The Macca Report September 2004

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September 2004

September 30, 2004 -- CNN.com

Schwarzenegger signs bill to ban force feeding of birds

California will end the force feeding of ducks, geese and other birds to produce the gourmet liver product foie gras by 2012 under legislation signed Wednesday by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

The bill will also ban the sale of foie gras in California starting that same year if it's obtained by force feeding birds.

Schwarzenegger, who received pleas from several celebrities, including former Beatle Paul McCartney, to sign the bill, said it gives producers more than seven years to "evolve and perfect a humane way for a duck to consume grain to increase the size of its liver through natural processes."

"If agricultural producers are successful in this endeavor, the ban on foie gras sales and production in California will not occur," he said in a statement.

Animal rights advocates called the governor's action "a major victory for the ducks and geese."

The state's lone farm engaged in the practice, Sonoma Foie Gras, also hailed it as a victory.

The company's president, Guillermo Gonzales, said his farm would use the time before the ban is implemented "to demonstrate that foie gras production is safe and proper."

Advocates for the bill said the restrictions are needed to stop an agricultural process in which birds are fed huge amounts of food three times a day through a tube inserted into their throats. The practice enlarges the birds' livers up to 10 times their normal size before they are slaughtered.

Foie gras -- French for "fat liver" -- is served in about 300 restaurants in California, according to the California Restaurant Association, which opposed the bill along with several major farm groups.

The bill's author, Senate President Pro Tem John Burton, D-San Francisco, said several countries have already banned the force feeding practice and the European Union is phasing it out.

Among other celebrities who supported the bill were actors Martin Sheen, Kim Basinger, Alicia Silverstone and Mary Tyler Moore.

September 30, 2004 -- NY Post

Paul and Heather sighting

Paul McCartney standing by whilst the missus shopped at Anastasia Holland in Amagansett.

September 26, 2004 -- BBC Radio

Paul McCartney's new UK single "Tropic Island Hum/We All Stand Together" entered the BBC Radio 1 Official Top 40 Singles Chart at # 21 this week.

20 YEARS AFTER THE FROG SONG PAUL McCARTNEY is to release his first single for children in 20 years - recording a flipside to the "Frog Song." A limited edition single will be issued by EMI Records on September 20th in the UK. The CD will feature "Tropic Island Hum" along with the original recording of "We All Stand Together," to mark the 20th anniversary of the long-ago deleted amphibian anthem.

"Tropic Island Hum" limited edition CD Single (US Import) Click here to order.

"Tropic Island Hum" limited edition CD Single (for those in the UK/Europe) Click here to order.

September 26, 2004 -- Amination Screenings and Wirral Tour in the UK

Cinema Screenings and Wirral Tour

A screening of Paul McCartney's Animation DVD (UK) with appearances by Geoff Dunbar and Wirral the Squirrel are set for October.

SCREENINGS

Sunday, October 3 at the Clapham Picture House in South London.

Geoff Dunbar will be attending to do talk and press interviews. Further details to be announced.

SEE WIRRAL!!!

Saturday, October 9 ribbon cutting and opening of the new Toys R Us store in Livingston, Nr. Edinburgh

September 24, 2004

McCartney backing the Green album

Former Beatle Sir Paul McCartney and internationally acclaimed Scots artist Peter Howson have given their backing to a new album in support of a Capital-based environmental charity.

Friends of the Earth Scotland commissioned the recording to celebrate the organization's 25th anniversary. Dubbed "Silver Green," it features a message of support from Sir Paul, while its cover was designed by Howson.

His art has been widely exhibited, and he won particular acclaim for his work depicting the Balkans War. More recent subjects include Madonna and Henrik Larsson.

Friends of the Earth Scotland chief executive Duncan McLaren said, "We are delighted to have the support of so many talented people and we hope that Silver Green will help us reach out to new audiences with our environmental message."

"It has been a privilege to support a project which celebrates a quarter of a century of fighting for one of the greatest and most precious environments on Earth.

"Friends of the Earth Scotland have a lot to be proud of. I hope this album helps celebrate their work and continues to remind people the battle is never won."

The album is due to be launched next month.
September 24, 2004 -- BBC News

55,000 people who shaped Britain

Almost 55,000 people who have had a major impact on British society are profiled in a new 60-volume book that has taken 12 years to compile. It has cost more than £25millon ($45 million)and taken 10,000 writers to update the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.

The new version of the dictionary, which was founded in 1882, costs £7,500 ($13,725) and takes up 12 feet of shelf space.

Women make up 10% of the entries - double the previous share - and include Queen Elizabeth I, Dusty Springfield, Linda McCartney and Virginia Woolf, whose father compiled the first edition.

September 23, 2004 -- New Statesman

"Britain must own up to its WMD (Weapons of Mass Destruction) programme"

Every half-hour, someone is killed or maimed by a landmine or unexploded ordnance. Yet a low-tech campaign means help is at hand - literally, writes Heather Mills McCartney.

We may not think there are weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. But 11-year-old Zeynab certainly thinks they exist: 17 members of her immediate family were killed, including her mother, brothers and sisters. The weapon that killed this little girl's family also ripped off her leg above the knee and scattered shrapnel throughout her body. It wasn't delivered by Saddam Hussein, but by the British and American governments. One cluster bomb and Zeynab's life and body have been torn apart. It is an astonishing and terrifying fact that every 30 minutes someone somewhere is killed or maimed by a landmine or unexploded ordnance.

The first time I met an amputee who had lost a limb in a landmine explosion was in the former Yugoslavia. I was living in Slovenia, and the local people began complaining that their currency was devaluing so rapidly that unless they spent their hard-earned cash immediately, it would be worthless. Within months the Slovenians were holding an Independence Day party. But while everybody was rejoicing and dancing in the streets around me, I couldn't help but feel numb: I knew that the Serbian leader, Slobodan Milosevic, had control over the army, navy and airports of the former Yugoslavia. He simply was not going to allow the Slovenians' bid for independence to go ahead. He knew Croatia would follow suit and that Croatia was economically essential to Serbia, as the largest source of tourist income.

I was right: within 24 hours of the party, the tanks were on their way. We were lucky that we managed to get through the borders into Austria. Against all the odds, we managed to set up a refugee crisis centre and help with aid in Croatia.

I spent the next two years traveling back and forth into the former Yugoslavia. It was outside Bihac that I heard an explosion and saw a child running towards me screaming, with an arm blasted off and blood pouring out of the socket like a petrol pump. I was in such shock that I couldn't make out if it was a boy or a girl.

Ironically, I didn't lose my leg in the war, although I spent the best part of two years in towns surrounded by landmines. I am convinced that I lost my leg for a reason: so that I could help men, women and especially children claim their lives back. Life is not about what we can do for ourselves. Making a difference while we are here is all that matters, especially for those who have the power to make real changes.

Two years ago I met a boy called Lai in Vietnam. He had just lost both of his feet, most of one leg and a hand to a landmine while he was walking to school. He was severely depressed when I met him but smiled when he realised I, too, was an amputee. I took my leg off and joked with him that he could borrow it, and I told him that soon we would be able to fit him with his very own prosthetic limbs. The thing he wanted more than anything, he told me, was a computer: he had lost most of his vision in one eye and now was unable to go to school. Some local American GIs had moved on and he missed them as they had let him use their computer. Fortunately for Lai - and thanks to the charity Adopt-A-Minefield - he now has those prosthetic limbs and is able to go to school.

I am afraid that people such as Lai are suffering because there is a common misconception that the problem of landmines was solved in the late 1990s. It certainly wasn't and the list of casualties continues to grow at a truly frightening rate. I have been involved in the landmine issue for more than 12 years, and the fact that innocent children like Lai are still being killed and maimed every day angers and frustrates me.

I am also angered that whereas Lai is a civilian casualty of landmines and explosive remnants left from a war that ended in the 1970s, such tragedies continue to happen as a result of conflict in the 1980s (Mozambique, Angola), the 1990s (Bosnia, Croatia) and this new century (Afghanistan and Iraq).

The impact of these explosive remnants does not stop with children. Men and women desperate to survive and provide for their families are also being killed and maimed. And then there is the indirect impact. In countries such as Cambodia, Afghanistan and Angola, people are forced to live in poverty many miles from their old villages and farms because their land remains contaminated years after the official ceasefire has been signed.

Adopt-A-Minefield (the charity of which I am a founding patron) funds the clinic that is treating Lai. It has provided almost £1m ($1.8 million) to projects in Vietnam which are clearing landmines and helping survivors. These projects have made more than 400,000 square metres of land safe for their communities. Globally, Adopt-A-Minefield has raised in excess of £6 million ($11 million) and is now the world's largest non-governmental funder of mine action. It ensures that 100 per cent of donations go to mine clearance and projects which provide amputees with prosthetics and help them retrain or set up their own businesses.

Landmines and explosive remnants of war are a huge barrier to the development of the countries and communities they affect. The Mine Ban Treaty has now been signed and ratified by 143 countries, and the major non-signatory countries (such as the US and China) have landmine export bans that are effective. While the International Campaign to Ban Landmines would like to see all countries sign the treaty and move on to banning or restricting the use of anti-vehicle mines and cluster bombs, in reality very few landmines are being exported and deployed. This means that we have the opportunity actually to solve a problem affecting the developing world - and solve it for good. Every community that is freed from the scourge of these weapons is a community that can develop free from fear. Kosovo, for instance, has removed the very last landmine remaining from the 1990s conflict.

I am often frustrated by some of the myths that surround demining. One of these is that machines can solve the problem overnight. As a result of my experiences in the Balkans in the early 1990s, I have a built-in suspicion of complex, high-tech solutions over low-tech, more sustainable ones. Developed countries (especially the US) have a tendency to try to find high-tech, James Bond-type fixes for the problem of landmines. While I applaud any progress which enables demining to be more efficient, I can't help feeling that the huge amounts of money spent on research and development could be better spent on getting the landmines out of the ground right now.

I listen carefully to organisations such as the Mines Advisory Group and the Halo Trust which actually clear landmines and I am always struck by how these highly technical solutions are either too expensive for developing countries, or just not robust enough to deal with the actual conditions on the ground (as opposed to the laboratories in which they were developed). The ability to maintain such equipment in countries and climates as diverse as Afghanistan, Angola, Sudan and Vietnam has to be questioned. More basic machinery can be used to clear vegetation, reduce the area that is suspected of being contaminated by mines and verify that the land has been cleared.

This leaves us with the reality that manual demining is still (and likely to remain) our best option. But the manual option has many other benefits. It relies on the simplest of tools, alongside patience and concentration; it involves local people in solving their own problem; and it provides much-needed employment in countries where unemployment and poverty are widespread. How many more lives would have been saved - and will be saved - if we put a higher proportion of our resources into a solution we know works (manual demining), as opposed to the Holy Grail-like search for a highly technical, space-age solution.

So where does all this leave you and me in terms of helping to solve this problem sooner rather than later? I believe that we can and must show our leaders the way forward. After all, if it had been left to politicians alone the Mine Ban Treaty would not have been established in the first place. We must do the right thing and support charities such as Adopt-A-Minefield which deliver immediate sustainable solutions, while pressing our leaders to get into the habit of clearing up after ourselves when war is judged (rightly or wrongly) to be the only course of action.

When explosive remnants of war littered Europe in 1945 and posed a significant barrier to economic and social development, our governments found the leadership and resources needed to solve the problem. We should show the same leadership qualities now to ensure that the needless injuries suffered by Zeynab and Lai become truly a thing of the past.

You can contact Adopt-A-Minefield at 020 7925 1500, info@landmines.org.uk or visit: http://www.landmines.org.uk

September 23, 2004 -- MSNBC

Give geese a chance

Paul McCartney wants Arnold Schwarzenegger to give geese a chance.

The former Beatle has written the former action star, asking him to ban foie gras production in California.

A bill outlawing the force-feeding of geese to produce the delicacy is on Governor Schwarzenegger's desk, and Sir Paul McCartney, a member of VIVA!, an animal-rights group pushing the bill, is hoping the governor will sign it.

"Your signature could be the one that ends the suffering of these poor animals," McCartney wrote to the "Terminator" star in a letter dated Sept. 20. "I feel sure that your natural feelings of compassion will encourage you to sign this basic humane bill into law."

September 23, 2004 -- NME

The September 18 New Musical Express features 1001 Awesome Rock Facts which lists interesting facts about the Beatles and Paul McCartney: Paul is the only person in history to have had hits as a soloist, and as part of a duet, a trio, a quartet, a 5-piece and a 6-piece band. Sgt. Pepper is the most spoofed album cover ever, and Paul's "legendary thriftiness has made him rock's first dollar billionaire. Macca once asked a florist for a discount if he paid for flowers with cash instead of a credit card."

September 22, 2004 -- Contact Music

McCARTNEY GIVEN SMALL ROOM IN NAME CONFUSION

Former Beatle Sir Paul McCartney and his wife Heather Mills were left disappointed recently, when their bid to book a hotel suite under an anonymous name backfired and they were given a small room.

The couple who became parents to baby Beatrice last October normally check into hotels under the same bogus name so that hotel staff know who they are.

But this tactic doesn't always work, as McCartney explains, "Usually we show up under the name Johnson, but on this occasion we got given a crappy room.

"So I was like, 'Don't you know who I am?' and we got a better room."

September 22, 2004 -- Gateway Movies

Stella McCartney has added costume design for movies to her resume. "Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow" starring Jude Law and Gwyneth Paltrow features clothing by Stella for the actor and actress.

September 22, 2004 -- Rolling Stone

Paul McCartney, Pearl Jam, R.E.M., U2, Coldplay, Bonnie Raitt, Indigo Girls, Avril Lavigne, Peter Gabriel and Eric Clapton are among the artists who have contributed tracks to "For the Lady," an album to benefit Aung San Suu Kyi, the Nobel Peace Prize-winning Burmese peace activist who has been under house arrest for fourteen years.

The double-CD on Rhino Records hits stores October 26th.

September 20, 2004 -- Adopt-A-Minefield PRESS RELEASE

Paul McCartney and Heather Mills McCartney Launch the Adopt-A-Minefield Auction

Paul McCartney and Heather Mills McCartney are excited to announce the launch of the "Adopt-A-Minefield Charity Auction," one of the most anticipated charitable events of the year!

Paul and Heather's ultra-elite and ultra-unique friends have generously donated amazing experiences, fabulous trips and timeless memorabilia to benefit this important cause.

The auction goes live September 21st and will feature musical icons such as Ringo Starr, Aerosmith, Kid Rock, Tom Petty, Sting, Jimmy Buffet, Coldplay, Norah Jones, B.B. King and Shania Twain. Some of our Hollywood mega-stars include Emmy winner Sarah Jessica Parker, Emmy nominated Steve Buscemi, Aidan Quinn, Orlando Bloom, Nicole Kidman, John Travolta, Naomi Watts, and comedic geniuses Ellen DeGeneres and Ray Romano.

You'll also find fabulous fashion designers such as Nanette Lepore and oh-so-cool fashion consultant to the stars, Phillip Bloch, as well as some delectable Chefs, such as the renowned Craig Shelton. Their support has been crucial, and so is yours; visit http://www.charityfolks.com so that you too can bid to give!

Charity Folks, the leading online charity auction venue, was enlisted to conduct the Paul and Heather McCartney Adopt-A-Minefield Auction. Driven by the belief that amazing things happen when people get the resources they need, Charity Folks uses technology to help charities and organizations raise the money they need to accomplish their mission.

Adopt-A-Minefield is a program of the United Nations Association of the USA, which engages individuals, community groups, and businesses in the United Nations effort to resolve the global landmine crisis. The Campaign helps to save lives by raising funds for mine clearance and survivor assistance and by raising awareness about the landmine problem. The idea behind Adopt-A- Minefield is both powerful and simple. Designed to move beyond the political and policy debates typically associated with banning the use of landmines, the Campaign provides a practical solution to the tens of millions of mines that contaminate the world and to the countless survivors of landmine accidents.

All proceeds go to the Adopt-A-Minefield/UNA-USA Organization.

September 20, 2004 -- Barretstown.org

BARRETSTOWN'S 10TH ANNIVERSARY GALA BALL

Barretstown celebrated helping 10,000 kids in 10 years with a glittering gala ball.

Paul McCartney, Heather Mills and U2's The Edge joined a host of top socialites to mark the 10th birthday with Hollywood actor Paul Newman, who founded the camp for children with cancer and other serious illnesses on September 4.

MC for the night was Father Ted's Ardal O'Hanlon and the guests dined and danced in a spectacular Kuam marquee in the grounds of Barretstown Castle, Ballymore Eustace, Co Kildare.

The highlight of the night was when McCartney joined The Edge on stage to sing a duet of Peggy Sue while McCartney played the specially-commissioned Barretstown guitar. The guitar, made by Mark Nicol of County Wexford in the shape of the charity's castle logo, was snapped up by Cork art dealer Theo Waddington for a cool ¤55,000 ($66,726). Other items in the auction, led by Nick Nugent of Goffs, included a corporate package to see Manchester United play Liverpool at Old Trafford, a place on the Barretstown Challenge Trek to Brazil and a Golfing package to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

Barretstown needs to raise ¤4 million ($4.8 million) each year to fund its programs of challenges, activities and fun which aid in the recovery of sick children from across Europe.

The star-studded occasion raised ¤440,000 ($533,808) for the charity on the night.

September 20, 2004 -- Daily Mail

Leave my Lady out of this, Sir Paul tells the friend he fired.

As any devoted husband would, Sir Paul McCartney rode to the defence of his wife Heather after the latest attempts to portray her as a vindictive meddler.

The former Beatle denied claims that she was behind the sacking of his publicist Geoff Baker last month after a 15-year partnership.

Sources claimed at the weekend that the pot-smoking Mr. Baker had barely been on speaking terms with Lady McCartney, who disapproved of his habit.

Baker has told friends that she was desperate to get rid of him, largely because hew was close to Sir Paul's first wife Linda, who died of cancer in 1998. But, in a strong-worded statement Sir Paul said, "I find it very sad that after years of friendship my publicist Geoff Baker and I are parting..."

The statement comes a few months after the 62-year-old musician phoned a number of newspaper columnists to say the had the wrong idea about his 36-year-old wife.

Baker refused to get involved in a slanging match saying, "I'm not commenting on this. I'm writing a novel about fathers at the moment and I"m happy."

However, sources close to the former journalist say he was 'deeply upset and let down' by the statement.

Baker has turned down several six-figure offers to tell his story - saying he still feels loyal to Sir Paul, despite not getting a severance package.

The growing problems between Sir Paul and his publicist surfaced last September (2003) when he temporarily fired Baker for tipping off photographers at David Blaine's stunt at the Thames.

In April, McCartney hired showbusiness specialists The Outside Organisation to look after his world tour, pushing Baker out of his main role.

The end finally came after the two men rowed when the publicist tried to get Sir Paul to talk to the press when he performed at Glastonbury.

September 20, 2004 -- The Scotsman

McCartney turns his back on Kintyre

Sir Paul and Heather McCartney have confirmed that they won't be visiting their Scottish retreat for their annual holiday amid growing speculation that the couple no longer visit the home the former Beatle shared with his late wife, Linda.

It emerged yesterday that that the couple, who married in 2002, have decided to take a month off, mainly in the United States, and will return to their London home next week without spending any time at the singer's one-time favorite retreat on Kintyre.

McCartney's affection for Scotland was strengthened by the time he spent at his Argyll home, High Park Farm near Campbeltown, after the traumatic break-up of the Beatles.

The musician credits the farm's atmosphere for helping him overcome the depression he suffered after the split. He penned one of his most popular hits, Mull of Kintyre, in tribute to the serenity he found there.

McCartney was accused two years ago of snubbing the memory of his late wife after commissioning a £20,000 ($36,600) statue of Linda from the sculptor Jane Robbins, his cousin, and then missing the unveiling.

The singer's daughter, Stella, made a private visit to the site in Campbeltown the following day, but her father was still on tour and to date it is not known if he has yet seen the work.

Yet the singer recently revealed that High Park Farm, which he bought as a tax break over 30 years ago before the break-up of the Beatles, was one of the few places he felt truly at home.

He said, "It has been like a little hideaway. It is a lovely place. I love it. I love the people up there. I can sort of breathe when I get up there, breathe pure air."

Despite his decision not to visit his Scottish home for the past two years, McCartney's love of the country is not in doubt and only last week he joined protests against plans to "wreck" the Highlands with huge "ugly" giant electricity pylons.

Sir Paul and Linda were frequent visitors to Kintyre during her life. The couple and their children grew to love the solitude and freedom their remote property offered. Sir Paul converted to vegetarianism while living at the farm, and was controversially fined £100 ($183) for growing cannabis there.

It is understood he is still recovering from a very bad public split from his publicist of 15 years, Geoff Baker - a professional break-up that prompted Sir Paul to issue a statement last week denying that his wife was the cause of the parting.

September 20, 2004 -- Daily Mail

Macca The Knife

This is a story about loyalty and friendship, but most of all about reputations, and what people will do to protect them.

The reputation in question is that of Sir Paul McCartney, often thought of as the nicest of the Beatles - you know, cheeky Paul, thumbs-aloft Paul, the writer of some of the greatest pop music ever composed, who at 62 is happily enjoying a second marriage and a second crack at fatherhood.

For Paul, who is worth around £760 million ($1.4 billion), has had a rather torrid week. Earlier this year he parted company with Geoff Baker, the quietly-spoken PR man who has looked after Paul and his interests for 15 years. By agreement, neither said a word about the end of their relationship. But now it has been claimed that Geoff Baker was pushed out by Sir Paul's new wife, Heather.

It is said that she disapproved of him from the moment she first laid eyes on him - something which Baker hasn't felt able to deny. The blame is being laid a the door of his dope-smoking habit. "I don't think Heather shares my liberal views on cannabis," said Baker, a father of six.

It was incautious for mild-mannered Baker to say even this much in public for as an ex-employee of Beatle Paul he is subject to a confidentiality agreement so watertight that on could use it to cross the Atlantic.

There was evidently fury in the McCartney camp at this apparently minor transgression and Sir Paul has felt moved to issue a long and strongly-worded statement accusing his one-time friend of trying to blacken the name of his wife, and calling "unprofessional."

The beginning of the end came when Geoff wasn't taken on McCartney's European tour last year - the first he had missed. Instead the PR was given to the Outside Organisation, once Victoria Beckham's handlers.

It was they who released McCartney's statement about ditching Baker.

"Over the past few months, his behavior has not reached the professional standards I had come to expect from Geoff and it is with regret that I am forced to end our relationship," he said.

"It is particularly sad that he has chosen to attempt to implicate my wife Heather in this business and I say now that she has had absolutely nothing to do with this. In fact, she has always been a great supporter of his. This purely between Geoff and myself and I am sad to see it end this way."

What makes this situation so very intriguing is that Baker was more than just a PR man for McCartney - he was a close friend and a confidant.

To see him cast out so brutally has surprised many in the business although one old media hand, describing the treatment of Baker as 'Stalinist', added, "That's the way His Nibs runs things, you know."

It must all be tremendously hurtful for Baker, 48 because he broke one of the cardinal rules of public relations by developing an affection for the client which verged on hero worship.

This led him to make the mistake of having no other clients but Paul - even though he was at the time asked to take on the PR for Oasis. It's a mistake which leaves Baker out of a job and, it appears, out of PR or good. For who would take on a man whose most recent boss has publicly described him in such unflattering terms?

The story starts with Baker being hired 1989 in rather unusual circumstances. He was, at the time, a freelance hack selling showbiz tidbits to the newspapers; McCartney was what he remains, an international star.

But although Baker was then not the most reputable of CVs, Paul's manager, Richard Ogden, was very anxious that he should be signed up. A world tour was looming and McCartney felt he needed someone physically with him on the road.

His existing PR outfit did not wish to dedicate a member of staff for such a long period of time - and there were only a few weeks to go until McCartney was due to leave.

Baker was introduced to his master-to-be at a drinks party by Bernard Doherty, McCartney's then publicist, and the unlikely pair hit it off. The temporary arrangement was put in place, and during the long grind of the world tour Baker proved his mettle. He never, it seems, tired of attending to Paul and his wife Linda's every need. Baker was happy to get involved in all of the on-the-road soap operas of love affairs, rows and the problems backstage.

He produced a daily 'newspaper' to amuse the crew. "Geoff played a blinder," said an old friend. By the time the tour was over, McCartney had decided to hire him full-time.

"Linda really liked Geoff from the start and that was a factor in the whole relationship," added the old friend of Baker's last night.

"He loved the whole idea of being on the road and being a rock and roller. They would smoke dope together and noodle around on guitars. It was Geoff's idea of heaven."

Baker became a regular visitor to the McCartney house in Peasmarsh, East Sussex, and developed warm relationships with the children too. His job grew to encompass any kind of 'looking after' which McCartney desired.

"If Paul needed a holiday sorting out or anything trival like bits of admin, the Geoff would do it. Peasmarsh was a second home for Geoff."

This 'second home' arrangement sounds cosy, and part of it, according to Geoff's friends, was a shared enthusiasm for cannabis.

"They would roll a joint every night," says one in Geoff's circle.

McCartney, famously jailed in Japan for possessing cannabis, has made no secret of his enthusiasm for the drug and it was very much part of the alternative lifestyle which Paul and Linda shared with him.

The relationship was not conventional: most PRs would baulk at the scope and level of the tasks which McCartney entrusted to Geoff Baker. But Geoff loved it, not the least because at some point over the next decade he developed what his friends call 'blind faith' in McCartney.

No matter what merit Paul's offerings had - albums like "Flaming Pie," not-very-good poetry - Geoff Baker took the view that it was all fantastic.

A fellow publicist told the Mail, "Geoff ate, drank and slept Paul McCartney. He worshipped the guy. It is tempting because if you have the ear of the talent then you become very powerful, but you must never believe in them in that way. If you do you're screwed."

Baker was instrumental in allowing Paul and his family privacy during Linda's fight with cancer, successfully keeping her final struggle a complete secret until she had died Arizona, and been buried, and Paul and the children were safely back home.

After Linda's death in 1998 he helped to comfort McCartney, and was among the trusted friends who guided him through the delicate process of grieving. They couldn't have been closer.

The following year, though, McCartney met Heather Mills at a charity event. The one-time glamour model seemed like the most unlikely consort but McCartney was soon completely smitten. Heather's influence over Sir Paul was immediate and obvious.

The couple moved out of the house in Peasmarsh where Paul and Linda had brought up their children and made a new start at a seaside place in Hove, also in East Sussex.

Her influence was also clear in a new, freewheeling lifestyle. Whereas before, Paul had been the ultimate homebody sitting around the farm with Linda and baking veggie treats for the kids, under Heather's influence he left his now grown-up brood to their own devices and went traveling. Cosy nights in with a spliff (joint) were no longer on the cards.

With Heather by his side, McCartney began to re-enter the public arena, supporting her anti-landmines work in a string of interviews, and going out together to fancy restaurants in London.

Outwardly, the effect the romance had on him was obvious: he started to dye his hair chestnut, and took to wearing embarrassingly trendy trainers.

This change in style, according to insiders, was part of a change of culture which spelled the end of his relationship with Geoff Baker.

"The writing was on the wall for Geoff as soon as Heather arrived," said another long-standing friend. "My feeling is that Heather was uncomfortable with him because he was so much a part of of Paul's old life. I certainly think that Geoff had that impression. It was obvious from the start she wasn't keen."

Geoff Baker found himself sidelined despite his loyalty. In truth, he should not have been so surprised: McCartney has long had a ruthless streak even when it comes to friends and relations. Look at the way he reversed the usual Beatles credit from Lennon/McCartney to "composed by Paul McCartney and John Lennon" on a live album two years ago.

McCartney, it must be said, has a strong sense of what is his, and strong instinct to protect it.

Tensions between Baker and McCartney first became evident in the run-up to the couple's marriage in 2002. According to Baker's friends, McCartney felt Geoff was to blame for some of the bad press Heather was getting. He was stunned by what was said about her, and particularly sensitive about suggestions that his children didn't like her, even though he admitted himself that a second marriage was "difficult" for them to accept.

"I think Geoff did take some of the heat over Heather and the Press," said a former colleague. "Who else could be blamed? If you take the view, which Paul does, that Heather is blameless and wonderful, then it's got to be all Geoff's fault."

Then, last year, came the bizarre David Blaine incident. McCartney arrived at Tower Bridge at 1am to see the illusionist but clashed with a photographer who asked to take his picture. "Listen mate," he shouted. "I've come to see this stupid **** in a box and you're not taking a picture of me tonight."

When he realized Geoff Baker had directed the photographer towards him, he fired him on the spot.

The following day, still believing he was sacked, Baker issued a long and groveling apology. He was reinstated later that morning, but friends suggest that his relationship with McCartney never really recovered. "Paul didn't speak to him properly for months afterwards," said a friend of the publicist.

Meanwhile, McCartney's new life with Heather became more and more absorbing. They became parents to baby Bea, and focused a lot of their attention on their new family. Also, Heather has shown some interest in media work by taking over the Larry King Show on CNN for one night.

To this end Heather has her own PR outfit and she and McCartney have formed new and more assertive ways of dealing with Press attention which is unwanted. They are quick to invoke lawyers to stop pictures being taken of the baby, and are also active in rebutting stories which they do not like.

For some time they haven't used Geoff Baker any more to complain, but instead have used their own legal team. McCartney recently made a legal complaint over the apparently innocuous suggestion that the couple might move to America for a while so that Heather could do some TV work.

The final word, then goes to McCartney. His camp says that Baker was a "bad influence" and that, especially after they had the baby, Heather and Paul just didn't want Geoff around anymore. Perhaps so, and it is of course McCartney's perfect right to hire and fire as he sees fit, and his perfect right to insist on confidentiality clauses to protect himself and his family.

But as one PR veteran put it this week, "You've got to feel sorry for Geoff. I don't think he ever really believed that Paul would do this to him. He thought that he was protected because he was his friend."
September 19, 2004 -- NY Post

Paul Sighting in New York

Paul McCartney checking the sales racks at Baby Gap on 74th and Lexington and turning down an autograph request, saying, "If I did it for you, I'd have to do it for everyone. You understand, right?" ...

September 18, 2004 -- The Mirror

THE CHANGING WORLD OF A ROCK LEGEND

When news emerged last weekend that Sir Paul McCartney had sacked his publicist of 15 years, the man in question was picking blackberries.

In truth, Geoff Baker had been on a type of gardening leave for two months - since he was informed he wouldn't be accompanying his famous employer on his latest world tour.

"I lost interest in the day-to-day process of PR, which is not as exciting as working on a world tour," he said at the weekend.

But a friend reveals, "He has been feeling the chill for some time. Geoff lived for the tours - and not being asked to go was the final straw."

His exclusion was a warning of what was to come but then the 48-year-old former showbiz reporter had been waiting for the axe to fall since Heather Mills arrived on the scene.

As long ago as last year, he was saying, "It'll probably end very soon. I really wouldn't be surprised. It's been a blast and that's what it's meant to be. It's only rock 'n' roll."

In a statement this week, the ex-Beatle vehemently denied that Baker's departure had anything to do with his 36-year-old wife of two years but failed to explain exactly why Baker had fallen out of favor.

"She has absolutely nothing to do with this," Sir Paul furiously insisted. "This is purely between Geoff and myself, and I am sad to see it end in this way."

But Baker's messy exit is far from the first sign of change in Macca since Heather came into his life.

Critics point to his drastic image overhaul - the dyed hair, the "groovy grandad" outfits - the toe-curling chat-show confessions of love for Heather from a man who once led his life with quiet dignity, and the egotistical demands to reverse some Lennon-McCartney song credits.

There is also the bitter rift, constantly denied, with his children who refuse to defend their stepmother. Fashion designer Stella, in particular, is said to loathe her.

And despite her charity work and her husband's constant public praise, Heather has been unable to shake off nagging doubts about her past.

She is haunted by claims highlighted in a recent Channel Four documentary that she once accepted gifts from rich Arabs and that she clawed her way out of a poverty-stricken, abusive childhood. Heather has always maintained a dignified silence on this touchy issue.

Sir Paul refuses to confront the darker aspects of her past but her rose-tinted, rags-to-riches story has failed to endear her to a public who harboured huge affection for her predecessor Linda.

Those who'd paint Heather as a calculating opportunist point to the £180,000 she made selling the story of how she lost her leg in a horrific road accident.

But the departure of Baker, a close friend of Sir Paul's late wife and a constant reminder of the 62-year-old star's former life, is, some believe, the most overt sign yet of the control Heather is said to wield over her billionaire husband - and the lengths to which he will go to keep her happy.

"When Heather came on the scene, there were immediate tensions between her and Geoff," claims an insider. "Some feel she may have found it hard to cope with Paul's old life."

Sir Paul's relationship with Baker stretches back to 1989, when Baker, then contracted to PR firm LD (Laister Dickson), was sent on tour with the ex-Beatle and his wife. The couple instantly took a shine to this laid-back, hippyish, chain-smoking vegetarian and insisted on keeping him at their side.

Over the next 15 years, Baker accompanied them around the globe. As Geoff openly discussed last week, his "liberal views about cannabis" certainly tied in with his former Beatle boss's much-chronicled past.

Baker's newspaper background also made him invaluable. He was the man who advised Sir Paul that it might be time to give up the thumbs-up pose he always adopted for the cameras.

But Baker was more than just an employee. He was a regular visitor to the McCartney family home, in Peasmarsh in East Sussex. To Sir Paul's children - Mary, Stella and James - he was almost an uncle, ever-present in their lives, largely because of his close, comfortable relationship with Linda.

Such was his loyalty to the family that when Linda lost her fight against breast cancer in April 1998, Baker agreed to lie about where she had died, telling journalists it was at a retreat in Santa Barbara, to protect the family's privacy.

In fact, as the Daily Mirror exclusively discovered, she had passed away at her family's secret retreat near Tucson, Arizona.

Later, asked if he felt bad about telling such a lie, he memorably replied, "I don't give a s**t."

He later added, "Morally, I have done nothing wrong and legally I have done nothing wrong. I am just trying to keep this family together." His loyalty to them counted for more than anything - even the truth.

Just why Sir Paul would axe such an ally some believe speaks volumes about the way his life has changed since marrying Heather in 2002.

They have abandoned the Peasmarsh home, where he and Linda raised their children, and based themselves at a house in Hove with their daughter Beatrice.

While Sir Paul and Linda once prided themselves on their unpretentious lifestyle, under Heather's influence, the McCartneys are reinventing themselves.

Although Sir Paul continues to deny them, rumors that Heather is keen for them to move to LA so that she can pursue her ambition to become a TV star refuse to go away.

Heather is said to harbour dreams of hosting her own chat-show, despite her woeful interview with Paul Newman while standing in for US host Larry King last year.

If Sir Paul does quit Britain for the anonymous glitz of LA, his old life will have vanished for ever.

There was a poignant moment during the star's recent appearance at the Glastonbury festival when as he played Wings songs, fans chanted Linda's name - and Heather stood watching from the side of the stage.

In this new, rather more showbizzy world that Sir Paul has embraced, rough-and-ready Geoff, with his mop of black-grey hair, scuffed leather jackets and jeans, seems somewhat out of place. Baker himself doesn't appear surprised by his dismissal.

This seemingly final split comes nearly a year after Sir Paul fired him temporarily, over a incident with a photographer who snapped the ex-Beatle as he visited magician David Blaine during his glass box stunt in London.

A scuffle broke out and Baker, who had just dined with the star in a Soho restaurant, later admitted tipping off the snapper. He was sacked and then reinstated.

He later claimed, "For some reason - probably only known to my mental hospital - I decided to tell a photographer to come over. Paul was incandescent."

One associate confirms, "That was always the way Geoff operated. Before, Paul was usually amused by the way Geoff did things. But his fury over the Blaine incident was a clear indication that things in the McCartney world were changing."

He had screamed, "You're bang out of order! You're fired!" Although he later claimed, "I haven't fired him - it was a joke."

The incident is a sign of what was to come. "I thought he was serious but he wasn't," said Baker later. "We do pull each other's leg but he's never sacked me before."

The extent of his loyalty meant that despite clashing with former glamour model Heather, Baker also defended her to the hilt on several occasions.

He stepped in during her row with wedding dress designers Caroline Eavis and Annie Brown, who claimed she had reneged on an agreement that they would provide the garment for free, in exchange for publicity. Heather later agreed to pay the full £10,000 ($18,300) cost of the dress.

In March 2003, Baker also deflected true claims that Heather was pregnant, once again proving that he wouldn't let the truth get in the way of his loyalty.

In his statement last week, Sir Paul blamed Baker's unprofessional conduct for his dismissal. In truth, Baker's dealings with a woman he found it hard to like and with an increasingly demanding boss, went far beyond the call of duty.

Fortunately for Sir Paul, revenge appears unlikely. Baker remains the keeper of the music legend's secrets - and not just because he signed a confidentiality agreement.

Despite being dropped like a stone, he will not betray the star. Partly, friends say, it is because he fears Sir Paul but, largely, he is too loyal to do anything to harm the man whose image he defended for so long.

"There is as much chance of me writing a book about Paul as there is of me taking life seriously," he said last year. "I could write hundreds of books about Paul but I'd never do it - even if someone put a gun to my head. It would cheapen everything."

In the fickle world of celebritydom, most stars would be grateful to have such a friend at their side.

With his demanding role as Sir Paul's PR man behind him, Baker has everything to look forward to - a peaceful life at his cottage near Devizes, in Wiltshire, a novel he is writing and clay-pigeon shooting.

Meanwhile, Sir Paul, who has cut himself off from his old support network, may soon feel Baker's absence all too keenly.

The day may yet come when he regrets turning his back on his most loyal servant.

September 15, 2004 -- BBC News

Ex-Beatle McCartney fires PR guru

Sir Paul McCartney has sacked his publicist of 15 years, Geoff Baker.

The former Beatle said he made the move because the "professional standards" of Mr. Baker, a longtime friend as well as PR man, had fallen in recent months.

Sir Paul also denied what he said were "particularly sad" claims that his wife Heather wanted Mr. Baker out. Mr. Baker, a former newspaper reporter, had dealt with Sir Paul's music and Beatles developments over the years. He declined to comment.

In a statement, Sir Paul said, "I find it very sad that after years of friendship, my publicist Geoff Baker and I are parting. Over the past few months, his behaviour has not reached the professional standards I had come to expect from Geoff and it is with regret that I am forced to end our relationship." He added, "It is particularly sad that he has chosen to attempt to implicate my wife Heather in this business and I can say now that she has had absolutely nothing to do with this. In fact, she has always been a great supporter of his. This is purely between Geoff and myself and I am sad to see it end in this way."

In September last year, Sir Paul "jokingly" sacked Mr. Baker after an incident during a visit to David Blaine's box on London's South Bank. Mr. Baker, admitted he had "stupidly" tipped off a photographer about the visit. Sir Paul had sacked him on the spot but later reinstated him. Police investigated allegations of assault following an alleged fracas with a photographer at the scene, but no proceedings were brought due to a lack of evidence.

September 15, 2004 -- PRNewsWire

Internet Diamond Retailer Igloo Diamonds Partners With Adopt-A-Minefield To Support and Fund International Landmine Clearing Operations -- Proceeds from Each Stone Sold Will Directly Finance Landmine Removal in Mozambique

Igloo Diamonds has partnered with Adopt-A-Minefield in a unique collaboration that will use the proceeds from the sale of diamonds to directly finance landmine removal in Mozambique. Under the terms of the partnership, Igloo Diamonds will dedicate approximately 50% of its gross profit per diamond sale (less 10% in administration fees) towards the clearing of minefield plots in Mozambique.

Adopt-A-Minefield, the non- governmental organization supported by Goodwill Ambassadors Paul McCartney and Heather Mills McCartney, raises private funds to clear minefields, builds awareness of the global landmine crisis and assists landmine survivors.

September 14, 2004 -- Mac Observer

McCartney Rumored Apple Board Member In "Mind Boggling" Beatles Settlement

Variety has set the speculation machines on fire today by reporting that Apple and The Beatles are close to a settlement in the two companies' legal dispute. According to the entertainment magazine, the settlement would "dwarf the US$26.5 million" paid to the Beatles in the 1990s the last time they sued Apple. Variety also says that there is speculation that Sir Paul McCartney could become a board member at Apple.

From the magazine:

Word among the legal community is that an out of court settlement could be imminent and that it will massively dwarf the $26.5 million paid to the Fab Four's company in 1991 in a row over trademark use.

One lawyer told Daily Variety, "People are expecting this to be the biggest settlement anywhere in legal history, outside of a class action suit. The numbers could be mind boggling."

Some speculation suggests the settlement could see Apple Corps. becoming a major shareholder in the computer company, with Paul McCartney maybe even becoming a board member.

The Beatles sued Apple in 2003 for breach of contract after Apple entered the online music download business with the iTunes Music Store (iTMS).

According to the (remaining two of the) Fab Four, the iTMS violated a 1991 settlement between The Beatles' management company, Apple Corps, and Apple Computer that precluded Apple Computer from being involved in the music business. Apple Corps owns a trademark for its name in the music business, which was the source of that lawsuit and the subsequent payment of US$26.5 million from Apple in 1999.

For his part, Apple CEO Steve Jobs has maintained that the issue between The Beatles and his company was a trademark dispute. In September of 2003, Steve Jobs told UK newspaper the Independent that:

"Apple Corporation and Apple [Computer] signed a legal agreement more than a decade ago. I wasn't there, and it says what each company can do with their trademark. I inherited that, and right now there's a disagreement about this. It's a trademark dispute... We might have to get a judge to decide on it."

Later that month, UK newspaper The Times reported that Mr. Jobs had said of the lawsuit that, "It's really stupid. We can't reach an agreement, but the courts could drag on for a few years."

In October, he added to that sentiment by saying that, "It's unfortunate because we love the Beatles. I'd do anything for those guys." In fact, one of the legends of Apple's founding has it that the name Apple Computer did indeed stem from Steve Jobs' love of The Beatles.

The Beatles have been quite litigious over the years through its corporate branch, Apple Corps. In addition to suing Apple Computer three times, The Beatles have aggressively defended their copyrights and other legal rights through the courts.

For its part, Apple has an enormous cash reserve of more than $5 billion.

The Mac Observer Spin:

Any payout to The Beatles of less than $150 million won't have much of a material effect on Apple Computer, save that it's a waste that didn't need to happen in the first place. Apple should have known better when the company embarked on its musical endeavors, or at least set itself up in such a way that it was protected. Remember that when the iTMS was first launched, its URL was Apple.com/music, something that was shortly changed to Apple.com/iTunes.

For all we know, however, Steve Jobs was planning on being sued, and this is all part of his master plan. Stranger things have certainly happened.

That said, it would be a huge coup for Apple to get Sir Paul McCartney on its board. Note that Variety was only reporting speculation, so who knows if that part of the report was true, but we think it would be a good thing for Apple were it the case. It would also be a major coup for Apple if it could land a significant exclusive with The Beatles' catalog for the iTMS.

September 14, 2004

Paul McCartney's Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey

Bach, Beethoven - those guys may edge a legendary musician or group out over the long haul, but will any musician ever have a more explosive short-term impact on the world than The Beatles did during their great run that ended with the release of Abbey Road in 1969? After the group splintered and each bandmember was left to his own devices, it came as no surprise that the prolific Paul McCartney, whose cherubic smile masked a flinty resolve, was first out of the gate. McCartney, released in 1970, yielded the hit "Maybe I'm Amazed" and remained on the charts for nearly a year. Not bad for an album recorded entirely at home.

Always a workhorse, McCartney began writing material for his next album, Ram, while the first album was still sailing on the charts. Although some critics fault Ram, which was released on May 17, 1971, as the saccharine effort that began a slide into camp from which McCartney has never fully recovered, McCartney's hauntingly beautiful touch can be heard throughout the album and is particularly evident in "Back Seat of My Car" and "Ram On." Ram also produced the smash single "Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey," which combines McCartney's knack for memorable melodies with some of that theatricality he was always prone to.

Rhythm tracks for "Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey" were cut in Studio B at CBS Studios on East 52nd Street in Manhattan, with CBS staff engineer Tim Geelan at the desk. Now semi-retired and living in a house that he built into the side of a mountain in Virginia, Geelan cut 22 songs with McCartney during a six-week period in 1971.

"Working on 'Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey' was one of the highlights of my career," says Geelan, whose long list of credits includes engineering for Dave Brubeck, Wynton Marsalis, Billy Cobham, The Dictators, Blue Oyster Cult and many others. "Paul was a great producer : thorough, businesslike and loose at the same time. They were very comfortable sessions that followed a pattern. We'd start working at nine or 10 in the morning. Paul would show Denny Seiwell, the drummer [who would later become an original member of Wings], and David Spinozza and Hugh McCracken, the guitar players who split the date, the song we'd be tracking that day. After rehearsing for several hours, we'd cut a version of the tune and then have a lunch break. After lunch, we'd listen to what we had and then record another couple of takes if it was necessary.

"We had a 3M MM-1000 16-track recorder and a homemade console at CBS. Studio B was a big room, about 40 or 50 feet long and 50 feet wide with a 40-foot-high ceiling. We didn't worry about bleeding at all. The setup was real tight and everyone had headsets. Paul was absolutely the best. I was impressed with his musicianship and command of the studio."

Dixon Van Winkle remembers the Ram sessions well. A young staff member at A&R Recording in New York City at the time, Van Winkle had been on the job for about six months when McCartney and his wife, Linda, showed up after scheduling conflicts forced them out of CBS. "I was a setup man in those days," says Van Winkle. "Phil Ramone was the king of large orchestral recordings in New York at the time. He didn't have that many guys around who had gone to music school and could read scores, which I was able to do. So I had some value to Phil, who asked me to work with him on the Ram sessions."

A&R had four studios in Manhattan; A1 was located in the penthouse at 799 7th Ave. "A1 was one of those magical New York rooms - arguably the best of them all," Van Winkle says. "Originally a CBS studio, it was large enough to handle a full orchestra and it sounded great. We had a warm, fat vacuum tube Altec console that had been custom-built with handmade sidecars and four Altec 604E speakers across the front room, each powered by a 75-watt McIntosh tube amplifier.

"Paul came over to A&R to track the orchestra, vocals and some other overdubs with Phil. But Phil had a scheduling conflict one day and Paul asked me to take over. Things went well, and then Paul asked me if I'd finish the record with him.

"Security was tight, and each day Paul and Linda would come up the back elevator with their kids and a playpen, which we set up in the front of the control room. I was a part-time nanny since Mary would often be crawling around the console and sitting on my lap! The interplay between Paul and Linda was sweet, especially when they were on-mic. Linda actually came up with some parts on her own - the entire backing vocals on 'Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey' consists of the two of them - but when she needed a hand, Paul was great with her. We used a combination of U87s - if we were working on something smooth - and Shure SM57s for the rockier stuff throughout the album. Paul didn't care what mic you put on him, although he did like the U87. He's such a great singer. I know that the vocals they cut over at CBS are Paul singing live right off the floor with the rhythm section into an Electro-Voice RE20, which was a relatively new mic at the time. They recorded the telephone section [of the song] over at CBS, as well. That character voice was also Paul, with a simple highpass filter engaged to give the telephone effect."

Although Van Winkle did not record the guitar parts that McCracken contributed to "Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey," he remembers the guitarist well. "Everybody wanted Hugh on their sessions. He wasn't the best reader in town, but the parts he came up with were fantastic. I've heard lots of great guitar players over the years, and I'd say Hugh was in the top five." Still an active player who can be heard on the current Alicia Keys record and other tracks, McCracken has distinct memories of working with McCartney.

"My answering service got a call asking me if I'd like to audition for Ram, but I was in Florida working on an Aretha Franklin record and didn't pick up the message until I got back into town," says McCracken. "I was disappointed but happy that David had gotten the job." Spinozza, who has gone on to enjoy a long and successful career in the music production business and in Broadway pits, now plays in the Hairspray orchestra. After working on "3 Legs" and several other Ram songs, Spinozza and McCartney parted ways. As McCracken recalls, his phone rang one afternoon and Linda McCartney was on the line.

"Linda asked me to hang on while she put Paul on the phone. Paul simply asked me if I could be in the studio the following morning at nine o'clock. I canceled the sessions I had and made the date." After recording several tracks under McCartney's direct supervision, it came time to lay down basics for "Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey." "This song represented a breakthrough in our musical relationship," McCracken says. "Paul is a genius. He sees and hears everything he wants, and would give specific instructions to me and the drummer. But he didn't know what he wanted the guitar part to be like on this song. I asked him to trust me and he did. After I came up with the parts, he was very pleased. For the rest of the record, Paul let me try things out before making any suggestions."

"Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey" stems from the British musical theater and has the feel of an overture, with multiple sections that are independent of one another. "That's right," agrees Van Winkle, "and there were some issues we had to deal with as a result. For example, if you listen carefully, you'll hear Paul gurgling right before the telephone voice comes in. That sound was his imitation of a British telephone ring. He was supposed to give the engineer a cue when he wanted the lowpass filter dropped in for the Admiral Halsey character. The engineer made the switch too early and the filter came in on one of the gurgles! Paul didn't care, though. To him, it was all about the feel of the music."

The chart, written by George Martin, also posed some engineering challenges. "Everybody knows that George Martin loved experimenting as much as any of The Beatles did," Van Winkle notes. "If you listen carefully to the trumpet solo that leads into the 'Hands across the water' section - which Marvin Stamm, who's still an active player in town, played - you'll hear Paul whistling. Underneath, there's a sound effect written out by George Martin for four French horns; it's a flutter-tongue, fast-fingering atonal little thing in the horns' low range.

"Our usual way of recording horns at A&R was to put a pair of mics either in the front or distant rear of the players. That was traditional at the time, based on the fact that the French horn is a reflective instrument and you want to capture it with some space. But that's not what Paul was used to. He wanted us to stick mics right up in the bell. Although the U87 was the mic we used on horns back then, it would have been too big, so we probably used AKG C-60s instead. At any rate, none of us could figure out the purpose of the chart at that section, but when the mix was completed, it all worked perfectly.

"We did have a little problem mixing some of the horn pads in other sections of the song because they often sat directly in the vocal range. We pulled them down and processed them, as I remember, and you can hardly tell what they are at some points."

Recording the rain and thunder effects that help glue the first two sections together would be easy today, but it was no small feat in 1971. "I remember Paul telling me that Armin Steiner went out to the edge of a cliff to record that storm, and that it was Paul's idea to add the effect at that point in the track."

Very few artists in 1971 had the clout to release a single comprising 12 discrete sections, but McCartney's artistic vision was so solidly commercial that no record execs would cross him. Still, Van Winkle was unprepared for the success of "Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey": "Despite Paul's charm and ability to pull off anything, I was surprised when the record went so big."

The first single from the Ram sessions, "Another Day," never made it onto the album. It was Van Winkle who decided that "Another Day" should be the first release: "We were sitting in Studio A2 one day listening to the takes and Paul asked me to pick the single. I had definite feelings about the record and was in love with 'Another Day.' Paul said, 'Okay. "Another Day" it is.' I mixed the track and David Crawford cut about 100 copies of it in a back room at A&R for the radio stations. The next day when I heard it on the air, I realized it was a disaster! We got carried away with the bass part, and when it hit the radio station's compressor, it pumped like crazy! I learned that lesson real quick! But we never remixed the song, and Paul never said anything about it."

Based on Ram's success and the relationship they developed, McCartney asked Van Winkle to work with him on Red Rose Speedway, which was also recorded at A&R.

McCracken eventually worked in the studio with all of the former Beatles, and considers himself fortunate to have had the experience, even though his work with John Lennon brought him face to face with tragedy: "I first worked with John on 'And So This Is Christmas.' Like Paul, he was extremely intelligent and aware of what he wanted in the studio. But you'd never find two more diametrically opposed personalities. I was working on Double Fantasy at the time of his death. How long did it take me to recover from that night? I still haven't recovered."

Currently active as a freelance engineer, Van Winkle lives in New York City with his wife, Jan.

September 13, 2004 -- Miami Herald

Paul McCartney and A&E have been awarded an Emmy in the Creative Arts Category given out at the 56th Annual Emmys Awards this past Sunday, September 12. These awards were given out prior to the Emmys Award show which will be aired September 19 from 8 to 11pm ET on ABC.

Multi-Camera Picture Editing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special: "A&E in Concert: Paul McCartney in Red Square," A&E.

September 12, 2004 -- The Mail On Sunday

Hello....Goodbye

She hated him at first sight - and now Heather McCartney has finally forced out Sir Paul's pot-smoking right-hand man.

Sir Paul McCartney's cannabis-smoking right-hand man has quit amid claims that the star's wife Heather fears he is a bad influence.

Friends say Geoff Baker's relationship with Heather has reached the breaking point two years after she married Sir Paul, 62.

Baker, 48 was Sir Paul's publicist for 15 years but was not on his latest European tour.

Insiders said Heather, 36, did not like him touring with the family because he smokes marijuana.

His last assignment was helping Sir Paul at Glastonbury in June, where Baker and Heather allegedly refused to talk to each other.

A source said, "The major problem was that Heather felt Geoff was a bad influence on Paul. She did not agree with the rock 'n' roll lifestyle and she knew Geoff was already sneaking off for a spliff. She didn't want Paul to indulge in that sort of lifestyle.

"She's very aware of her image as a charity campaigner and anything like that would seriously call her image into disrepute."

Baker, who was close confidant of Sir Paul's first wife Linda, confirmed he has quit as Sir Paul's chief aide and said of his relationship with Heather, "After 30 years of experience, I'm no stranger to experimentation. I don't think Heather shares my liberal views on cannabis. I told Paul that I wanted concentrate on new projects. I'm writing a novel about fatherhood. I have not lost any of my friendship for Paul. I lost interest in the day-to-day process of PR, which is not as exciting as working on a world tour."

Insiders said his departure is an example of how much influence Heather has over her husband.

Sir Paul has changed his appearance, including dyeing his hair, moved out of the McCartney family home in Peasmarsh, East Sussex, and now lives in a Thirties beachside house in Brighton.

His wife has also encouraged Sir Paul to spend time in the US later this month so she can pursue a TV career - she is talking ot CNN about presenting a show.

Baker's only client was Sir Paul but he was replaced as publicist on his European tour last year by London-based PR company The Outside Organisation. A source said, "Geoff was gutted when he was told he wouldn't be allowed on the tour.

"He advised Paul to go to The Outside Organisation when the idea of having another press team was raised, but he couldn't understand why they were bringing in another team when he'd done the job perfectly well for 15 years. He assumed it was because Heather didn't like him very much. After that he became less high profile, which was a devastating blow for him.

"There was always a lot of tension between Heather and Geoff.

"The problem, quite simply, was that they clashed. They never got along, partly because Geoff is part of the old guard. He was very close to Linda and the kids."

September 12, 2004 -- The Guardian

How the Fatboy grew up

Six years ago, Norman Cook had more fun than anyone in Britain. Now, at 40, he's grappling with paparazzi, parenthood and the aftermath of a very public affair. He talks to Alexis Petridis about being a victim of his own success

Local press and taxi drivers seldom miss an opportunity to call Hove's Western Esplanade "Millionaire's Row", but somehow, it doesn't quite look the part. For a start, the location is a bit odd. True, on one side, there's the beach and the English Channel, and if you crane your neck to the right, you get what an estate agent would describe as panoramic views of Brighton seafront. But at the other side, your panoramic views are noticeably less edifying, encompassing what looks like an industrial estate and a chemical works. The houses themselves look a bit odd as well - vast white buildings that would pass for brutally modernist, had someone not made the questionable architectural decision to top the walls with fake battlements. In addition, my cab driver expresses grave concerns about the street's security: "Anyone can walk right up there," he says. "If I were 'im, I'd put a bloody great gate up and block the road off."

But the 'im in question seems happy enough as he chugs up Western Esplanade in a Volkswagen Beetle. Norman Cook now owns not one but two houses here. The first contains his studio and office; the second - right next door - is where he lives with wife Zoë Ball and Woody, their four-year-old son, whom Cook is currently engaged in extricating from the rear seat of his car. "Come on, buggerlugs," he says, smiling.

His neighbors are Nick Berry of EastEnders, Heartbeat and Every Loser Wins fame and Paul McCartney. Despite the cabbie's concerns, they don't get bothered much by the general public: "I've only had to move people on twice in all the years I've lived here." He shows me the private beach where the neighbours, number one hitmakers all, occasionally meet up. It was there that McCartney told Cook to flee the country after Big Beach Boutique, the free rave he organized between Brighton's two piers in 2002, attracted an unexpected 250,000 people - twice the size of the audience at the Glastonbury festival. In the aftermath of the event, thousands were stranded on Brighton beach - the train station simply couldn't cope - and a 25-year-old Australian girl died after falling from railings on the seafront. "He said that whenever he was getting a lot of flak about something, he just left the country, because no one can find you and you can't read the newspapers even if you want to. So me and Zoë drove around France for a few days."

Sitting on the decking at the rear of the studio house, he points out the place where the paparazzi hid while waiting to snap pictures of McCartney telling him and his wife to leave the country. "There's a kind of natural hole in the rocks just over there. If you go down and have a look, it's full of cigarette butts and empty film canisters." Cook seems to have become quite an expert on legal matters concerning privacy. "We're very aware of the new laws. The precedent is if you're on private property, like in your house or in your garden, you can't be papped. But there's a narrow line about this decking, whether it constitutes our house or not."

September 11, 2004

New run for McCartney

In a soft cropped top, curved to the body, sweat shorts fastened with a bow and bare legs pumping at the exercise bike, a model displayed Stella McCartney's new range of dynamic, athletic and ergonomic sportswear for Adidas.

The secret project, which includes sneakers and accessories, was launched this week in New York after six months' research.

"It is frustrating when you go to work out and have to compromise," said McCartney of her new venture. "It is degrading that women should be an afterthought in the design process."

A soft palette of cloud gray and lavender belies the technical expertise of the 58-piece collection. There are tricolored racing-back singlets and intricately seamed sweatpants for running; streamlined swimsuits and soft velour tops for water sports; and a wide range of workout and cover-up clothes. They often have built-in bows to give a feminine feel, but nothing is extraneous to the function.

Metallic threads to draw out the sweat and built-in support panels are just some of the high-tech features. McCartney admits that before she studied the subject, she was as ignorant as most women about the technical aspects.

"I think we should educate women about techno fabrics so that we can understand how to let the body breathe," she says. "We need to learn more about our needs."

McCartney's collaboration with Adidas, following the successful Y3 fashion range from Yohji Yamamoto, is designed to be a fusion of fashion and function.

September 10, 2004 -- Message from Brian Ray

Hello my Friends,

Did you have a great summer? I hope so!

I wanted to send you a little somethin' from my vacation here in Hawaii. I am enjoying day 2 of 11 days here, first on the island of Maui, then on Oahu.. My cousin, Rich has a place there and I have a few friends working there as well.

I'm still one of the 4 luckiest guys on the planet, to play with Paul...

that's for sure..

I wanted to send this postcard to you and thank you for your email and support. I'll have some news to tell you around the middle of October that is really exciting to me.

Stay cool and stay tuned!!

love,

Brian

September 10, 2004 -- CNN

"NO AMPS

Paul McCartney's October benefit for Bridge School in San Francisco may be first accoustic-only set since his MTV "Unplugged" set in1991.
September 9, 2004 -- IC Stirlingshire

Sir Paul blows a fuse over pylons

Music legend Sir Paul McCartney has urged power companies to think again over plans to upgrade power lines which pass through Stirling.

He hit out at Scottish and Southern Energy and Scottish Power's plans and blasted replacement pylons as "ugly".

He is the biggest name to have criticized the multi-million pound green energy project which has been undertaken by the power companies. Their plans include the Beauly to Denny power line upgrade, as well as new lines to the Hebrides and windfarms to meet renewable energy targets.

Sir Paul said, "It would be a shame if some of the most beautiful scenery in the world was ruined by a line of ugly pylons. We urge the Scottish and Southern Energy Company to please change their mind."

His comments follow concerns shown by Kenny and Gabby Logan, David Bellamy and Sir Chris Bonington, who have all stated their opposition to the pylons.

SSE recently ended its consultation on proposals with local communities, including Kinbuck which was unexpectedly dragged into the matter after a route for the line was redrawn.

Thousands of responses and letters of concern about the pylons and the plans have poured into SSE, Scottish Power and offices of local authorities and politicians across the country. Stirling Council said recently that 641 responses had been received, months in advance of the full planning application which is due later this year or in early 2005.

SSE is also reassessing reasons for choosing the route and has gone over alternatives which have been suggested.

September 8, 2004 -- Billboard

McCartney, Peppers to rock Bridge School

Paul McCartney, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Tony Bennett, Sonic Youth, Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals, Los Lonely Boys and Tegan & Sara will join event founder Neil Young on the bill for the 18th annual Bridge School Benefit. The shows will be held Oct. 23-24 at Shoreline Amphitheatre outside San Francisco.

Performing as part of Bridge School's traditional acoustic format will be unfamiliar to a number of the artists, particularly McCartney. The former Beatle will be offering what is believed to be his first acoustic set since a 1991 taping for "MTV Unplugged," which was later released on CD.

As for Young, the shows will cap a brief run of performances that include a Sept. 15 show in Berkeley, Calif., the Sept. 17 Clean Air benefit in Duncan, British Columbia, the annual Farm Aid benefit on Sept. 18 outside Seattle, and McCartney's Adopt-A-Minefield gala in Los Angeles on Oct. 15.

Tickets go on sale September 12 through Ticketmaster.com. $38.75 for lawn and $55.75 for seats

September 8, 2004 -- The Scotsman

McCartney Turns her Talents to Women's Sporstwear

Fashion designer Stella McCartney has teamed up with sportswear giant Adidas for the launch of a new clothing range, it was announced today.

It is the first time a designer better known for creations on the catwalk has created an everyday sportswear range for women, according to Adidas.

The first "Adidas by Stella McCartney" collection consists of clothes for running, swimming and working out in the gym ranging in price from £27 ($50) to £137 ($250).

McCartney, daughter of singer-songwriter Sir Paul, said, "Women take both their sports and their style seriously. Why should we have to sacrifice one for the other ?

"Working with Adidas is a lifetime opportunity to give female sports enthusiasts a choice."

Bill Sweeney, project leader and head of apparel at the Adidas sports performance division, said, "We combined Stella's unique design and her instinctive insight into women with Adidas' knowledge in creating breakthrough functional sports products."

The new collection is due to be unveiled in New York later today.

It will go on sale in selected department stores in the US, Japan and Europe including the UK in February next year.

September 7, 2004 -- Elites TV

Paul McCartney and Brian Wilson unite for new album

Rock legends Sir Paul McCartney and Brian Wilson are joining forces to record a new album together.

The pair decided to create a new LP after the former Beatles assisted ex-Beach Boy Wilson on his upcoming solo album "Gettin' In Over My Head."

Wilson, who recently wrapped up his British tour, says, "I'll make a rock'n'roll album with Paul. That's going to happen next year."

And the American rocker is thrilled: "Paul is way out there. He's a complete original."

September 6, 2004 -- The Mirror

HUNTING TO BE BANNED IN 6 MONTHS

The government will this week begin moves to ban hunting by February. And in an open letter to Tony Blair, Sir Paul McCartney heads a list of celebrities urging that laws to outlaw it should be pushed through "as soon as possible".

Ministers, who last year voted to ban all hunting with hounds, are keen to press ahead with the move first promised in Labour's 1997 election manifesto. They will use the Parliament Act to override inevitable opposition from the House of Lords and ensure there is no unnecessary delay in getting the new law passed.

A Hunting Bill will be announced this week with a Commons vote after a day-long debate next Tuesday or Wednesday.

To avoid mass protests, Blair would prefer to see the legislation introduced after the next election but is aware this would inflame Labour traditionalists and animal rights groups who have waited years for it.

Sir Paul's letter, signed by other stars including Louise Redknapp, Dermot O'Leary and Mel C, reads: "We are counting on you to bring back the Hunting Bill as soon as possible to ensure that a law to ban fox hunting is passed."

September 6, 2004 -- The Sun

To Russia With Love

Stars, firms and our family of readers all dug into their pockets yesterday as The Sun's fund for the kids of Beslan raised £127,000 ($232,410) in just one day.

England skipper David Beckham and Sir Paul McCartney each donated thousands of pounds.

Prime Minister Tony Blair called our appeal "a great campaign" and suggested we widen it to include gifts of toys.

Companies large and small threw their weight behind the fund. And readers up and down the country rushed to give what they could.

We launched our national appeal on yesterday's front page with £10,000 ($18,300) immediately matched by Virgin boss Sir Richard Branson and British Gas.

Pop legend Sir Paul said, "Anything that can be done to ease the suffering has my total support."

September 5, 2004 -- PaulMcCartney.com

20 YEARS AFTER THE FROG SONG MACCA HUMS NEW SINGLE FOR KIDS

Paul McCartney is to release his first single for children in 20 years - recording a flipside to the Frog Song.

Two decades after the original frog song, "We All Stand Together," went to No. 3 in the UK charts, Paul is releasing a new kids song - "Tropic Island Hum" - for the children of the children who bought the nursery favorite in 1984.

"Tropic Island Hum" is the title track of a new children's animation film created by Paul McCartney.

Said Paul, "I don't often write songs deliberately for children but we made this new film for kids and the film needed a song. As a songwriter I'm always interested in trying to write music in different styles, so I took the challenge of trying to write another one for kids."

A limited edition single will be issued by EMI Records on September 20th (UK/Europe). The CD will feature "Tropic Island Hum" along with the original recording of "We All Stand Together," to mark the 20th anniversary of the long-ago deleted amphibian anthem.

Both songs are written by Paul McCartney and sung by a chorus of animals.

The film "Tropic Island Hum" will introduce a new cartoon character, Wirral the squirrel. The short film, which follows the cheeky Scouse squirrel on an adventure to an island animal sanctuary, will be released on DVD on September 27th (UK DVD release) as one of a package of three cartoons created by Paul and titled "Paul McCartney, The Music And Animation Collection." The collection will also feature the award-winning "Rupert And The Frog Song" and another Macca frog flick, "Tuesday."

The CD single "Tropic Island Hum" ((UK/Europe release) is the first release from Paul McCartney since he recently headlined the Glastonbury Festival.

Said Paul, "I shouldn't imagine that too many of the Glastonbury bands would follow performing "Helter Skelter" there with releasing a single for children by a cartoon squirrel, but it's ringing the changes like this which keeps me interested in the possibilities of life."

September 3, 2004 -- Belfast Telegraph

McCartney big fan of Sexsmith

"This is the first time I've ever been able to write unabashed love songs," says Canadian troubadour Ron Sexsmith. "I can't even begin to tell you how good it feels, man."

Sexsmith's latest offering, Retriever, marks yet another seismic leap in the singer's development. He has decided to abandon studio trickery for a more straight down the line rock approach, and by the singer's own admission, it's paid off. "This is the first record I've been completely happy with.

Sexsmith counts Paul McCartney and Elvis Costello among his biggest fans. It's a fact that pleases the singer immensely.

"I owe a lot to Elvis Costello. If it wasn't for him telling people in the US that he loved my record, I don't know where I'd be now. He really helped me out.

"As for Paul McCartney, well I never thought I'd actually meet any of the Beatles, let alone have one saying he loved my stuff. It's pretty amazing - the first time I ever got to England I was having breakfast at Paul McCartney's house."

September 1, 2004 -- Mirror

Macca sightings in the UK

Paul McCartney was spotted in the checkout line at the Tesco supermarket in Hove, East Sussex, buying exotic fruit.

News continues on the Macca Report October 2004

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