photographs for many, many years, and it would be nice to do something with my photos, but I've resisted because of the old 'Here he goes ­ he's doing paintings and poetry and photography: Stick to your day job, buddy!'

That happened with the paintings. Some particularly sniffy English critic said 'He shouldn't be allowed to do this!'

But I do have other interests. Even things like this children's book I've got coming out (High in the Clouds: An Urban Furry Tail), which started off as a film project and then we decided to do a book instead. So then here I am, I've got a children's book. It's a byproduct of my enthusiasm, a lot of these things, and I wouldn't want to stop being enthusiastic.

Paul McCartney and opening act DJ Freelance Hellraiser perform at 7:30 p.m. Sunday at American Airlines Center, 2500 Victory Ave. Sold out.

Sean Weisser of Bloomingdale beams proudly remembering the October day he met his hero, former Beatle Paul McCartney, at the United Center.

The Glenbard South High School senior, who has Down syndrome, had written to McCartney this summer asking if he could meet him.

Surprisingly, McCartney's people responded and a meeting between the ex-Beatle, Weisser and his family was arranged at an Oct. 18 concert.

Initially it was uncertain if the two would be able to meet due to McCartney's hectic schedule, but the artist approached Weisser shortly before his performance.

The two chatted backstage and Weisser, a longtime Fab Four fan, presented McCartney with a poem that he fashioned out of some Beatles lyrics.

Weisser got photos of the two together and McCartney autographed some album covers before taking the stage.

"Wow, it was exciting just meeting him," Weisser said. "It was all like a dream come true."

What's a squirrel to do?

That's the dilemma facing an orphaned squirrel named Wirral, the central character from the new children's book High in the Clouds (Dutton, $19.99). When an evil industrialist, who believes in using animals as slaves in her factories, destroys Wirral's beautiful woodland hamlet, there's only one thing the determined little rodent can do -- free all the imprisoned animals held captive in the dark, foul-smelling city of Megatropolis and take them to the Eden-like island of Animalia!

Along for the quest are a hot-air ballooning frog named Froggo, a street-wise rat named Ratsy and a savvy red-headed squirrel named Wilhamina.

So where did all these critters come from?

That would be the imagination of Paul McCartney, who, along with co-writer Philip Ardagh and illustrator Geoff Dunbar, has penned his first book for the young set.

The author talked to the Sun-Times about the long and winding road that led him to the world of children's books.

Q. How did the book project happen?

A. It's been something like a 10-year process, and I only mention that because I realize there's been a spate of celebrity children's books recently, and I suddenly realized, oh God, we're falling into that pool. But we started it 10 years ago with the idea that the story would be a one-off, animated film. Along the way, a publisher I'd worked with before said our story had the makings of a classic children's book, so we stopped writing a script and did a mockup of a proper book.

Q. High in the Clouds is actually quite dark in places. Would you agree that it might be too intense for very young children?

A. It's really more for 7- or 8-year-olds. For the younger children I suppose the pictures are very pretty for them to look at, but the story might a bit much for them to understand.

Q. What finally led you to the land of children's literature?

A. I felt I needed to say something specifically to children. It's not something that I'd be doing otherwise. [Laughs.] I mean, it's not something I do for a living.

It's the whole Disney thing. I'm a huge fan of the Disney animated films. They always had a message.

Take "Bambi" as an example. I grew up always thinking the hunters were baddies, and I still think that. Hunting is a senseless practice and barbaric. People like Walt Disney had a lot to do with that sensibility, that whole message that hunting is bad, that you shouldn't go around willfully shooting animals.

Linda and I were always together on the view that it's good to have respect for animals. I don't like to preach, but I wanted that message to be in my story. Disney wasn't preaching in "Bambi." All you hear is a gunshot, and you know something bad has come from that. You carry that message with you always.

Q. Did you read books to your children, and do you read to your new baby daughter?

A. I don't really want to talk about my new baby -- even though I could go on about her for five weeks if given the chance -- because she needs her privacy, you know? But I did read the [Chronicles of] Narnia books [by C.S. Lewis] to my other children. I loved to do it.

Q. Some critics have said they see hints of "Yellow Submarine" sprinkled in the book. Would you agree?

A. I didn't spot "Submarine" in the book, I must say, or any surrealism for that matter. I think that was said by a critic who hasn't read the book.

Q. So what's harder -- writing a children's book or writing music?

A. [Laughing.] Writing a children's book is much harder than writing music because I've had more practice at the latter. But they're both fascinating. I just like the creative process. It's all a matter of problem solving in a sense. Doing a song like "Eleanor Rigby" -- I'm starting off that it's an old lady, then it moves on to wearing a face. It's the same sort of thing when you're writing a book, really. You have to figure out where your story is going and how to take the reader there. In the end, I love them both.

Paul McCartney poses with his wife Heather Mills McCartney before the Adopt-A-Minefield fifth annual gala, Tuesday, Nov. 15, at the Beverly Hilton, in Beverly Hills, CA.

Songs heard at the sound check:

Coming Up
Honey Don't
All My Loving
C Moon
Lady Madonna
The Long and Winding Road
Shake Rattle and Roll
Things We Said Today
Midnight Special
How Kind of You
Follow Me
A 50's cover song

Paul joined Tony Bennett in a special musical performance of "The Very Thought of You." It was mentioned that Bennett recorded the song which was played at Paul and Heather's wedding back in 2002. Paul messed up the lyrics to the song.

Bennett finished his set with "Fly Me To The Moon." The auction started right afterwards.

After the auction ended, Paul sang from 10:50pm to 11:30pm with his entire band.

Fly Me to the Moon (Paul sang just a few lines)
Drive My Car
All My Loving
Whole Lot of Shakin' Going On
English Tea
The Long and Winding Road
Midnight Special
Things We Said Today
I'll Follow the Sun (with 3 reprises)
Penny Lane
Get Back
Let It Be
Lady Madonna

General Motors made a one-of-a-kind vegan CTS Cadillac especially for the event with no leather interior. It was valued at $85,000. The visor was signed by Paul, Bennett and Leno. Heather bid $80,000 and won it.

Heather's dress cost $37,000 and was designed by British designer Catherine Walker who also designed gowns for Princess Diana. Jay Leno mentioned that Paul had stepped on it all night and Heather said Paul's hands had been all over it. Someone asked if they would throw in the panties, and Heather said, "If I'm wearing any." There was one bid for about $10,000.00. Paul bid $15,000.00 and won it.

Other items auctioned:

Paul's plate, knife, fork, napkin autographed--sold for $5,000

Paul's autographed saucer-- sold for $4,000

Tony Bennett's painting of an iris in a vase--sold for $65,000

Columbian rock star Juanes' guitar-- sold for $16,000

Gibson guitar (replica of guitar Paul used on Ed Sullivan)--sold for $70,000

"White "album signed by four Beatles-- sold for $85,000

The event raised over $3 million for the charity.

Celebs attending the event included: Jay Leno, Kenny Loggins, Ray Romano, Josh Groban, Pamela Anderson, Quincy Jones, Andy Garcia, Cameron Crowe, Cheryl Hines, JC Chasez, Julia Ormond, Alec Baldwin and Columbian rock star Juanes.

The brother of Beatles legend Sir Paul McCartney yesterday pleaded not guilty to charges of indecent touching.

Mike McCartney, 61, appeared at Chester Crown Court to enter his plea following the alleged incident at a pub on the Wirral in September last year.

McCartney, who was appearing under his real name of Peter, showed little emotion during the plea and directions hearing.

The photographer and former member of 1960s band The Scaffold has consistently denied the charges and has been supported by older brother Sir Paul.

Father-of-six McCartney was also appointed as cultural ambassador for the Wirral region last year.

His Counsel told the court that they may bring a case for abuse of process against the prosecution. They also made a request to see prosecution evidence which has so far been denied to them.

Judge Peter Clarke said: "It has taken 14 months to get here and that does not seem to be to anybody's benefit - either the complainant or particularly the defendant, Mr McCartney, on what are relatively simple allegations.

"I suppose we will find out why in the course of the proceedings."

McCartney, of Heswall, was granted unconditional bail and will appear at Chester Crown Court again on February 20 for trial.

Raising awareness of a pervasive global problem while raising hopes for a safer world, the fifth annual Adopt-A-Minefield(R) gala took place last night, November 15th, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills. A leader in addressing the worldwide landmine crisis, the organization raised approximately $2 million through the evening's ticket sales and auction items, plus an additional $1 million dollars generously donated by Gibson Guitars. Adopt-A-Minefield hopes to raise more through an online auction that kicked off last night and will run through November 29. MC'd by Jay Leno, the gala was hosted by Adopt-A-Minefield Goodwill Ambassadors Heather Mills McCartney and Paul McCartney, who shared the stage with Tony Bennett as the evening's headline performers.

The centerpiece of the evening was its spotlight of two honorees: Farah Ahmedi, a 17-year-old Afghan refugee and landmine survivor now living and attending school in Chicago and serving as Adopt-A-Minefield's new Youth Ambassador, and Juanes, the twelve-time Latin Grammy winner and one of Time Magazine's "100 Most Influential People in the World," whose Spanish-language songs have become anthems of peace across the globe. As a figure at the forefront of landmine awareness and removal in his native Colombia, Juanes' award officially launches Adopt-A-Minefield's new initiative to raise funds for survivor assistance in Colombia.

Attending the benefit gala were such celebrities such as Ray Romano, Tony Bennett, Alec Baldwin, Pam Anderson, Quincy Jones, Andy Garcia, Cameron Crowe, Cheryl Hines, JC Chasez, Julia Ormond, Josh Groban and January Jones.

A silent auction began as cocktails were served, followed by dinner and a live auction led by Master of Ceremonies Jay Leno. Among those items up for bid at the gala: a custom-designed "vegan" Cadillac CTS Sport Vehicle signed by Paul McCartney and Tony Bennett; a Prototype No. 2, of only two made, of the limited-edition Paul McCartney Epiphone Texan Series from Gibson Guitar (identical to the one he used to record "Yesterday"); and one of the evening's biggest highlights was a copy of the legendary White Album signed by all four Beatles, that went for $85,000.

The Adopt-A-Minefield event also served to launch its second annual online auction, which will run through November 29 at www.CharityFolks.com. Music lovers can bid on instruments autographed by the likes of Sting, Phil Collins, James Taylor, John Mayer and Tom Petty; the chance to play golf with Alice Cooper at his private course in Scottsdale, to visit the set of the TV show Reba or to enjoy VIP tickets to shows by Duran Duran, Joss Stone and Cyndi Lauper. Not to mention first-class vacations to London, Hawaii, the Caribbean and other destinations, as well as boxing gloves personalized to the winner by pugilist legend Muhammad Ali.

Charity Folks is also hosting a sweepstakes for a Paul McCartney Signature Edition Lexus RX 400h luxury hybrid SUV. The vehicle's graphic theme reflects two items that have become iconic of McCartney's image and career -- a 1962 Hofner bass and VOX(R) AC30 amplifier. Their lines and textures are incorporated throughout the vehicle design in a way that is both dramatic and classic. Estimated between $500,000 and $1 million in value, the sweepstakes includes a 1962 reissue Hofner bass, VOX AC30 amp, U.S. tour merchandise and McCartney CD catalog. No purchase is necessary, but sweepstakes participants receive one entry for every $10 (up to $50) they donate to Adopt-A-Minefield. The sweepstakes runs through March 31, 2006 and the winner will be selected on or about April 15th.

It's been gratifying to see so much money raised through our first five galas alone. But while we work diligently to clear minefields and help survivors, we must stop production of new mines entirely to rid the world of these deadly, unnecessary weapons," said Paul McCartney, noting the cost of producing a landmine (as little as $3) compared to the cost of removal (up to $1,000). "We've come a long way since the 1997 treaty that bans the use, production, stockpiling and transfer of mines, but we have a long way to go. Although it's been ratified by 135 countries, the U.S., China and Russia have not, and it's critical that the international community continues to pressure these nations to 'clear a path to a safer world,'" stated Heather Mills McCartney.

Paul McCartney and wife host land mine benefit in Beverly Hills

A child is killed by a land mine every 18 minutes, guests were told at the fifth annual Adopt-a-Minefield benefit gala hosted by Paul McCartney and his wife, Heather Mills McCartney.

Governments should "listen to the voice of the people" and sign a treaty banning the deadly devices, Paul McCartney told AP Television News on the arrivals line for Tuesday night's event at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.

"People don't like land mines, especially the survivors and the people who are living in the countries with them," McCartney said. "They think they are cowardly, like we do, so I think it's down to the governments to actually just listen to the people and sign the treaty and get rid of all these things and there would be an end to it."

Adopt-a-Minefield, a leader in addressing the pervasive global crisis, holds the annual benefit to raise money for mine clearance and landmine-survivor assistance.

On Tuesday, about 1,000 guests dined on a vegan dinner and were entertained by special musical performances by Paul McCartney and singing legend Tony Bennett. A silent auction took place as cocktails were served, followed by dinner and a live auction led by talk show host Jay Leno, who served as the master of ceremonies.

Other guests included actors Pam Anderson, Alex Baldwin and Andy Garcia.

Heather Mills McCartney said 135 countries have signed the Mine Ban Treaty, but the U.S., Russia and China have not.

"We've cleared 21 million meters of square land at Adopt-A-Minefield," she said. "It only takes $30 to make a child walk again, so you can make a difference."

The Colombian rock star Juanes, recent winner of a Latin Grammy, was honored for his role as Goodwill Ambassador for "United for Colombia," a nonprofit organization that raises awareness about the impact of land mines within Colombia.

The government has signed the land mine ban treaty but guerillas and paramilitary forces continue to lay them, Juanes said.

"More than 120,000 land mines are still being planted (in Colombia), mainly by the guerillas," Juanes said. "It's incredible just to think that every day in Colombia we have two victims of land mines and that's really difficult."

Also honored was a 17-year-old Afghan refugee and land mine survivor named Farah Ahmedi, who now attends school in Chicago and serves as Adopt-A-Minefield's Youth Ambassador.

Less than 24 hours after the clothes went on sale opportunists have put items on the internet site with a huge mark up. Skinny jeans fetched bids for £79.99 ($144) in comparison to the retail price of £39.99 ($72).

An oversized trench coat that retails at £79.99 reached bids of £122 ($220). Other items on sale include a beige silk wrap dress, black tuxedo style jacket and silk jumpsuit.
The one off 30 piece collection went on sale on November 10th and the hordes of shoppers cleared the rails within minutes. According to reports sales assistants struggled to replenish the stock eventually dumping piles of clothes on tables.

A spokeswoman for H&M said: "It has been a very good day for H&M. We are very pleased that everyone, from the critics to the general public, has recognised that this is a wonderful collection."

Hey, y'all! it's 1 in the a.m. and I wanted to write to you.

So, what have you been up to? We have been to outer space and back in the last 24 hours. Ha ha ha! Wow.. really.. maybe you heard, maybe not.. At the Anaheim Pond Saturday night with Paul McCartney we were connected to the international space station during our show there... some 250 miles from us. "We send our love to you from earth!" Paul said in the most understated way. We played 2 songs for them, English Tea and Good Day Sunshine. That has never been done before, and isn't likely to be done again in our lifetime.. WOW [with out words]. Wish you were all there too.. not in space but at the Pond, that is!

Since we talked last, we've been working from LA, so I'm back in my own place.. Guess what happened again? Woke up going, hmmm what's the layout of THIS hotel..? Aahhhh.... I'm HOME! I love that feeling.

Seattle was rockin' Portland was so wet and so fun! I love the P.N.West. MORE!
In San Jose we did 2 nights and filmed them both. The crowd was outta hand and my niece, Meredith and her friend Nicole were there to party like it's 1999.. [WHAT?.. oh, it already was!]

While I was there, the good folks from Apple iTunes and Universal [UMe] took me to lunch and showed me around the place.. Man! BIG shout out to Jay, Amy, Cameo, Mark and all for their hospitality.. LOVE you guys!! BTW... Did you all see and hear my FRONT PAGE song at iTunes? My version of Smokey's "Tears of a Clown" is there right now for your listening and purchasing pleasure.
Hope you dig it.. I do it ALL for you. Thanks for tuning in!

Great reviews on my CD, Mondo Magneto coming in, too. Big heyooo to Caroline and Fiona who have been working hard to get these CDs out to all of you who have bought them.

I luv all y'all! [practicing for Texas!]

See ya 'round the campfire,
Yours truly,

Brian

P.S. I'm working on a record release party in LA in Dec... Stay tuned, and rock onward!

Photo: Bill Bernstein

Paul serenades the Space Station

Paul talked live to the International Space Station crew from his Saturday evening concert (November 12) in Anaheim, CA. While the weightless astronauts, American Bill McArthur and Russian Cosmonaut Valery Tokarev, sipped tea from tubes attached to plastic bags. Paul performed "English Tea" from his new album. The astronauts were shown on the video screens behind Paul. Next Paul played NASA's historic "wake up call" for Discovery's astronauts from their July mission which featured the Beatles classic, "Good Day Sunshine." Afterwards Paul performed the song.

VIDEO 1, VIDEO 2

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November 13, 2005 -- AP

Space crew wakes to 'Good Day Sunshine '- McCartney says hello through live uplink

It was "Good Day Sunshine" for the international space station crew Sunday morning.

NASA astronaut Bill McArthur and Russian cosmonaut Valery Tokarev were treated to a live wake-up call of the Beatles classic in a first-ever concert linkup to the space station.

On Earth, former Beatle Sir Paul McCartney performed the hit and another song, "English Tea," on Saturday night before a cheering crowd as part of his 11-week "US" tour.

The performance was beamed from the West Coast to the space station crew 220 miles above Earth and broadcast on NASA television, which showed live feeds from space.

McArthur and Tokarev bobbed up and down and sipped from squeeze pouches through the show, getting a rousing cheer from the audience.

"I can't believe that we're actually transmitting to space!" McCartney said. "This is sensational. I love it."

McArthur, who did a couple flips, noted McCartney's creative achievements and thanked him for playing the songs.

"That was simply magnificent," McArthur said. "We consider you an explorer just as we are."

It is a tradition to wake astronauts up with recorded songs, but this marked the first time astronauts listened to live music from space.

The rock icon came up with the idea after learning that NASA's Mission Control used "Good Day Sunshine" to wake up the Space Shuttle Discovery astronauts in August with word that conditions were favorable to return to Earth.

The wake-up call marked the space station crew's 44th day of a planned six month mission in space.

November 13, 2005 --- Macca Report Exclusive!

Close encounter with Paul at Los Angeles book signing

This morning as I was applying make-up and brushing my hair, I had the strangest sensation knowing that I was doing this for PAUL McCARTNEY!!!

I arrived at Borders with my husband, Dan, and my 10-year-old daughter Kirstie right at 9:30 am. We were asked to be there by 10 am so I made sure we weren't late. At 11:30am, they started lining up everyone according to the number on your voucher. We had #50 & 51, so we were close to the front of the line. At 11:59 am, we were watching and waiting for Paul to arrive in his Lexus. There were a couple of black Lexus SUV's driving around and doing U-turns. They parked across the street and started driving around again. I guess they were scoping the place out.

While we waited, Paul's personal security people went over the rules with us. "You can scream all you want when Paul arrives, but you have to keep quiet as a mouse when he's inside reading to the children. When you enter to meet Paul, he will hand you a book. Say 'thank you', shake his hand and move along. No time for chit-chat. They want as many fans as possible to have the chance to meet Paul. "

Around 12:10 pm Paul arrived at the front entrance in a black Lexus SUV. Since security told us we could scream all we want, people did just that--yelled out PAUL!!! I couldn't see anything from my vantage point and I didn't really care knowing I'd see him later anyway.

Photographers came out of nowhere, including onlookers from across the street who were glad to get the shot they wanted and walked away happy.

I was really impressed at how well organized the event went, and at how much security Paul has. He's probably got as much, if not more so, than the president! Seriously. Like secret service men--everywhere!! They were strict, but courteous and nice. They joked around with us more than once.

As we were escorted into the book store in groups of 10-15 at a time, I noticed paramedics standing there, just incase I guess. Seeing that made me more nervous.

Paul finished reading for the first-graders while we stood inside the book store waiting to be let in. The kids walked by each holding a copy of Paul's book. I overheard one little boy say, "I'm gonna buy the newspaper so I can see my picture!" So funny.

A bookstore employee standing in front of me said, "Jimmy Carter is scheduled to come here next week. It's not gonna be as big as this."

They escorted us up a flight of stairs, and that's when I started to feel really nervous. I thought my legs were gonna fail me. We walked past their new coffee shop and through another book area next to my fav book section--photography. I picked up a couple of books and thumbed through them while I waited.

Security came by and told us to move into one single line. You had to keep showing your voucher to prove your place in line. Two young girls who worked for Borders tried to sneak in the line behind us and got in trouble with Paul's security. He told them to get out of the line and go see their supervisor. Uh-oh.

Paul was sitting behind some black curtains, and from afar, I peeked through an opening and that's when I SAW HIM!! I could see his smiling face!! He was greeting other fans.

We had to wait until the group in front of us were done. While I waited I could see Paul (his profile), right there in plain view talking to fans. It was all so surreal. That's when I turned to my husband and told him, "The more I look at HIM the more nervous I get!" He said, "Take a deep breath and just relax." Seeing how well the fans in front of us were doing, I figured, o.k., I can do this. However, I could not stop staring at Paul's face. There he was right in front of me and I thought, "My God! It's PAUL!"

Then the time came! Security told us to go ahead. I had my daughter in front of me and escorted her to the table in front of Paul. All the "High in the Clouds" books were pre-signed and stacked on a the table in front of him. I was ready to grab one, but he reached out to shake Kirstie's hand saying, "Hi." She said "Hi!" back and I said, "This is my daughter, Kirstie." Thinking that he was going to let go of her hand, I reached out mine, but he kept holding her hand, so I put my hand down feeling a little stupid.

Paul said, "We had one other one. (I'm guessing he means a child?) Now let's see,uh ...wha? I don't understand this? Why won't you let go of my hand?" he teased. "You won't let go! Someone call security." Paul turns to the guy standing next to him and says, "What's the number for security?" The guy pretends to look it up and says, "Uh..let's see."

I was gonna make up a number, but I thought, "Nah, better shut-up and just let Paul do his thing." I was laughing the entire time. Paul kept holding Kirstie's hand and looked right at her. He smiled and said, "She's thinking, what the...?" and he made a funny face. Paul was watching her expression and enjoying the moment. The entire time my daughter just kept smiling at him. I laughed and nodded my head "yes," agreeing with Paul's comment. Kirstie probably thought, "What a silly man you are."

While my daughter captivated Paul, I got to 'drink it all in' and study the face of the man I had wanted to meet for years. I could see traces of white hair, but he looked incredible. I took the opportunity to stare at him and absorb him as much as possible. It helped me to relax, seeing what a normal guy he is and easy going.

Paul finally handed Kirstie an autographed book and she walked away. That's when he looked at me. He didn't say anything at first, so I reached out my hand, shook his, and introduced myself. "Hi, I'm Trini," he looked at me, nodded and said "Hi." I was supposed to move on and walk away, which I was ready to, but I stopped myself, knowing I'd regret it if I didn't say anything to Paul. I was gonna introduce my husband, but instead I pointed at Paul and said, "You know, I'm in your book!" I thought for sure security was gonna drag me off and say that's enough lady move on! Paul looked at me confused like "what book?" And I said "Each One Believing." He nodded his head, "oh yeah" with a questioning look. I told him "I'm the girl holding that twirling light thingy," and made a circling motion with my hand. My husband giggled. Paul said, "Oh yeah, yeah. I hear a lot from fans who had their pic in the book or the video. ...I hear a lot of that." As he spoke, I was smiling from ear to ear, thinking "I can't believe this is happening!! Paul McCartney is talking to ME!!! Ohmigod!!!" And he was so easy to talk to.

I could tell security wanted to move things along, so I gestured towards my husband and quickly said, "This is my husband," and walked away. It was over for me. My husband said Paul and a security woman standing next to him looked at each other trying to figure out if Dan was supposed to get a book. Dan showed them his voucher and Paul handed him a book, but didn't say anything. Dan reached out his hand, shook Paul's and said, "Thank you Mr. McCartney for all your great music." Paul said, "You're welcome."

His hand was warm and soft and yes, I did smell my hand afterwards, which smelled like cologne, but I think it might have been soap. My daughter got the most attention from him, and I'm glad I brought her. I'll just never forget the warmth in his eyes as he looked at her face, smiled at her and teased her. It was a very loving moment between Paul and my daughter. She told me afterwards, "His hand was warm and it felt good, because my hand was cold and he kept it warm." On the way home, she read the entire book aloud.

--Trini Schultz

Besides being a grandfather, a knight, and a former Beatle, Paul McCartney is now a children's book author.

He's also about to become a human alarm clock for astronauts.

The 63-year-old singer entertained a young group of cute but squirmy elementary school students Thursday by reading an excerpt from his new book "High in the Clouds," and answering questions.

On Saturday, McCartney will provide the first-ever live wake-up call, two songs, to the crew of the International Space Station from his concert in Anaheim, Calif.

"I'm singing 'English Tea' from my new album 'Chaos and Creation in the Backyard.' I have a cup of tea in the morning, so it's something good to wake up to," McCartney told The Associated Press.

Thursday's reading got some unexpected responses from the young audience.

In the first six pages of McCartney's book, about an industrious squirrel named Wirral (named after McCartney's hometown), Wirral's mother is crushed to death by a tree knocked down by nature-hating developers. From there, he sets off for the mythic animal-loving land of Animalia.

"Why did the author make such sad stories for children?" asked one perplexed little boy.

Caught off-guard, McCartney wrapped his arm around the boy and joked, "To make children cry."

"But cheer up. It's going to be all right," he quickly added.

Since being recruited by McCartney to work on songs for "Driving Rain" in February 2001, Anderson has been McCartney's lead guitarist of choice. He has played with Sir Paul at the Academy Awards, the Super Bowl, the 9/11-tribute Concert for New York City, St. Petersburg's Palace Square and at Live 8 in London in July.

And tonight Anderson makes a triumphant return home to Orange County, clearly better known then when he appeared with McCartney at the Pond in October 2002.

In addition to the subsequent release of his solo debut, "Undressing Underwater" (released by Surfdog Records on Sept. 27), Anderson is the subject of a full-length feature in the November issue of Guitar Player magazine and has been filing a series of reports on "Breakfast With the Beatles," a radio program broadcast Sunday mornings on KLSX/97.1 FM.

Anderson has also been using McCartney's current tour to promote his own CD, making acoustic daytime performances at intimate venues in areas where he is playing with McCartney.

"I'm just kind of going with it," Anderson said. "It's not like your textbook case. I'm enjoying the process. Especially when we were out there on the East Coast it was a little easier because I was in the towns and so I'd go and do a TV show like 'Good Morning Atlanta' or one of those things and then the next day I'd play an acoustic set at Borders."

Although Anderson typically performs with his band when playing solo dates in Southern California, he has taken a different approach with these recent shows.

"I'd go do those (Borders shows) acoustically and the cool thing was the songs on the record translate well to acoustic, where you can strip it down to the melody, the chord and the lyrics, and it works. That has been a kick doing that," he explained.

Anderson said just as his skills as a guitarist and performer have improved playing alongside one of modern music's greatest songwriters, the band itself is better than ever. In addition to Anderson, McCartney's long-time backing group also includes drummer Abe Laboriel Jr., guitarist-bassist Brian Ray and keyboardist Paul "Wix" Wickens.

"Playing with the McCartney band, we did a DVD that came out that was pretty popular and we were only together a week or two - as far as gigging - when that was made," Anderson recalled of 2002's "Back in the U.S." DVD release.

"Since then, we've gotten a lot better, I think, and we continue to grow as a band and it's something you can't really put your finger on. It's interesting to watch; there is no replacement for time."

Speaking of time, Anderson will likely be among the thousands having the time of their life when McCartney and company hit the stage in Anaheim this weekend.

"Certainly, Paul as a guy to hang out with, as a guitarist, as an arranger, as a singer - in so many ways, ... it's rubbed off on me, and I think the Beatles were a big influence, given that they were the reason I started playing music when I was 5 years old," Anderson noted.

"But then on a professional level working with Paul, I've learned a lot about how to deal with the music business world and relationships with people; I think that's the biggest thing. I always see myself as this sort of introverted guy hanging out in the bedroom playing guitar."

These days, Anderson rarely gets to spend much time at his Los Angeles home. He was at home this past Saturday when we spoke, but had only arrived home earlier that day after performing in Portland the night before.

"It's like a fake home, because I come home for a day or two and then I go back out again," he said.

Information: www.rustyanderson.com.

Paul McCartney: A collaborative crusade

His latest quest for creative challenges is an ecological fable for children

Paul McCartney bursts into his dressing room and promptly unlaces his trainers. Before taking to the stage for a private concert at Toronto's Roy Thompson Hall - one stop on a recent North American tour promoting his acclaimed 20th, solo album Chaos and Creation in the Back Yard - he variously taps his feet, runs his hands through his hair and hums the opening bars of "Yellow Submarine". The greatest living rock icon is 63, but has the puckish energy of a schoolboy. "I still have a childlike wonder of the world," he says. "I never liked the idea of becoming a standard grown-up."

How fitting, then, that this overgrown kid has written a children's book. High in the Clouds (with Geoff Dunbar and Philip Ardagh; Faber, £12.99) is an ecological fable about the dangers of pollution, overpopulation and urban sprawl. It concerns Wirral, a young squirrel forced out of his pristine forest home and into the filthy city of Megatropolis when bulldozers come calling. Together with a host of woodland friends, Wirral goes on a quest to find the much-talked-about land of Animalia, where creatures live in harmony, far from encroaching evil forces. In the process, he finds himself on a larger mission to liberate animals everywhere.

High in the Clouds is, in many ways, a natural outgrowth of McCartney's child-like enthusiasms, interests, and signature voice. Tunes like "All Together Now", "Maxwell's Silver Hammer" and " Ob La Di" - staples of kindergarten singalongs everywhere - bear the stamp of a charmingly innocent view of the world. Even more thematically mature songs, like "Blackbird" and "Hey Jude", are equally loved by adults and children. He credits their success with his trademark simple, easy-to-remember style.

It's entirely appropriate, then, that at a time when ageing musicians have partnered younger acts to reach the Glastonbury demographic (Johnny Cash and U2; Loretta Lynn and Jack White), McCartney is wooing the nappy set. In a sense, he has been writing for kids all his life. He has been a voracious reader of poetry and literature all his life, too. Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island and the Captain W E Johns's Biggles series, he says, were childhood favourites: "They transported me from Liverpool. Cheaply." "Golden Slumbers" from Abbey Road is based on a Thomas Dekker poem. And, as he has said, "Eleanor Rigby" was patently Dickensian, while "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" could have been a scene from Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland .

High in the Clouds is a rich, meandering, often funny tale. While the illustrations feel somewhat wooden and the ending slightly pat, young audiences will delight in the clever wordplay and smartly-drawn comic characters like Alfredo, the weightlifting flea. The story abounds with literary references: an allusion to James Herriot's All Creatures Great and Small, a fat, bowler-hat-clad rat named Wackford (after the eponymous headmaster from Nicholas Nickleby), and an animal assembly scene straight out of Kipling's The Jungle Book.

But McCartney has no ambitions to become the next Beatrix Potter. High in the Clouds is just the latest in a long line of artistic projects to flow from his apparently limitless imagination. He is uniquely equipped to write for children, however, given his live-in focus group: his two-year-old daughter Beatrice, who, he says, loves the pictures but is too young for the words. And although High in the Clouds ends with the rather quixotic " The End/ Of the beginning," McCartney has no plans for a sequel - although a feature-length film based on the book is on his radar. Nor does he see himself as part of the growing pantheon of celebrity children's book authors such as Madonna, Julie Andrews and Sarah Ferguson, since this project actually began ten years ago - as a song.

The story and many characters are drawn from "Tropic Island Hum," a song McCartney wrote in the late Nineties. Later, he developed it into a short animated film with Linda and his long-time collaborator and friend, Geoff Dunbar. McCartney and Dunbar first joined forces in the early 1980s on the animated short Rupert and the Frog Song. Their Daumier's Law picked up a British Academy Award and Director's Choice Award at Cannes.

The pair had always dreamed of turning Tropic Island Hum into a feature-length film, so to focus ideas and pique producers' interest, they decided to create a one-off mock-up of a book. McCartney turned to Suzy Jenvey, who heads the children's division at Faber, which published his verse collection Blackbird Singing. She helped flesh out the story, saw its potential, and suggested a book. "We got pretty excited," McCartney recalls, but he felt the writing was weak and wanted someone who could lend it more grace.

Enter Philip Ardagh, author of the darkly comic and much-lauded Eddie Dickens trilogy. The two clicked immediately. When McCartney saw Ardagh's revised first chapter, a creative triumvirate was born. His " page-turning, humorous style," says McCartney, "had a command I was looking for. You see and feel it immediately, from the first page."

McCartney admired Ardagh's ability to make the story sing and to show instead of tell. "Whereas I would have written, 'Once upon a time there was a squirrel called Wirral'," says McCartney, quoting the opening lines, "Ardagh opened with 'Wirral the squirrel was lying back on a branch, munching acorns from a bag as he listened to his mum telling one of her stories'." The collaboration was ideal. "We have an easy working friendship. We tended to just like the best idea. Which was always mine." Pause for effect. "I'm kidding," he says, grinning broadly.

McCartney and Dunbar would meet weekly to hatch ideas. McCartney would act out the characters and Dunbar would draw. "I would say, 'he talks like this'" - lowering his voice to mimic the snarl of a bullying badger - " or 'he's a bit like this'" -stretching his arms to imitate the generous girth of a bison. Then, the pair would turn over the week's work to Ardagh, who would tweak the words and flesh out the characters. All three share the authorial credit although, at one point, Faber suggested that only McCartney get cover billing. "Are you kidding?" he said. "This was a team effort."

The story is filled with idyllic nature imagery that wouldn't feel out of place in a Dylan Thomas poem, but it doesn't shy away from darkness. The city, Megatropolis, is pictured as a rubbish-strewn hell full of " hungry, dirty and desperate" inhabitants with "dull eyes". Animals toil in a factory under abhorrent conditions. In a poignant scene, the young squirrel protagonist buries his mother. Not exactly Teletubbies.

That's precisely the point, says the author. The world is a scary place. The factory, he says, is based on the former sweatshop practices of clothing chain GAP. In the book, a giant "G" logo is emblazoned on the factory wall. Gretsch, the foremost evil force, could be a stand-in for George W Bush, whose anti-environmental stance upsets McCartney. "When our grownups are people like George Bush, who needs grownups?" He asks. "Not me."

McCartney thinks that kids need to know certain things about the world. That "knocking down a forest is a bad thing... and that sweatshops are a bad thing. Anti-cruelty, anti-oppression - it was always important... to infiltrate with those messages." The trick to effective infiltration, though, is slipping the message by children, so they don't know there is one. Kids, he says, have to feel that they're "just reading a story," not being preached to.

McCartney has been promoting green values most of his life. As an activist and outspoken vegetarian, he has been linked to countless environmental causes, both with his late first wife Linda (Eastman) McCartney and current wife, Heather Mills McCartney. Whatever the medium or message, McCartney is a storyteller whose stories appeal to the child in all of us. His shows are often packed with youngsters, he says. That cross-generational appeal was the inspiration behind the name of the current tour : US.

On the cover of Chaos and Creation, there's a photograph of McCartney as a boy, strumming a guitar at home in Liverpool. Whether he's writing songs or children's books, that boy is ever-present. Miraculously, he never went missing. "Childish?" he ponders. "Yeah. I hope I am. I wouldn't want to lose that."

McCartney book signing at Los Angeles Borders

Paul McCartney read passages from 'High in the Clouds,' a children's fantasy book he co-authored, before a group of students from Fairburn Elementary School. One child brought sheet music from "Let It Be" to show Paul.

Finally, the Live 8 DVD is out now and features Paul opening and closing the London Hyde Park show with the following set list.

DISC 1
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (with U2)

DISC 3
Get Back
Drive My Car (with George Michael)
Helter Skelter
The Long And Winding Road
Hey Jude (Finale)

Discs 1-3 Feature highlights from the London & Philadelphia Concerts as well was footage from the other Live 8 concerts round the world. The 4th DVD features exclusive extras.

NOTE: McCartney is on DVD Discs 1 & 3 (UK configuration- US maybe different) CLICK TO ORDER (US Version)

Paul McCartney's chef showed up unannounced at the Whole Foods Market in Omaha - and walked out with 10 shopping carts full of vegetarian food.

It happened about 2 p.m. Saturday (Oct. 29th) at the market, which opened in September at 10020 Regency Circle. Tom Marciniak, store team leader, assisted the chef, a Britisher who identified himself as Neil.

Sir Paul is a famous vegan, and Neil was buying food for the McCartney entourage. The former Beatle drew a sellout crowd of 16,000 Sunday (October 30) at the Qwest Center Omaha.

"No one on the tour can eat meat," Tom said, adding that Neil "told me everyone eats vegetarian food."

The chef selected organic produce and juices as well as various cheeses and veggie burgers. He returned Sunday and practically cleared out the store's floral shop.

The bill reportedly totaled about $5,000, but Marciniak said he couldn't disclose the amount. He admitted to asking about concert tickets, to no avail.

The wakeup will come from McCartney's "US" Tour performance at the Anaheim, Calif., Arrowhead Pond. McCartney plans to play two songs, "Good Day Sunshine" and "English Tea," for NASA Astronaut Bill McArthur and Russian Cosmonaut Valery Tokarev. This is the first time a live concert will be linked to a U.S. spacecraft.

The call will take place at 12:55 a.m. EST, Sunday, Nov. 13 (9:55 p.m. PST, Nov. 12) as the concert is nearing its end; and McArthur and Tokarev are awakening for the 44th day of their six month mission in space. It will be broadcast live on NASA TV, with video expected of McArthur and Tokarev and audio from both locations.

During his tour, McCartney has paid tribute to the crew of Space Shuttle Discovery's STS-114 mission, a flight to the space station last summer. On Aug. 9, the Beatles' classic "Good Day Sunshine" was played as a wakeup call for Discovery's crew because of a favorable weather forecast for landing that morning.

"I was extremely proud to find out that one of my songs was played for the crew of Discovery this summer," McCartney said. "In our concert we hope to repay the favor." McCartney is nearing the end of his 11-week "US" tour.

"Since people were first awakened on the moon by mission control, wakeup songs have been a space tradition to brighten the crew's day and get them off to a great start," said astronaut Eileen Collins, who commanded Discovery. "We're honored that Paul McCartney will be a part of this historic delivery of music for Bill and Valery. It will surely give them a big boost as they continue through their research mission."

McArthur and Tokarev are the 12th crew of the station, which has had a continuous human presence for more than five years. The station has an internal volume larger than an average three-bedroom house and includes the most sophisticated space laboratory ever flown.

NASA TV's Public, Education and Media channels are available on an MPEG-2 digital C-band signal accessed via satellite AMC-6, at 72 degrees west longitude, transponder 17C, 4040 MHz, vertical polarization. In Alaska and Hawaii, they're on AMC-7 at 137 degrees west longitude, transponder 18C, at 4060 MHz, horizontal polarization. A Digital Video Broadcast compliant Integrated Receiver Decoder is required for reception. For digital downlink information for each NASA TV channel and access to NASA TV's Public Channel on the Web, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/ntv

For more information about the space station and the crew's mission on the Web, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/station

Jennifer Aniston cursed her hero Sir Paul McCartney's timing when the former Beatle visited her on the set of new thriller "Derailed."

The former "Friends" star was shooting one of the movie's most dangerous scenes when the cast members were invited to meet their surprise celebrity visitor.

She recalls. "We were doing a very intense scene with a lot of the actors and trying to stay focused. It was dangerous and life threatening.

"All of a sudden we get the word that Sir Paul McCartney is here, 'Would you all say hello?' And we're thinking, 'Of all the days you gotta meet Paul McCartney - a Beatle that you worship.'"

Several years ago,

"My band and I worked up the new version originally to do live after we'd finished recording," he explains, "so it didn't make it onto the album. But when the people at UME/Universal heard the song, they 'flipped out' and played it for the folks at Apple who decided to release it as a single on iTunes and then to add it as a bonus track to the downloadable album." According to Ray, his version remains true to the meaning of the song: "guy loses girl and pretends he's fine... something we've all done," he laughs. Re-imagining the song with an upbeat "AC/DC meets Jet rock/pop feel to it," Brian has added it to his band's live show as well. "When my band plays it live, it's all about having fun, so we fit it into our style."

On November 8th, "Tears of A Clown" will be available as a digital download from iTunes. Visit the iTunes Store at the link below to download:

http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=89667681

Mondo Magneto is also available at amazon.com, CDBaby, and Brian's website www.brian-ray.com.

The first thing you notice when talking to Paul McCartney, who turns 64 in June, is that his accent is surprisingly American. The Liverpudlian slur of near indecipherable slang that marked his early interviews is long gone.

Pulling into an arena in Portland, Ore., on Friday, the man who spent half his summer in New York's Hamptons with his wife Heather and 2-year-old daughter Beatrice sounds road weary, like every other veteran U.S. touring musician.

"I'm talking to a lot of Americans these days, '' he says, adding that his accent changes when he's in Ireland or England. "I'm a bit of a chameleon.''

He's on the road promoting his latest disc, "Chaos and Creation in the Backyard'' and his children's book, "High in the Clouds.'' He plays tonight and Tuesday at HP Pavilion, where there are still seats available.

The new disc is more somber and dark than anything he's done before. As on his first solo disc (1971), he plays all of the instruments, but the result this time is mostly mid-tempo, almost like ambient music, and filled with yearning.

It's no surprise it was produced by Radiohead's producer, Nigel Godrich, with whom McCartney had a push-pull relationship. He didn't pull any punches with McCartney, and even sent the artist home sulking when he criticized some of his playing.

The producer led him to a place he'd rarely traveled, and the result sounds more like Radiohead -- or John Lennon -- than the twinkly upbeat fare the still sprightly ex-Beatle usually serves.

It's a challenging collection, with minor chords and haunting undertones. If it only had a couple of liftoff rockers like "Jet'' or "Junior's Farm,'' some release for the building tension, it might rank as his best work in decades.

"In recent years, I might not have worked in my songs with the sort of more negative aspects of life that I think everyone knows about and everyone encounters,'' he says. "I often choose to just kind of let that go over my head and write something uplifting, of which there are plenty of songs. Something like 'Follow Me' off the new album or 'Promise You Girl,' they are pretty much that way, pretty uplifting.''

But they are offset by the surprising negativity of songs like "Riding to Vanity Fair.'' Although he says there is nothing autobiographical in the writing, he describes the agonizing loss of a friendship. It could be theorized to be about John Lennon, who once wrote the acerbic "How Do You Sleep?'' about McCartney; or even Michael Jackson, who learned how to buy songs from McCartney and then outbid McCartney for his own songs.

"We sang along/When all the songs were sung/Believing every line/That's the trouble with friendship/For someone to feel it/It has to be real.''

"I finally got the idea that it wouldn't be a bad idea to examine the things like rejection of friendship, which I think everyone encounters in their lives,'' he says. But it's not really been my thing to examine it in songs.''

He says he worked hard on this one, halving the tempo from the way he first wrote it, to match the dour mood.

"I don't think I ever worked a song that much. I was particularly keen to get this right, this rejection of friendship, and make this work. It was just a thought to work in an area I don't normally work in.''

There have been other dark works in his career, he says.

"I do some other songs like 'Yesterday' and 'Eleanor Rigby' in the show and there's a certain dark edge to them, too. But you don't think of 'Yesterday' as a dark song, but it is, actually. And Eleanor Rigby, she dies and no one comes to the funeral.''

McCartney was referred to Godrich by his former producer, George Martin. He said he liked the producer's work for Radiohead, Beck and Travis, particularly the rich sound he got from the bands.

Did he hear Beatles influences in Radiohead?

"I do that with a lot of people. Oasis, Radiohead in some ways, Travis, there are a lot of people, thank goodness, influenced by the Beatles. And it's a great, great tribute to know that. To have been in the Beatles, and be a part of the band they are tributing, is something else.

"Not to be immodest,'' says McCartney. "But John and I would get together and write a song in two or three hours. We just wanted to get it done.''

They never had a dry spell, he says. "It's a pretty good track record.''

How does he explain it today?

"It was the love of what we did. The love of what we do. It's all the same thing. It's an actual passion for what we do and being intrigued by the mystery of what it is we do. It doesn't stop for me. The idea of now, having a couple of hours to just sit on my own with a guitar or piano and write a tune and craft some words to it, is still a very intriguing proposition.''

His new show pays tribute to both of his bands, the Beatles and Wings, and playing the old songs live is still a thrill for him.

"What's cool about doing the tour is you are getting the feedback. It's being reflected back at you. You are normally just putting it out. On a tour like this, it's like someone is holding up a great big mirror and you are getting the feeling back.''

QUICK HITS

Q What would you ask you if you were interviewing you?

A I don't know. It's not easy. (yells) That's a copout, man. You're doing the interview. It's hard enough answering the questions without asking them too. (Later) I like being interviewed because it lets me know what I'm thinking.

Q What songs of John's (Lennon) do you wish you had written?

A "Julia,'' that's a beautiful song -- "Beautiful Boy,'' "Imagine.'' I think John wrote millions of beautiful songs.

Q Do you go on the Internet?

A No, I'm hopeless, man. I'm really hopeless. It's probably just as well. I'm full with the things I do now. The only reason I use a computer is sometimes I compose a classical piece on it.

Q Did the competition between you and John make you more creative?

A There was that. We would talk about it and we were really conscious of it, even when we weren't in the Beatles. I remember a report that he heard my song "Coming Up'' got to No. 1 in the states and that really kicked him in the ass, and he thought, dammit, I've got to work again.

Q Was "Helter Skelter'' your attempt to write a John song?

A No. Funnily enough, I know exactly what happened there. I was reading an interview with Pete Townshend in the New Musical Express, and he said he had just recorded the filthiest, rawest, dirtiest, most rocking track ever. Just that description got me excited and I thought I could use that to write my own song. To this day, I don't know what song he was talking about was.

SIR PAUL BY THE NUMBERS

212

Number of songs the Beatles released from 1962 to 1970

18

Albums the Beatles released in the United States

30

Post-Beatles albums released by McCartney

50

Top-10 hits written or co-written by McCartney, 29 of which hit No. 1

7

Number of months before McCartney is 64

126

Millions of dollars McCartney grossed from his 2002 North American tour

ROCKING THE BAY AREA

Paul McCartney

Where HP Pavilion, San Jose

When 8 p.m. today

Tickets $49.50-$250

Brian Ray, 'Mondo Magneto' (Whoo-ray)

This is retro-sounding, smart, snappy pop from the guy touring with Sir Paul McCartney, and who used to play with Etta James -- an American Badfinger or 10cc for anyone who remembers either of those classic rockers. It's worth buying the whole thing just to hear Etta's rocking cameo on "Soft Machine.'' The whole thing goes down as easy as cotton candy and is just as much fun.

Sample lyric: 'I feel good/I feel good/ I feel good/good for nothing.'

November 8, 2005 -- Macca Report Exclusive

Macca and fans made my dream come true

by Tom Vaccaro

In 1965, at 11 years of age, I saw The Beatles in Chicago at Comiskey Park and became a devoted fan.

I'm a graphic designer by profession and also a portrait artist. Over the years I have built a collection of celebrity portraits, created by me and then autographed by the celebrity depicted. With these portraits I've had the chance to meet and obtain the signatures of The Smothers Brothers, Red Skelton, Milton Berle, Olivia Newton John, Peter Noone and many others.

I knew my collection would not be complete without at least some of The Beatles, yet they had proven to be the most elusive. Six McCartney concerts, even more by Ringo's All Starr's and even a visit to Paul's MPL office in London yielded nothing. Then came the 2005 tour and I saw that the signs held by fans in the audience might be just the twist that I needed.

I created a portrait of Paul and Heather in 2002 for the "Back In The US" tour. For this tour I enlarged this portrait to poster size, confident that Paul would see it since my seats for the Milwaukee concert were in the 11th row. See it he did! He actually stepped to the mic between songs, pointed to me and said, "Ooh, very nice!" and, later in the show, gave me a "thumbs up". Still, I was too far away from the stage to get one of the coveted "end of show" signatures.

In Des Moines we once again had 11th row seats and, again, I brought the sign and the actual portrait. Paul recognized it! He gave me a couple of familiar nods and repeatedly zeroed in on it as he scanned the crowd.

As the concert neared it's end, I knew my only chance to get close enough was to either go down the side aisle to the edge of the stage where the ushers had already assured me I would be stopped, or to go down the center aisle, where I was seated, and reach over the first three rows of seats that filled the aisles.

After the final encore, I bolted down the center aisle, raising the 11" x 17" image high. After signing a couple of items on stage left, Paul crossed over to my side, made eye contact with me and gestured for the portrait. However, I was still three rows away and Paul shrugged his shoulders as if to say: "I can't reach it."

This is where the Des Moines fans unselfishly came to my rescue. The person in the third row in front of me took the portrait and Sharpie pen, passed it to someone in the second row who, in turn, passed it forward to the front row. Paul gave his final farewell into the mic and had begun to exit the stage when he saw my portrait right there at the edge of the stage. He stopped, came forward and, again, called for it to be passed to him. He signed it and my 40 year quest was realized!

I know that everyone in those first three rows would have loved to have gotten an autograph of their own and so I thank the Des Moines fans for their unbelievable support. You were amazingly kind! THAT'S what Iowa is all about! This was so exciting because (A) I've waited 40 years to get it and (B) I couldn't have done it without the help of McCartney fans.

If anyone happened to snap a photo of Paul signing my artwork, please contact me at tvac1954@revealed.net. In all the excitement, that one got away from me.

Recorded before a live studio audience at XM's state-of-the-art Performance Theater in D.C., just three blocks from the site of the Washington Coliseum where the Beatles played their first live U.S. show more than 40 years ago, McCartney talks about the creative process, his new album "Chaos and Creation," and shares some unique insights on his life and work.

Throughout the hour-long performance, McCartney also treats the audience to live acoustic renditions of songs from the new album, including "How Kind of You," "Fine Line," and "Follow Me."

During the show, McCartney describes his passion for writing songs as a "compulsion," guiding audience members through a brief example of how he typically takes a few notes in his head and works them into a larger melody. There are a few exceptions, of course; the melody for the Beatles' classic "Yesterday" came to McCartney in a dream. "That was a pretty good dream," jokes McCartney.

While not a classically trained musician, McCartney remarks that he does enjoy classical music and says classical music has influenced his songwriting. For example, McCartney notes that a Bach piece directly inspired the melody to the song "Blackbird," of which he plays a few bars for the audience

McCartney also shares with the audience that "Here, There and Everywhere" is among his favorites out of all the songs he has written during his long career.

In addition to the November 21 broadcast premiere, encores of the Paul McCartney "Artist Confidential" will air throughout the week and during December. Complete programming schedules and information are available at http://www.xmradio.com.

How are WE doing this fine Autumn day.. Listening to the Ramones at the moment on INDY 103.1, the best LA radio station... Day off today after a string of amazing shows with Paul and band... Where did I leave off? hmmmm, oh yeah, the kindness of strangers in Columbus, right?

YES!! How much do we love the midwest? They effin' ROCK... St. Paul was off the hook, friends were there with me, and Paul came into our band lounge and hung out with us, which was fun for all. Des Moines is outta control... One of the best audiences so far, and I said so from the stage! We flew home after that show, first time since like, Aug. 20th!! I woke up in the morning all crusty, thinking... ok, what's the layout of this hotel room?? Ahhhh, HOME!!!.. always a great moment, right up there with eating hot chocolate volcano cake with vanilla ice cream [first bite].

Then, Omaha.. you guys are nuts!! Thanks for the great time!.. It was funny, our crew came out into the security pit, just as we started Please Please Me!! All in costume.. YESSSS, the best staff and crew on the planet, ok?..and on the way home we had a crazy Halloween party on the Jet, which was decorated by some gremlin.. big spiders and rubber rats on the floor, cobwebs, caldrons and costumes for one and all. And photos to prove it ...[yes, maybe someday]...

Now.. the holiday season begins.

Last night in Denver my folks were there along with some friends I've known for many years... I introduced Paul to my parents, and then, on stage when I was introduced to the crowd by Paul, I had 16,000 people say, "Hi MOM!" Ah yesssss, the majesty of rock.

AND, as if that wasn't enough, my new CD, Mondo Magneto is raging, reviews are great and it's selling like big delicious hot cakes! Go to Amazon, CD Baby, my site and check it out, ok? Also, I'm in the new issue of Guitar Player magazine, along with the boss and Rusty... Paul says nice stuff about me.

p.s. oh, and you might want to check iTunes on Nov. 8th for a big surprise from me.

Se ya around the campfire,

Brian, the Earl of Glendale

The Who legend came face-to-face with Heather at the Live 8 concert earlier this year.

The wife of Beatle legend Sir Paul was filming backstage at Hyde Park for her own documentary.

Now, in an explosive interview, Roger has hit out at Heather's attitude during the concert.

Roger stormed: "She was at Live 8 with a camera...scary.

"I looked down the barrel and saw her face - and I thought: 'This is the coldest human being I have met in my whole life.'

"She was one cold fish."

The Who and Pink Floyd stole the show at Live 8 - even though Sir Paul was top of the bill.

Roger and Macca have known each other for four decades, but Roger does not believe he has ever really known the real Sir Paul.

He said: "Paul acts like what is expected of him. I find it very strange - but it's how he deals with his life.

"Everything, though, becomes The Paul McCartney Show."

November 5, 2005

Family meets Paul at Seattle concert

When Paul announced his US tour included Seattle we had to get tickets. But unfortunately our special pre-order tickets only allowed us to get two tickets. We were a family of four expecting a fifth just in time for Paul's show. So as the weeks passed we could not find tickets. I even tried posting here but still had no luck. The night before the concert I found four tickets from an online scalper (yikes). He had four tickets together in section 125, row 9 which was right beside the stage and in the front row. So I knew that my kids, who are also huge fans, could see as well.

My mother sewed up some Sgt. Pepper uniforms for us because we wanted to dress up and there were the four of us. Five, including our little baby who is just over a month old. We dressed him up as George Martin! He even had his hairline. I wore the blue "Paul" Pepper suit.

The day of the big concert, we drove down early to see Paul drive in to the show. What I had told our families is that Paul would see us when he drove in, invite us into his Lexus, and take us in to watch his sound check. Then have us stay just offstage to watch the show. Boy, was I setting myself up for huge disappointment.

So we waited and sure enough there he came, but we were on the wrong side of the street. We saw an arm with a thumb. No pre-show, no dinner with Paul. We were a bit disappointed, freezing (I guess Sgt .Pepper uni's weren't made for cold weather, but still excited about the show.

We finally made our way into the concert and found that our seats were better than we could have hoped. We made our way up to buy some souvenirs. Waited in line for nearly an hour then made our way down to our seats. As we got nearer our seats I heard an applause and looked at the stage thinking the pre show was about to start and saw the crowd looking at us and cheering. So I did what any other insane person would have done in that situation, I grabbed my three-year-old, Akaya (pink Pepper suit) and picked her up in the air (a la Michael Jackson). Well the whole crowd went nuts.

Then after Twin Freaks (the DJ) and Macca's bio which we thought were pretty cool, on HE came! What a great show. My daughters were laughing and singing. I held Akaya the whole night and she wanted me to keep dancing. Rusty was out in front of us and kept waving at my girls which made them cheer even louder. But every time Paul came over our way he never ever looked at us. We thought that maybe he thought we were trying too hard and didn't want to look our way. My eldest daughter, Ocean (five-years-old, dressed in orange Pepper suit) asked us why Paul would never wave at her? Then we realized that we were just in a dark part of the arena and there was no way that he was going to see us, especially with the stage lighting in his eyes. It just wasn't meant to be.

Then Bill Bernstein saw us and started snapping photos which was pretty neat and the video cameras were shooting us during a sequence of "Hey Jude."

Then it happened! During one of the encores the house lights came up and he was waving at the crowds and finally spotted my family. We were waving like crazy and he pointed at us and did a 'rock-a-bye-baby' gesture to us just before he left the stage. Well now we could go home extremely happy. Then he came out for the flag waving and directed a lot of attention towards us which was a dream come true. It just couldn't get any better than this.

Wait, there's more!

Towards the end of "Let It Be "some security personnel was motioning us to follow him. We weren't to sure why, but one of them asked my wife, Helen, (dressed in yellow/green Pepper suit) who had our one month old son, Solstice, in a sling if she could jump over the barrier. Oh,Yeah!

Once over the barrier we met one of his photographers who told us to follow him to the front of the stage, and when he gave us the signal we were to make our way around to the other side of the stage.

So we followed. He led us directly out front of Paul. What great seats these were. Then Paul started playing "Sgt Pepper's Reprise." So here we were out in front of the 'Dalai Lama' of popular culture while he is singing "Sgt Pepper's Reprise" with us dancing out front. The cameraman (Mark Haefeli) was filming us right in our faces and then would turn to film Sir Paul who was making faces and smiling and waving at us. During this I had been holding both of my daughters while dancing, so my arms stopped working and I asked a man dancing next to us "how strong did he feel", so I handed him Ocean and we put her up on his shoulders, then I hoisted Akaya up on my shoulders and we danced the rest of the reprise and "The End" like that, with Paul, Rusty and Brian waging a guitar war in front of us. Then it all ended so soon. The photographer gave us the signal that we were to leave.

We made our way around to the left of the stage, but the security guard told us that we could not pass through. I told him we were told that we were supposed to go through here. But yet again he said we could not. Then the cameraman came by and said that we were with him. So he took us under the stands. He said that he wanted some family photos of us so he arranged us how he wanted us to be and started taking photos. By this time another of Paul's cameramen had joined in the fray and was taking photos. Then one of them said to the other "Here comes the band let them enjoy the moment", my wife and I looked at each other quickly as if saying "what did he just say?" and sure enough Abe, Rusty, Brian and Wix came on through waving at us saying Hi to the girls and saying what cool costumes we had. We could not believe it, yet in my own heart I was a bit disappointed that Paul had gone out a different door.

The cameraman then walked by us and said. "PAUL over here!"

There he was!!! The man himself, strolling up towards us wearing a red robe. I lost all bladder and bowel functions in that very moment.(joking! )

He walked up and shook my hand as I thanked him for an amazing show. He then thanked us for 'our show.' He looked at my daughter Akaya in my arms and reached in and gave her a kiss. Can you believe that??? He then stepped back and looked at me and said "let's give Dad a kiss too", to which I apologized that I hadn't shaved for this occasion. Then he kissed me on the cheek with a hug.

Paul then crouched down and embraced my daughter, Ocean, and planted a kiss on her as well. He stood up and stepped over to my wife who introduced "our sweet pea" to Sir Paul. He kissed my son and then gave my wife a kiss and hug as well. It was a wonderfully tender moment. As he did this I was rubbing his back!

At some point he said "So, you brought the whole family out?" Then he walked away, turned around and said something that we couldn't make out, to which my wife, (out of habit with the kids), replied "Bye sweetie!" And in a flash he stepped onto his bus and he was gone.

My wife and I looked at each other in awe and embraced. We could not believe that we had just met JAMES PAUL MCCARTNEY!!!

When we came down from this moment we saw a roadie sitting on a box some thirty feet away, he smiled and said "Well, that was really cool."

Needless to say, we drove home to Vancouver on a cloud. Every five minutes we laughed and talked about the night in general, reliving every moment with Paul and cherishing it.

I wish we could have told him about us. There was so much more that we wanted to share. Yet in those few minutes with Paul, I think he knew us and that was why we were selected to be backstage with him and not the other 16,000 deserving fans at the Key Arena that night.

I was born, met my wife, married her, had three amazing children and then on November 3rd, 2005, WE MET PAUL McCARTNEY!!!
Six life defining moments.

WHAT A KNIGHT!!!

-- Jody Tennant
-----------------------------------

PAUL McCARTNEY BOOK SIGNING AT THIRD PLACE BOOKS FRIDAY NOVEMBER 4TH.

WELL, today it finally happened. I got to meet PAUL McCARTNEY!

Paul held a book signing in Seattle on Friday and I queued up for a ticket on Tuesday and got #164. Each ticket allowed for a guest, so I brought my friend Hollie.

Paul arrived around 1:15 pm and went into the bookstore to do some pre-signing. It was a fantastic day, even though it was
cold and rainy. People started going in around 2:20 and that's when the panicking occurred. We were told that he was only going to be there from 2:00-2:30 to meet people and hand out the books. They were only letting in 30 people at a time and I was far back in line.

Finally, 2:40 rolls around and I got to enter the bookstore. By 2:50 I was standing only a couple people away from him and had a full view. He was sitting down at a table. No cameras were allowed, and some fans got in trouble for trying to use their cell phones. I just kept staring at him and by the time I got to the table I had a big ridiculous grin on my face.

So I got up to the table and I'll pretty much reinact the conversation:

AT: "Hi Paul."
PM: "Hello." [h e held out his hand and I shook it ]
AT: "I'm looking forward to going to your show in vegas with my mom, dad, and grandma."
PM: "Cool. I'm seeing more and more that the shows are multi-generational."
AT: "Yeah. We're really excited."
PM: "Well then, we better get on practicing then, won't we?"
AT: [laughs]
Hollie: "I went to your show last night with my mom and dad as well."
PM: "Neat!"
Hollie: "I really enjoyed it, it was amazing."
PM: "well thanks. I appreciate it."
AT: "Well, thanks very much :)
PM: "Thank you"

He handed me a signed copy of his book and said goodbye. Paul was incredible and looked you directly in the eyes. He was very charming and handsome as well.

I would say that only 190 of the 700 waiting to get in, met Paul and got a signed book.

Hollie and I went to the front of the store to leave and five minutes later Paul left with his motorcade. He walked out in the rain, waved to the fans and stood up on the runner of the Lincoln Town Car (photo by Sean Carter) and waved some more.

I am incredibly grateful and couldn't have enjoyed a cold and rainy day any better. He was just the absolute nicest guy.

-- Alisha Tremaine

-------------------------------------------------

WOW!! I can't believe I'm even writing this. My family and I just spent uninterrupted one-on-one time interacting with Paul McCartney at his book signing for "High in the Clouds" at 3rd Place Books in Seattle. I really can't believe that just happened not even 2 hours ago. Unbelieveable!

If you would have ever told me I'd get to meet him I'd never believe it. It was me, my wife and two kids, kidding around with Paul and having the opportunity to EACH shake hands with him, talk to him and tell him what an honor it was to do so.

He was very down to earth and sincere. There were a TON of people in line wanting to meet Paul. He really did take his time with those there to meet him. He was very genuine and sincere as we talked to him -- not just brushing us off, but really listening as we talked to him. The concert in Seattle was spectacular, but to actually spend a few minutes one-on-one with Paul today and receive an autographed copy of "High in the Clouds" that he signed and personally gave to my family -- I'm friggin' FLOORED!!!!! I've been a serious fan/student of the Beatles and Paul since I was a little kid and this was really a special lifetime moment for me today. I'm drinking in the moment...

-- Jeff Lockhart
-----------------------------------

WHEN my husband Pat and I approached the signing table where Paul sat, Macca looked up at me, said "Hi!" and graciously extended his hand.

I said, "Hi!" and of course shook his hand. (can't believe it!!)

Then I said something stupid like, "Boy, I've waited a long time for this moment," and tried to be real cool (NOT!) with tears in my eyes. My husband who also shook hands with Paul, was wearing a black, long-sleeve polo shirt with Paul's signature and "GET BACK" embroided on it.

Pat joked, (are we lame or what?) "I'm going to compare these signatures!"

Paul said, "Hey, I like your shirt. That's quite an old one, isn't it? Goes back a ways."

I replied, "Yes, to the Fun Club days," to which Paul smiled and nodded.

I was still teary-eyed not believing my eyes and ears. PAUL McCARTNEY was talking to US!

Paul handed me the book and said, "There you go, darlin'!" By now I'm crying more and managed to say "Thanks" as we left.

What a perfect moment. I still can't believe it!

He looked wonderful! His hair was darker than it appeared at the show the night before. He looked younger than his photos and most of all, he was soooo kind and very attentive throughout our brief time with him.

Of course, I wanted to say something meaningful, but I didn't. I know he's heard absolutely everything anyway, and I hoped that in some way my tears spoke to him saying how important he's been in my life and how special that meeting was.

-- Judy Rookey
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AT 2:15 pm my sister Joan and I stood numb in front of Paul at the table where he was seated signing books. He reached out for my hand and said, "Well say something Gurls!" with his WONDERFUL English accent! OMG! I somehow found enough air to breathe and remembered that I darn well better say what I've always wanted to say, cause this would be my only chance.

I said, "I've wanted to look into your eyes for 41 years!" and Paul started batting his eyelashes at me!!!! I thought I was going to die! He was so CUTE!

Then dummy me said, "You are a NUT!" All of his security people started laughing. I thought,"was that OK to say to Sir Paul?" Oh well. Then I said, "I LUV YOU!" and he just smiled.

I asked him if he saw my signs at the concert the night before. He said he did and that he pointed to them three times. And he did just that. He pointed to the signs after reading them. Paul reached for my hand again and shook it ever so gently.

Somehow my feet managed to work well enough to find a bench to sit down on before my legs gave out and I started to cry. I will never be the same.

Pauline's signs at the concert: "BEEN LOVIN U 41 YEARS," "YOU SCOUSE GIT," "KEEP ON ROCKIN YEAH YEAH YEAH," "ABBEY ROAD, MY FAVE."

-- Pauline Skogmo

The first time I saw Paul McCartney, he was 5 inches high and made of plastic.

The first time I saw Paul naked, he was tiny enough to fit in an ashtray and gird his loins with a gum wrapper.

So Friday, when I finally saw Sir Paul in the flesh, it was a larger-than-life moment.

The scene was Third Place Books in Lake Forest Park, where pouring, miserable rain tested the loyalty of about 700 fans lined up for a brief moment with Sir Paul.

They were there out of love. So was I, though I was supposed to be working.

Between his Thursday night KeyArena concert and his Friday afternoon plane trip to Portland, Paul had wedged in time to promote his new children's book, "High in the Clouds."

Most of the fans were there to pick up their prepurchased, preautographed copies and, with any luck, get a moment to say hi to Paul. It was the grown-up equivalent of a visit with Santa.

I was there to cover a presigning media event -- Paul reading part of his book to 30 kids from Briarcrest Elementary in Shoreline.

The downside: I'd be behind a rope with the rest of the media herd, and I wouldn't even get to say hello! Damn, I thought, maybe I should have skipped the staged event and taken my chances with the (rest of) the fans.

Not to sound like a gushing schoolgirl, but I've been a Beatles fan since about fifth grade and this was my big chance to finally meet my lifelong hero. I drew inspiration from those ingenious Beatlemaniacs I used to read about in Datebook magazine, who would stop at nothing to wrangle their way backstage.

Initially, the Fab Four were a bit of a hard sell for me. I was in fifth grade when they hit it big, and the first I heard of them was when my classmates showed up with cheesy-looking Beatle dolls. Made by Remco, they were 5 inches high and had rooted hair, grotesque features and lipstick-red mouths.

Nonetheless, they reduced my friends to giggling hysteria. Back and forth across the lunch table, Paul, Ringo, John and George traded hands as preteen girls argued over who was cutest.

With a roll of the eyes, I held myself above the fray, sort of like my 14-year-old son does today with Harry Potter. But I didn't have his persistence. Less than a year passed before my hauteur crumbled.

Please please me? You bet they did. I missed "A Hard Day's Night" and never made it to a Beatles concert (I was living in the Panama Canal Zone at the time), but by the time "Help!" hit the silver screen, I was totally besotted. I saw it 10 times with my best friend, Anne.

Our favorite scene was when Paul suffers accidental shrinkage and slides right out of his clothes, grabbing a gum wrapper for coverage and leaping into a nearby ashtray. Oh, my gawdddd! Rapturous giggles.

I still remember the night I found out the Beatles were on "The Ed Sullivan Show." Unfortunately, I learned this five minutes after their performance.

"Mercy," Anne's mother exclaimed as she looked at my face, "is Cecelia crying?!"

I only tell you this so you'll understand why, when Paul showed up at Third Place in a black Lincoln Town Car with a blue-light police escort, I suddenly forgot I was a world-weary reporter.

The moment Paul emerged, a high-pitched roar went up from the crowd.

"Paaauuullll!" yelled one middle-age woman.

Whoops -- did that come out of me? Guiltily, I looked around, hoping the nearby AP photographer hadn't heard my unprofessional slip.

I hadn't really expected my heart to go pitter pat. I've met famous people before and I was working, after all. But, jeez, I truly was awestruck.

Paul waved and said hi and slipped inside. Tightly chaperoned media types entered a few minutes later and joined the second- and third-graders sitting cross-legged in a part of the store that was set up to look like a cozy living room.

Paul disappeared for a while to presign copies of his book. Finally, he joined us and sat down in a Windsor chair next to a floor lamp. He was about 15 feet away -- within drooling distance.

"Hey, hi, kids, how ya doing?" he said.

Shyly, the kids said hi.

"Are you comfortable? Are you ready?"

With that, Sir Paul began reading his story about Wirral the squirrel, who travels to the land of Animalia after ruthless developers destroy the woodland.

Paul was friendly but subdued, as if he hadn't yet replenished the adrenalin he'd used up in the previous night's concert. He read softly, without a mike. I noticed he still had a fair bit of Liverpool in his accent.

He grew more animated as he went along -- especially when the kids got a chance to ask questions about his book.

Personally, I only had eyes for Paul. He was slender in a blue-gray suit and daintily flowered shirt. He looked younger in person than in photos. A couple of times we made brief eye contact.

"I'm enjoying myself -- forget the show tonight," he joked to the kids. "Let's just do this."

But the hourglass was running out. After half an hour, Paul told the kids goodbye and they filed out. I looked around and was startled to see that all the other reporters and photographers were gone, having received the fateful shoulder taps that meant time's up.

Still, I lingered. Instead of being swept up by his handlers, Paul stood there schmoozing with a couple of people, just a few feet away. The media folk had been instructed to keep quiet during Paul's appearance, but this unexpected access was practically a sign from God.

With a sudden burst of courage, I leaned across the rope and called out, "Paul!"

He turned my way. I smiled and stuck out my hand.

Amazingly, Paul walked over and shook it. His hand felt cool and dry.

I quickly babbled my name and added that, while I was supposed to be a jaded media type, I had to say hi because I'd been a fan since fifth grade.

"That's great," he said cordially before rejoining his entourage.

At least I think that's what he said. I do remember he smiled. And that no one hauled me off in irons.

But mostly I remember the feel of Paul's hand. Wow. Wait till Anne hears about this.

November 4, 2005

Macca reads for children at book signing

Paul McCartney signed copies of his new children's book 'High in the Clouds' at Third Place Books in Lake Forest Park, Washington on Friday. Several hundred fans including Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder showed up to have their book signed.

Macca read from his book and took questions from Briarcrest Elementary second and third graders.

NICE NAILS

Paul McCartney's manicured digits during his Pepsi Center concert Tuesday night were courtesy of Susan Schmid at Hot Heads salon in Cherry Creek.

Schmid, who works on real and acrylic nails, got the referral from another salon who doesn't work with faux fingernails. The manicurist, who at first wasn't told she'd be working on the superstar, packed up her gear and headed to the Pepsi Center, where she repaired the fake nail McCartney uses in place of a pick. She also gave him and two other members of his entourage manicures.

"I was holding a Beatle's hand for 30 minutes," Schmid said about the experience. "He was very kind to me, not what you would think a superstar would be like."

At the moment, he's touring the USA, and Breakfast's Mishal Husain has been to Denver, Colorado to meet the legendary musician in an exclusive interview for BBC Breakfast.

She tells the Breakfast website what it was like to meet one of her heroes:

It was a pretty long and winding road for the Breakfast team to get to Denver to meet Sir Paul, but the experience looks likely to remain an all-time career highlight.

For a start, the man has extraordinary energy: he's two-thirds of the way through a gruelling three-month US tour - something he really doesn't have to do at this stage of his career.

But he told me he just loves what he gets back from American audiences and after the concert in Denver - I can vouch for the fact that the legacy of Beatlemania is alive and well here.

He also gives his all to his audiences, performing for close to two and a half hours with a mixture of Beatles favourites (the venue erupted for an anthem-style rendition of Hey Jude), the Wings years, right up to offerings from his current album.

On stage he looks ageless, and close up during our interview, I thought he looked at least ten years younger than he actually is.

He struck me as a man at peace with himself and really enjoying a stage in his life when he no longer has anything to prove

I'd been told before that he's generally easy-going and affable during interviews, but at the same time this is the man who has lambasted the British press of late.

The interview began after he came off stage for the pre-concert soundcheck, and in person he was utterly charming.

He was keen of course to talk about his new album and also his new children's book (several signed copies will be auctioned for Children in Need), but he was pretty open to everything I asked about, even John Lennon - despite his minders warning me off that subject.

He struck me as a man at peace with himself and really enjoying a stage in his life when he no longer has anything to prove. I asked him if he ever tired of people going on about the Beatles, after 35 years of a solo career.

He said, no he was proud of what the Beatles achieved and proud to have that as part of his life.

I also asked him for his reflections about John Lennon, as we're now close to the 25th anniversary of his assassination in New York.

Sir Paul re-lived the moment when the phone call that would break the news came through, and spoke of how the loss was much more than just a fellow Beatle and songwriter.

It was the loss of someone he had grown up with in Liverpool, with whom he had shared good times and bad times.

He said they had patched up many of their differences, but admitted that he regretted how their relationship had soured in the post-Beatles years.

Twin Towers

He was also fairly forthcoming about politics, saying that he no longer performed the song "Freedom," written in the aftermath of 11 September 2001.

He had witnessed the Twin Towers burning from the window of a plane stranded in New York that morning, and the lyrics of Freedom include lines about the God-given right to live in a free world, and fighting for that right.

I asked him if he still felt that way, but he said the song had been hijacked: he had written it thinking of the poor and dispossessed arriving in America in search of a better life, not about invading countries.

On stage later, I watched him captivate the 20,000 people who were there to hear him sing, and I marvelled at a life that has had such an extraordinary impact.

Here's a man who's been in the game for over 40 years, whose songs defined a generation but also strike a chord with that generation's children - and now even their grandchildren.

Yoko Ono has apologized to Paul McCartney for insinuating that his songs are trite.

Accepting an award on behalf of John Lennon last month, Ono said Lennon had sometimes felt insecure about his songs, asking "why they always cover Paul's songs and never mine."

"I said, 'You're a good songwriter, it's not June with spoon that you write.'"

After reports of the apparent slight circulated, Ono apologized in the latest issue of Rolling Stone magazine, now on newsstands.

"I certainly did not mean to hurt Paul, and if I did, I am very sorry," she says.

McCartney has sometimes clashed with Ono, Lennon's widow.

She objected when McCartney reversed the traditional "Lennon-McCartney" songwriting credit on his 2002 album, Back in the U.S. Ono's spokesman accused him of attempting to "rewrite history."

McCartney had earlier complained that Ono wouldn't let him take credit for "Yesterday," a song written entirely by McCartney.

This year's Los Angeles Benefit Gala will be held on November 15, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.

Paul McCartney will perform with Tony Bennett, and the evening will include both silent and live auctions.

Contact event organizers Levy, Pazanti & Associates at 310.201.5033 to purchase tickets.

You can now watch the video for Paul McCartney's new single 'Jenny Wren' in the Chaos and Creation Pin Board Members section at www.paulmccartney.com.

'Jenny Wren' is the second single to be taken from Paul McCartney's new highly acclaimed album 'Chaos And Creation In The Backyard'. Fast becoming a live favourite on Paul's 37-date sell-out 'US' tour of North America and Canada, 'Jenny Wren' is classic Paul McCartney. The press have described 'Jenny Wren' as, "his most poignant and affecting song in years" and "endearing and unexpectedly affecting."

'Jenny Wren' is both a soulful and mournful song with a simple and incredibly effective arrangement. It's difficult not to be moved by the heart tugging melody. It's an acoustic track in the style of much loved McCartney songs 'Mother Nature's Son', 'Calico Sky' and 'Blackbird'. McCartney in fact describes the track as "daughter of blackbird."

'Jenny Wren' will be released on November 21st 2005

Go to www.paulmccartney.com/chaoscreation to watch 'Jenny Wren' video.

No photos will be allowed, nor other memorabilia. It's estimated only about 300 people will be able to receive signed books from McCartney.

Those were a couple of comments that came out in an exclusive phone interview with Paul McCartney the other evening, shortly before he was to hit the stage in Des Moines, Iowa.

I last interviewed McCartney, whose tour comes to KeyArena Thursday, in 1976 at the Kingdome, just before a concert by his band Wings. He was in a chipper mood then, which may have had something to do with the intense aroma of pot in the dressing room [the drummer was toking as I entered]. After a friendly, revealing interview, McCartney asked if I wanted an autograph. Attempting to maintain my journalistic objectivity, I said no.

"Of course you do!" he replied, grabbing my notebook and pen and writing his name. He then drew a little sketch of me, with a round face and curly hair.

I reminded McCartney of that long-ago meeting. We talked about that, his new album, his new children's book, and the emotional reception audiences are giving him on tour: "Bring a hankie," he said.

Here are edited highlights.

Q: We last spoke in 1976 at the Wings' concert in the Kingdome, a significant date in Seattle rock history.

A: Wow! That was really cool, yeah. I still have the award for that [for biggest Kingdome audience].

Q: "Chaos and Creation in the Backyard" has been your best-reviewed album in a long time. How do you feel about the reaction to it?

A: Well, I like it, obviously. You know it's approbation of your peers, never a bad thing. Obviously it's better than if they don't like it. We worked hard on it and Nigel [Godrich, the producer] and I thought we'd done something good. But releasing your baby to the universe is always a sort of slightly nerve-racking moment, so it was really good. The people listened to it and liked it....

The feedback, particularly from the public, has been great. On the tour now we're feeling a lot of heat on the new numbers, which is the great thing about being on tour - it builds. And you get more and more conscious each night that they're really, really behind the new numbers.

Q: So we get a sampling of new songs in the show?

A: Yeah. We don't do too many, 'cause we've got a lot of other stuff to deliver as well. We do a nice little cross section.

Q: I understand you fell into a hole in the stage in St. Petersburg [Fla.]. Are you all right?

A: I did and I am. It was more embarrassing, I think, than anything. Got this piano that mysteriously arrives out of the middle of the stage. And because it's a new production and stuff and I'm not used to that, I just straightforward forgot the hole was there, and I was chattin' away to the audience and, um, suddenly there was a hole and I was in it.

I was pretty lucky, actually, that I didn't crack my head on the piano. I was a lucky boy and just sort of landed quite well, even though it was a little bit of a fall. Added a bit of drama to the tour.

Q: Did you go right into "Fixing A Hole"?

A: I should have done, exactly. I went into "Fine Line" - "There is a fine line between recklessness and courage" [the opening lines of the song]. That works, too.

Q: Waiting for your call, I was reading "High in the Clouds" [his new children's book].

A: It's a fun book, isn't it? It's a nice book. I like the idea that even if you're a parent reading it to your kids - I think the kids have to be 7 or over to appreciate it - it should be a good read for the parents as well.

Q: People are going to be clucking over the title, just as they did for the song "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds."

A: Yeah, well, let 'em cluck.

Q: I got a laugh when I came across the character Papa Ratsy, a photographer.

A: That is one of my better jokes. We had the character Ratsy always. He was in the story. I suddenly made the connection in a meeting. "Yeah! That's great!" So unfortunately, it got in.

Q: You have reached an exalted status in pop culture. ... It doesn't ever seem to pressure you.

A: Thanks for saying that. I think if you do find a good use for it, then it does take the pressure off. It does actually then make you realize you are doing something meaningful that is working on a few levels. You're entertaining people. Nice, and they like you because of that. But then you're getting into the world political scene in quite a sort of nonpreachy way, just by showing up on a day like Live8 [a concert to raise awareness of poverty]. And you learn certain facts. Instead of being a politician, banging on his agenda, you're able to just put it over a bit more accessibly to ordinary people.

I learned stuff on the Live8 day. I was genuinely moved and surprised to have learned these facts. ... I was being interviewed by the BBC and I mentioned the fact that 50,000 people die each day in Africa. That's pretty shocking. And the interviewer was really cool. He just turned 'round to the crowd [at the London Live8 concert], which was about 200,000. He said, "There you go, there's four days worth." And it was like "Whoa!" That kind of thing means that you're not just there to be an egotistical fame freak, you're actually doing something with it. And it's cool.

There were people like Paul Robeson [the left-leaning, politically active African-American singer, actor, writer and scholar in the 1930s and '40s]. He got done in by McCarthy. Charlie Chaplin had his problems, too [drummed out of America because of supposed leftist leanings].

So there have always been people like that, but nowadays it's a much more prevalent phenomenon, which is a great thing.

Q: You mentioned one of the great artists of all time - Charlie Chaplin. Your song from the new album "Too Much Rain," I understand, was inspired by "Smile."

A: Not many people know Chaplin wrote "Smile." It's one of those things, like, do you know who wrote this? In a quiz, they'll come up with Cole Porter, Irving Berlin. That was Chaplin! The man's a genius. The idea of a comedian writing of smiling through your sorrows is a very moving, powerful idea. And when I was coming to write this song, I was conscious of my wife [activist/model Heather Mills] mainly having had quite a lot of tragic moments. She had a rather tough upbringing and had an accident in which she lost her leg. And we both love the song "Smile," because of what it says, and I was just inspired by that: In one life, too much rain. And hoping to achieve the same kind of effect - when someone is down and out, and does not know where to go, if that song, or "Smile," comes on the radio, it's uplifting.

Q: There is a certain kind of romanticism on the new album, and it seems you're in a special place in your life right now. I feel that the concert is going to reflect that.

A: Well, yeah, I think it does. American audiences are amazing for me. They always were for the Beatles, they always were for Wings. There is a special thing. We always used to say if Elvis ever came to Britain, he was God. And the fact that he was Elvis, and he was American, is a pretty good combination. And I always think, the Beatles, and they're British, goes down pretty well over here. It's a pretty cool combination. We are getting such great warmth and feedback from the audience, it is something to behold. I know it's quite emotional, I must say. Bring your hankie.

I remember going to concerts and paying all my hard-earned money out on what was then an equally expensive ticket - 'cause concerts are expensive these days, and we always pitch ourselves not at the top and not at the bottom, we try to come in somewhere in the middle - but what I hope is that every single member of the audience goes away and says it was worth every cent. I must say we are getting that. It's a great buzz, and I will be doing it in about a half-hour's time.

Sir Paul McCartney was observed shopping for cards in Burch Pharmacy on Thursday (October 27) afternoon.

Sweet William Webb, who works at Utrech Art Supplies, told me that a friend of his saw McCartney there, wearing a White Sox jacket and saying, "Mum's the word," when he was recognized.

"We just talked about the weather," said Burch owner and pharmacist Cal Mathieson. "He told me about his trip around the lake; he was bicycling around the lake. He said he enjoyed the weather and the scenery."

Sir Paul was pleased that we were not "knee-deep in snow," Mathieson said. "He was a very nice gentleman to talk to.

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