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September 22, 2008 -- NME

Is Paul McCartney 'firing' at old label EMI?

Promo sleeve prompts speculation the Beatle is taking aim

Paul McCartney has promoted speculation he is attacking his old record label on his new album.

The former Beatle left EMI last year, branding the company "boring", and it's been suggested that the sleeve for promotional copies will be another comment on the label.

The artwork (pictured) shows what seems to be a fragment of the sleeve, spelling out what could be EMI, leading some commentators to believe it will be a further attack.

However a more plausible suggestion might be that the "E" and "M" actually belong to the word Fireman.

McCartney released a couple of albums in the 1990s with producer and ex-Killing Joke man Youth, and the duo are said to be working together again.

NME.COM will have the full image in the next coming days, so stay tuned to find out the meaning behind the legend's message.

Contrary to earlier reports, Paul McCartney's Thursday concert in Tel Aviv will not be broadcast on Channel 10 television.

McCartney's London production company yesterday urged fans to buy tickets to the Park Hayarkon event, "the only way to be there with Paul and the band." The company also announced that the concert will include many Beatles hits.

The Israeli production company said yesterday that a Channel 10 broadcast van scouting the concert venue had been kicked off the premises by security guards. However, parts of the concert will be broadcast by Israel Radio and Army Radio.

Media sector sources said they believe Channel 10 tried to acquire broadcast rights to the concert from the London company, bypassing the Israeli producers. But the Israeli company feared the move would hurt sales of the pricey tickets, which cost NIS 500 ($143) each.

Responding to the announcement from London, Channel 10 said: "The intention had been to allow everyone to see this historic concert. It is unfortunate that the Israeli producers torpedoed the initiative.

Singer Duffy has recorded a version of Sir Paul McCartney's classic song "Live And Let Die" for charity - and the Beatles legend is astonished with the result.

The Welsh songstress tackled the hit Bond theme for her contribution to the upcoming War Child charity album Heroes.

And McCartney is bowled over with the new version of his Oscar-nominated Wings song.

The track is among a host of classic cover versions slated for inclusion on the new album, which is due for release in November.

As part of the project, a legion of musical legends including Bob Dylan, David Bowie, and Beach Boys founder Brian Wilson have chosen a song from their back catalogue for a young artist of their choice to cover.

McCartney says, "I think Duffy's version of 'Live And Let Die' is great - I was really impressed. The breadth of talent on this project is amazing; it's great that so many people gave their time, energy and support to this initiative. I urge everyone to support War Child."

Among other tracks featured on the release are Beck's version of Dylan's Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat, The Kooks' cover of Victoria by The Kinks, and a recording of Joy Division's Transmission by Hot Chip.

Singer Rufus Wainwright will record a medley of two songs from Wilson's Smile album.

Wildman rocker Ted Nugent has offered his services to Sir Paul McCartney - as a bodyguard.

Nugent has offered to head up the former Beatle's personal security detail when McCartney performs in Israel on Thursday September 25.

And, despite the fact the Cat Scratch Fever hitmaker is an avid hunter and MCCartney an animal rights activist, he urges the Brit to take his offer seriously after learning of death threats from Muslim extremists if the ex-Beatle plays the concert to mark Israel's 60th birthday.

Nugent tells WENN, "Regardless that Paul and I have our obvious social, cultural, and culinary differences outside of music, I will not bend or waiver to voodoo religious whackjobs and neither should Paul."

The U.S. rocker and National Rifle Association official insists his training with military specialists and various law enforcement agencies make him the perfect security expert for rock stars like McCartney.

He adds, "It would be my pleasure to keep this legendary musical hero safe from terrorists and mad men, and then buy him a nice dinner of tofu. I'm Dirty Harry with a ponytail, and I'm at Paul's service."

Speaking words of wisdom

A full half century after The Beatles began to take shape, Paul McCartney still sounds awed, modest and appreciative when discussing the lasting resonance of their music. Ahead of his Tel Aviv concert on Thursday, McCartney talks here to The Jerusalem Post about his beliefs, about how he copes with near-universal fame, about the puzzling, even "magical" inspiration for some of his songs, and about his abiding, insistently optimistic outlook on life.

Paul McCartney, just turned 15, was introduced to John Lennon, all of 16, at a church fete in Woolton, Liverpool, at which Lennon's skiffle group, The Quarrymen, was playing. The older boy, so legend has it, was impressed by McCartney's familiarity with rock and roll music and his facility with a guitar. For one thing, he knew how to tune it properly. The year was 1957.

McCartney, who had already started penning his own songs (he still sometimes plays his first ever composition, "I Lost My Little Girl"), soon joined Lennon's band, and the two began writing music together. As other Quarrymen came and went, they recruited a skilled 15-year-old guitarist, George Harrison. It was 1958 - 50 years ago - and, though they had not yet found their name, The Beatles were on their way.

Variants on The Beatles moniker were introduced in 1960 by Stuart Sutcliffe, an artist who reluctantly became their bass player but who died, of a brain hemorrhage, in 1962. With Pete Best on drums, the band honed its live skills at endless gigs in Liverpool and Hamburg, failed an audition at Decca Records in London in January 1962, made a better impression on producer George Martin at Parlophone a few weeks later, drafted the adept Liverpool drummer Richard Starkey in place of Best that August, recorded their first single, "Love Me Do," in September, and set off to change the course of musical history.

Somehow managing to survive a ban by the State of Israel (which probably did not block their appearance here in 1965 because it feared they might corrupt our nation's youth, but more likely because of protekzia in the shape of pressure by one concert promoter who was jealous of the rival who had signed them), they went on to sell more than a billion records worldwide and so dominate global culture that when Lennon remarked in a 1966 interview that they were "more popular than Jesus now," he was being matter-of-fact as well as provocative.

And now, finally, with Lennon dead (murdered outside his Manhattan apartment block in 1980), Harrison dead too (from cancer, seven years ago) and Ringo "otherwise engaged," McCartney, 66, is bringing their music, and his own, to Israel. Some here have called it the greatest cultural event in our 60-year history. He blokily describes it as an opportunity to come to a region he's been interested in visiting, to "see what's what."

A ridiculously gifted musician, songwriter and vocalist who has spent five full decades, to quote from a 1968 composition, "sitting singing songs for everyone," McCartney's has been a life lived at an unthinkable level of fame, which he says he has generally found a way to enjoy. But however divinely gifted, and unspeakably wealthy, he has not led any kind of charmed existence.

His mother, a nurse, died of cancer when he was only 14. Lennon's assassination was both crushing and personally terrifying, bringing the fear that he might be next. His first wife, Linda, the love of his life from whom he was truly inseparable for almost 30 years, died in 1998. His recent second marriage, to Heather Mills, was disastrous, and very publicly so.

But McCartney, it would seem, is one of nature's undimmable optimists, earnestly glad to be alive, marveling at his growing band of grandchildren (six, as of daughter Mary's third son's birth last month), and rather humbled by nature.

His voice, down the phone on Friday from England, where he has been rehearsing ahead of the trip to Tel Aviv, was unmistakable even in conversation - melodic and cadenced. He did not sound unduly concerned about the Islamist threats of violence his visit has prompted. This, after all, is the lyricist who wrote, in 1967, about "the people standing there who disagree and never win, and wonder why they don't get in my door."

I don't know if he was being unworldly or self-calming in suggesting similarities between the extremists' objections now and the marginal hostility to a recent appearance he made in Quebec or to shows played at Tokyo's Budokan martial arts arena. But he wanted to stress that his message is one of humanitarianism and friendship. Indeed, this week's show, the latest in a series of one-offs that has seen him play to almost 700,000 people in Liverpool, Kiev and Quebec, is being promoted as McCartney's "Friendship First" concert.

As we hung up the phone, after an exchange of Shaloms, I could just hear him beginning to explain to someone in the background what the word means. On Thursday, Tel Aviv plays host to the earnest musical genius who told me that "the human spirit is a great thing" and feels "the world is a magnificent place and that we are blessed to be on it." Shalom, of course, will have a lot more meaning when everybody internalizes those words of wisdom.

Is that Paul?

Paul: Yeah! How're you doing man?

I'm great. It's lovely to speak to you. I have to tell you my sister and my mum were in the enthralled masses at Hammersmith Odeon in 1965...

Paul: I remember them well! (Laughs)

All they could hear was screaming, they said.

Paul: I know - that's all we could hear too... I must say, even though we couldn't hear anything, it was pretty exciting times.

You're the soundtrack to my children's lives as well. My daughter, who's 11, has just started learning bass and she's learning "Let It Be." That's the first thing they've got her working on.

Paul: Wow. It is fabulous, eh. We never, ever, thought that it would last this long. But, you know, it's a great tribute that it has lasted and that kids play it these days. I'm very proud of that fact.

It's third time lucky for Israel, right, after our brilliant government banned you and then the Wings dates fell through [in the 1970s]? Is this somewhere you've particularly wanted to play?

Paul: Yeah, you know, I'm always interested in visiting places I've never been to before, just as a tourist. It's always interesting to go to a new region. The offer of a gig came up. And it was somewhere that I'd been interested in. I'd like to go there and see what's what. I hear from a lot of people that Tel Aviv is a great place.

Israel is glorious and frenetic! Are you going to get to tour, get to Jerusalem?

Paul: I'm not sure. Everyone says to me, "Oh you must go to Jerusalem, it's so beautiful. It's such ancient history." I don't think I'm going to have time, realistically I have to be back in England for other things. But what happens is you go to these places and you think "I really must come back, I've got to explore more." So often these are good jumping off points.

Well, maybe you'll come back incognito. I have to tell you: Everybody who heard that I might be speaking to you, just has wanted to say hello, basically, and tell you how well they think of you and that you come over as such a decent person.

Paul: Oh, that's very nice. Thank you. And I say Shalom to them!

How has it been for you to live a whole life where everywhere you've been, people have known who you are. Almost universally, they've liked you and it's been nice feelings that they've had for you - but to live this life where everyone has known who you are, everywhere?

Paul: It's a kind of strange feeling, but I've grown up with it. I had to make a decision in my early 20s.

I was talking to someone about this just last night, actually: I went on holiday in Greece [in 1963] with my then girlfriend, who was Jane Asher, and Ringo and his then fiancée Maureen, who he later married. The guy who was talking to me last night said his mother and her friend met us there. And I told him this story: We weren't recognized in Greece and in fact I had a hard time telling the hotel band that we were in quite an up-and-coming group back in England. They seemed more famous at the hotel than we were.

So I always thought of Greece as one place that we could sort of get away from it all to. And I thought, well, that'd be okay, there's always certain places in the world you can get away to, and Greece will be a nice one to do that.

And then, it must have been about a year later, somebody said, "Hey, you're number one in Greece!" And I went, "Oh god, you know, there goes the bolt hole."

So I had to make a decision then: You either want to continue with music and this is going to be the price, or you should just retire gracefully right now. And obviously I made the decision to stay with music. So I've always known what I was letting myself in for, in a way. I then determined to try and enjoy it. And that's sort of what I do. It occasionally gets to be a nuisance. But I've more or less found a way to handle it so I enjoy my fame.

Is there a particular song that you've thought, "Hey, I really ought to play that in Israel?"

Paul: We have a couple of songs that we've brought back for Israel. We've changed the set slightly. But the set is normally based on what I think people will enjoy hearing. So a lot of it remains quite constant.

I always sit down and think first of all what I think the audience will like. And there's a certain set of numbers which I know people will know. I know they're hits. If I go to an artist's concert, I generally like to hear their hits. And then, secondly, I choose some material that I think will be interesting - may not be as big a hit but it will be interesting for people to hear. So we mix it. We mix and match the whole thing.

You're not planning any incredibly dramatic surprise like bringing Ringo or something?

Paul: No. I think he's otherwise engaged.

Well next time you speak to him, we'd love to have him here. I think people here will be familiar even with the less obvious stuff because they've been playing your music basically non-stop every hour on every station here for days.

Paul: Really? Oh well that's great. You can never assume that the whole of the audience knows all of your repertoire. You have to think there are going to be some people there who just know the main hits. But you're right, there are always plenty of people who sort of say "Oh, I'm really glad you played that one, that's my favorite." And they may be slightly obscure pieces. So we try to put a few of those in, just to make the whole concert interesting and to give it a good balance too.

Apropos life in the goldfish bowl, on the bigger scale, how worried have you been about the Islamists' threats - saying you shouldn't come and play here?

Paul: You have to realize that any high profile event brings with it some worries. But I have a very good team of people. And I think that most people understand that I'm quite apolitical and that my message is a global one and that it is a peaceful one. So I just have faith in that aspect of what I do.

Obviously you have to consider these things but I don't worry. I mean when I went to Quebec there were certain comments from people who said they thought it was entirely inappropriate for an English guy to be playing in a French Canadian city. I tend to just ignore those things and think there's always a voice in a crowd that will say that.

When we first went to Japan there were people who were very upset that we were playing in the Budokan because it had sacred connotations for them. [The Beatles were the first rock band to play in the arena, in 1966.] But I think the vast majority of people don't think like that. My mission, if I have one, is humanitarian, and concerns all people, not just a few.

When you think back 40 years ago, and you were writing songs about love and giving peace a chance and exploring freedoms and pushing boundaries, is it a darker world today than it looked back then?

Paul: I think it is. There certainly are problems that didn't exist then. But at the same time you have to remember that we had grown up in the shadow of World War II, which was a pretty dark time. So everything's relative.

It's certainly not as carefree a time as the '60s was, but it's a better time in many ways than World War II was, particularly for someone where I lived, like Liverpool, which sustained a lot of bombing. And my parents grew up in that. I think it gives you a sense of perspective.

There are a lot of things that aren't great about modern life, but I still feel there's a lot of stuff that is. And I try to focus on that and try to encourage people to look for the good in each other and address the best.

I think you have managed to create that sense. When people think of you and your music, they do think that it encompasses a fundamentally optimistic outlook on life...

Paul: Well I do hope so, because that's sort of how I am. Obviously if you look at individual difficult situations and just concentrate on them, it is going to give you a very down view of the world at any given time. There are still massive problems everywhere. You look at Africa and places like that. It's hugely difficult.

But then, you think, there's someone like Bono or there's the efforts of someone like Bob Geldof and people like Brian Eno and War Child [which focuses on children affected by war]. There are lots of people who are trying to focus on helping. So I'm optimistic.

I think the human race is a pretty amazing thing. I think the human spirit is a great thing. So I have faith that things will work out well.

Since you've moved onto that: You're coming to this part of the world that is so central to the great monotheistic religions. Where does faith figure in your outlook? What are your thoughts about the divine gift of life and the human spirit?

Paul: I'm not so much religious as someone who likes to think I take the best from many religions, the best of what they all have to say. They obviously have a lot of things in common. I always think of myself as spiritual rather than religious as such. I'm not too dogmatic about things. But I do feel that the world is a magnificent place and that we are blessed to be on it. And as I say, the human spirit is a great thing.

My daughter [Mary], for instance, has just had a baby and I see that as a miracle. It's not a religious miracle but it still is a miracle to me!

Amen to all that.

Paul: Yeah (laughs), how does all of that happen, man? Through the simplest of methods comes the most divine of results!

I remember having exactly the same sort of feeling when my kids were born, and you know it's not something that could possibly have come about by any process that you can understand.

Paul: Yeah. It's absolutely magical. I'm reading a book at the moment that I've been sent by the Dalai Lama [The Universe in a Single Atom], which is comparing some Buddhist philosophy to modern quantum physics. It's quite striking that modern science has many things in common with some of the ancient religions.

I think we're at a very interesting stage in human development and I just hope for the best and I'm optimistic about it.

I have to ask you some music questions: What are your favorites, of The Beatles' and subsequent songs and albums? Which do you listen to?

Paul: I have many favorites, really. I can now talk without seeming conceited about The Beatles' "body of work." When we were writing it, it was a difficult to say, "You know I think it's great," because that just came off as immodest. But now that I'm able to look back on it, I think there was a lot of really good stuff there. I have favorites amongst John's work, George's work, my own work and The Beatles' generally.

If I have to pick one, I have to pick up the theme of the last question and say that for me "Yesterday" is a pretty special song, the main reason being that it arrived kind of magically because I dreamt the melody. I woke up one morning and I had this tune in my head and I spent the next week asking people what it was and nobody could define what it was. So I eventually realized I, in some way, had written it. So I put some lyrics to it after that. And it's been a very special song for me.

It's almost impossible to choose my favorites, because the other thing is your favorites vary. And, as I say, there's so much that John and George and Ringo did that I have great affection for. But of my own stuff, I would have to choose "Yesterday" because of the way it arrived. And for me it's been very lucky. Over 3,000 people have thought it a song that was fit to cover. It's been a pretty special song, and I don't even know how I wrote it.

I have to ask you what "Let It Be" is about, if only because my daughter's teacher has asked them...

Paul: Well that's a very special song to me as well. The story behind that was again something to do with a dream. I was going through some difficult times as a young guy in the '60s. There was plenty of partying going on and I'm sure I was overdoing it. So it led to occasionally feeling a bit sort of fried or whatever. I felt like I'd sort of overdone it.

But in one of my dreams, this particular dream, my mother, who had been dead for the 10 years previously, came to me - it's always a great thing when you see somebody that you've lost in a dream. And because she could see I was feeling a bit down, she said to me, in the dream: "Let it be." So I took this as very inspirational and woke up and wrote the song "Let It Be."

It's a big favorite with gospel choirs. I mean it mentions "mother Mary," which obviously a lot of people take to mean the Virgin Mary. But my mom's name was Mary. When I say mother Mary, I mean my mum.
I feel very blessed to have had those things happen and slightly puzzled as to how they did happen.

Let me ask you about "Maybe I'm Amazed." Is that a song that you feel very passionate about, as passionate as it sounds when you sing it?

Paul: "Maybe I'm Amazed" was written when I first met Linda [in the late 60s]. It tries to capture some of the feelings that she inspired, and so obviously that has a special place in my affection.

Paul, thank you for speaking to The Jerusalem Post and we wish you Shalom and see you in Israel.

Paul: All right (laughs). Thank you. I've got a question for you: Most of the audience is going to understand English, yeah? If I'm announcing [songs] and talking and just telling anecdotes, people are pretty much going to understand me?

I think they will. I mean the Liverpool accent will be comparatively rare, but this is a country that speaks a lot of English.

Paul: Great. Okay. Well, Shalom!

Buzz is building that the Yankees are cooking up a musical extravaganza for the Stadium's closing ceremony November 9th. Word is George Steinbrenner and son Hank want something to rival the sayonara shows that the Mets got Billy Joel to do at Shea. Mentioned to perform at the House That Ruth Built are Bruce Springsteen and Paul McCartney, though sources close to both rockers weren't aware of any discussions. A Steinbrenner rep had no details.

Former Beatle Paul McCartney couldn't look happier as he strolled through London with his girlfriend, 47-year-old Nancy Shevell, in his London neighborhood today.

The 66-year-old rocker has reason to smile. With the super-ugly divorce between he and Heather Mills behind him, you can't blame him if he has a spring in his step as he walks with his much-younger companion.

It's nice to see that the weight has been lifted from McCartney's shoulders. And from all reports, it was a considerable weight indeed.

Michael Gould knew The Beatles before they became the biggest pop group on earth. A few years later, he met the four Liverpudlians again, this time as a studio musician, playing the trumpet on some of their most acclaimed recordings. But next Thursday, when Sir Paul McCartney will play a historic concert in Tel Aviv, Gould will likely have to stay out in the cold. The freelance musician, who today lives in Bat Yam, simply can't afford it.

The native Londoner told Haaretz he would have "absolutely loved" to see the show of his former friend and colleague, but hasn't "got the money to actually pay for a ticket," the cheapest of which cost NIS 490 ($137.50). However, about a week before the show, Gould is still counting on his old connections to get him in the door. "With everybody who's coming over, hopefully I will know somebody and will at least be able to get in backstage," he said.

After finishing his studies at the London Royal Academy of Music in the early 1960s, Gould came to Liverpool to work at the local philharmonic orchestra. "In the evenings, we used to go down to The Cavern," he said of his days frequenting the legendary rock and roll club where the Beatles' career took off. "This is where it all started. My friends and I went there to dance and to listen to [The Beatles], and this is where I got to know them." According to Gould, McCartney and John Lennon were always very interested in all kinds of music and sometimes went to concerts at the philharmonic. The two soon befriended Gould, who was about their age, asking him all kinds of questions about his instrument, what range of notes he could play, and so on. "That's how we became friends in the beginning," he explained.

A little later, the Beatles made history by revolutionizing modern music, and Gould, who had become quite well known in his own right, returned to London. "I got a phone call one day, to come and do some recordings down at Abbey Road," he said. "And it was for the Beatles." Laughingly, he added, "I was pretty good in those days." As one of several session musicians, Gould played on A Hard Day's Night, Rubber Soul, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band and Abbey Road, the album named after the famous recording studio. Gould said visits to Israel made him fall in love with the country, leading to his immigration in 1968, but he did return to Britain sometimes for professional gigs. Today, he gives private trumpet and piano lessons.

They've got a ticket to watch

Gould is hardly the only Israeli who would love to see McCartney's concert, which event organizers promise to be "the most important rock show in Israel's history." But the desire is perhaps most heartfelt by those who grew up on the same streets as the Fab Four did. Several hundred Liverpudlians live in Israel and many of them didn't hesitate a second before buying tickets for the show.

"One of my biggest dreams in life is to see the Beatles in concert, so I thought this is the closest I'm going to get," said Amanda Goldman, 39, who was born in Liverpool and moved to Jerusalem in 1993. Goldman's husband Naftali Halberstadt, a native New Yorker, is a huge Beatles fan as well. "He's way more obsessed than I am," Goldman added. "One of the things that brought us together was the Beatles because we both love the band. It's one of the few groups we share.

He always says he actually searched for a girl from Liverpool because he wanted to marry somebody from there - only because of the Beatles." Goldman used to promise her husband that for his fiftieth birthday, she'd send him to wherever in the world McCartney would perform that year. "Instead, we have him coming here," she laughed.

Goldman and her husband paid a total of NIS 980 ($275) to be able to see next week's "Friendship First" concert, which is part of McCartney's current world tour and will take place in Tel Aviv's Ganey Yehoshua Park. Halberstadt even wanted to lay out NIS 3,000 ($842) for two sit-down tickets, but his wife put her foot down. "Five hundred is a lot of money - a lot! - but I think it's worth it," she said. "But 3,000, I couldn't justify that."

By the time the 35-year-old Phillip Coleman, who was born in Liverpool and today lives on Kibbutz Yavneh, had grown up, the Beatlemania era was largely over. Yet his love for the music of McCartney, Lennon, Ringo Starr and George Harrison could almost compete with that of the group's most frantic fans, who in the 1960s fainted as soon as they caught a glimpse of their heroes. "As far as I am concerned, nothing today in music is better than the Beatles," he told Haaretz. Coleman, who immigrated on his own in 1992, at age 19, will attend the concert with a sizable group of friends and said he doesn't understand why some people complained about ticket prices. "I don't think it was that expensive," he said about his NIS 490 ticket. "For a musician of that standard, I don't think it's a lot."

What money can buy you

Johnny Segal, who in his youth went to the yeshiva on Penny Lane - a small street after which the Beatles named one of their hits - couldn't agree more. "I think it's wonderful that McCartney will be here, and I am happy with the price because it's going to be a very special occasion," he said. The 55-year-old was born in Liverpool but moved to Ra'anana in 1980 partly because "the weather in England is very bad," he joked. He assumes he is just one out of many former Liverpudlians in Israel who will gladly pay the ticket price. "Of course, everybody will go," he said. "I imagine hundreds of people from Liverpool are going to be there. Everybody will feel they want to go and hear him."

Everyone in the Liverpool Jewish community still takes pride in the Beatles, Segal said, even if there is no "direct Jewish connection" besides the band's manager, Brian Epstein. Epstein, who in the 1960s was a well-known member of the city's Jewish community, is widely credited for the band's early success. He was called the "Beatle-making prince of pop" by the Daily Mirror on the day that Epstein died in 1967. "If anyone was the Fifth Beatle, it was Brian," McCartney once said of Epstein.

But not every Liverpudlian is as enthusiastic about McCartney's recent musical career. "People in Liverpool are very split on whether they still like him, or whether they think he's just too old," said Jeremy Collins, who moved from Liverpool to Jerusalem about 10 months ago. "He's not cool anymore."

The 25-year-old also said he couldn't afford to buy tickets for next week's concert and that he feels "like I could have gone in England for cheaper," referring to the concerts McCartney played in Liverpool in honor of the city's 800th birthday last year. He agreed that his hometown is still somewhat synonymous with the Beatles: "When you meet someone from outside of Britain and you say that you're from Liverpool, they say 'Oh, the Beatles.'"

Many Israelis, however, associate somebody else with the city: Yossi Benayoun, the captain of Israel's national soccer team who plays for Liverpool FC. "I think Benayoun is bigger than the Beatles in Israel," Collins surmised. In any event, he insisted, Paul McCartney today does not equal the Beatles back then: "The Beatles are the Beatles, and everything that comes afterward is going to be in their shadow."

Click photo to see what the statue looked like before the hurricane

A massive statue of Beatles star Sir Paul McCartney needs Help after being downed by raging winds.

Powerful gusts from Hurricane Ike took down the monument which twisted in the wind before landing on Macca's bass guitar.

The pop legend's face was smashed during the storm that hit Houston, in Texas, last weekend.

The sculptor David Adickes, famous for his large sculptures of US Presidents' heads, covered Paul's face to hide the damage.

He said he "hopes to repair" Macca soon ­ with a little help from his friends.

Paul McCartney Breaks From Rehearsals To Talk Exclusively About His Forthcoming Concert In Israel, 40 Years after The Beatles Were Famously Banned

"My message is a peaceful one and I hope that the idea will spread."

Historic 'Friendship First' Concert - Hayarkon Park, Tel Aviv, Israel, September 25th, 2008

Earlier this year, Israel's ambassador to Britain, Ron Prosor, apologised for a 'misunderstanding'. So just what was the 'misunderstanding'? 43 years ago the Israeli government saw fit to ban the world's most famous band, The Beatles, as it was believed that they 'might corrupt their youth'. In a letter sent earlier this year to The Beatles Ron Prosor wrote: "There is no doubt that it was a great missed opportunity to prevent people like you, who shaped the minds of the generation, to come to Israel and perform."

From the moment that this apology was made public, journalists worldwide began to speculate that Paul would soon be visiting Israel. On August 27th the wait was over and Paul announced his 'Friendship First' concert, his first ever performance in Tel Aviv, Israel.

On the eve of his stand-alone 'Friendship First' concert, as Paul and his band were putting the finishing touches on their epic show, Paul spoke candidly. And from what was said, there is no question that Tel Aviv is in for an amazing night.

"Me and the band are really looking forward to this one." Paul excitedly tells us, "You never quite know what to expect from a new audience so it's going to be a totally new experience for all of us, the band and the audience together."

Paul is no stranger to playing massive historic shows. So far this year he's already played to almost 700,000 people in just 3 extra special shows!

"It certainly has been an amazing year so far", remarks Paul, "We started off with a show at home (in Liverpool) and then we went to Kiev and Quebec, two places I'd never been to before, so Tel Aviv is in the same spirit as those gigs."

So with several groundbreaking shows under his belt already in 2008, how will Tel Aviv differ?

"Well, it's the first time I have ever been to Israel, or really that part of the world so I am very interested to look around and look at the situation, just personally. I am going to be interested as a tourist just to look around and meet the people."

As with this year's previous special concerts the worldwide press and McCartney internet chat rooms and blogs are in full swing, guessing what songs Paul might play from the most envied catalogue in music. So can the audience expect any special surprises or dedications in Tel Aviv?

"I can't give anything away really, because then it wouldn't be a surprise! We've been rehearsing some songs we've not done for a while but that's all I'll tell you. We always try and custom make the show to the people we are playing to. What I normally do is meet with a translator before the show and try and get some local phrases, local dedications, hopefully I've got to learn them yet though."

We've no doubt, judging by Paul's recent shows, that Tel Aviv is going to have one wild evening come the concert next week. What makes this one even more historic is the fact that The Beatles were banned there. It must have been a good feeling to get an apology after all these years.

"We thought it was quite amusing really, being banned", Paul says when we ask about the Israeli ambassador's apology. "It's kind of cute that they are apologising, it's very courteous but you know I wasn't really offended in the first place."

So just what did happen in Israel at the height of Beatlemania?

"We were banned," explains Paul. "They said we were bad for the youth of Israel, and I think that was a mistake ­ I don't think we were that bad. But you know whatwe took it as fun, it didn't really worry us we just went off and played somewhere else. Our manager, Brian Epstein, who was Jewish, was, I think, more insulted than we were. He said, 'They won't let you play, they think you are bad for their youth' so we moved on to the next gig."

Since announcing his visit to Israel the world's media has gone into over-drive, as some political activists have been quick to use this concert to highlight their own plights. Many stories have inaccurately reported that Paul's concert is part of the Jewish state's 60th anniversary celebrations. Paul's 'Friendship First' concert is in fact a stand-alone concert in a series of special one off shows he has performed this year. This show specifically is about music and promoting friendship. Does Paul think his concert can spread a positive message across a country that has been affected by years of conflict?

"Well, this is one of the interesting things about going to Israel. I mean, the world knows about the conflicts that have been in that region and I like to think that if I go to a place it becomes evident that my message is a peaceful one and I hope that the idea will spread. It often does happen you know ­ you'll go to a place and it can affect the audience. It reawakens the idea ­ so that is definitely my message and when I am talking to people, that will be my message and I am sure it is a message shared by a lot of the audience too."

Anyone that's been to a Paul McCartney concert will have witnessed his cross-generational appeal. It really is quite something to see people from all backgrounds and ages coming together for a shared reason and singing along to the songs that are the soundtracks to so many lives. Given Paul's unique position does he think that music has the power to change things?

"People ask this question through the years; do you think music can change things? I think it can. I think it's good for people's souls. I think without music it would be a seriously bad world, we would have more problems. Music can help people to just calm them down. I also think it can be very interesting for change. I always cite a John (Lennon) song 'Give Peace A Chance'; if you watch the footage from back then, about a million people outside The White House chanting that song to Nixon inside the White House, I think that had an effect. On that occasion, obviously for them to have that song to portray how they were feeling I think was very important. So yes, I think it can change things. Songs like ' We Shall Overcome' have been very important for the civil rights movement so yeah, I think music is great and it can make changes."

And just why does Paul think his music has such a pull across different generations?

"I am not sure why, but it really is quite an amazing thing. When we started with The Beatles we thought it might last 2 years, but then it was 10 years, then with the music it was 20, 30, 40 and I think the only answer I can come up with is that the music is well structured, it's well written so when I play it now I think this isn't bad, this is good - whoever wrote this was pretty clever! Hopefully the audience picks that up too. We get kids, 8 year olds, who know all the words and then you get their parents and their parents so it's a good thing. I'm a family man so it's great to see members of the family come together at one of our concerts. I am honoured by that."

2008 has seen Paul McCartney play a number of special one off concerts, whilst making international headlines and taking him to places he's never been before. In June he received a hero's welcome as he rocked the city of Liverpool when he played at Anfield Stadium as part of the city's celebrations for the European Capital Of Culture. A couple of weeks later and Paul performed a spectacular free show, the 'Independence Concert', to over 350,000 people in Kiev's Independence Square, which was the largest outdoor music event in the history of the Ukraine. July then took Paul to the city of Quebec for yet another huge headline-making event as he performed to 300,000 people in the city's national park, The Plains Of Abraham. Paul also found the time (only just though!) to join Billy Joel on stage for the 'Last Play At Shea' show in July, marking the last show ever at New York's famous Shea Stadium. The Beatles were the first band to perform at Shea Stadium in 1965, which went down in history as the first ever stadium rock show. From all that activity can Paul possibly pick out a stand out moment?

"There have been a lot of moments but going home to Liverpool is always great. Then we went to Kiev, which was really interesting, a really big show of 350,000 people. There were some interesting dynamics to that because there is a Ukrainian/Russian thing and I spoke in both the languages, which the promoter said to me afterwards was very good because it brings people together ­ that was memorable. Then there was Quebec ­ that was a great show. There were over 300,000 people there. The streets were lined with people so it was good, good for the ego! Now we are coming to Tel Aviv and I'm hoping for some more fun there."

With that our time is up and Paul needs to get back to his day job with his band. Before we leave, we have one final question; so what's next for Paul McCartney after Tel Aviv?

"Going home, having a rest and having some home cooked food!" He than added, "Shalom Tel Aviv."

Paul McCartney plays his first ever concert in Tel Aviv, Israel on the 25th September.

Whether or not you'll brave traffic jams, the NIS 490 $137.50) ticket price and the prospect of standing shoulder to shoulder with about 40,000 for five or six hours just to see and hear a 66-year-old play 40-year-old classic rock as well as new, though not so classic, pop songs, all depends on how you were exposed to The Beatles.

A very informal straw poll conducted by the The Jerusalem Post's research department has discovered that the crowd at Paul McCartney's September 25th show at Hayarkon Park will consist over 45 and under 25-year olds.

The former category can remember the Fab Four in real time - whether from A Hard Day's Night, Help or their Saturday morning cartoon series (never underestimate that trifle for transforming kids into Beatlemaniacs) - and how they reflected and catalyzed societal changes with perfect harmony, a big beat, long hair and pointed boots. I know, I was sucked into that vacuum and have been there since.

Those of the under-25 group probably have parents like me - who snuck Beatles CDs in between Barney and Raffi with forced participation on Beatles sing-a-longs on family vacations. Either these kids got it, or they became Metallica fans.

By and large, however, the vast 25-45-year-old crowd simply don't understand what the big deal is, and scoff at spending all that money to see a senior citizen who hasn't produced anything relevant in years and sings songs from the oldies station. REM's singer Michael Stipe, talking of the influences of his youth that led to the post-punk alternative rock his band pioneered, said The Monkees meant more to him than The Beatles. What he meant was that without the historical context of how revolutionary and influential they were, The Beatles were just another good pop band.

Of course, had The Beatles never existed, and had Paul McCartney's career consisted of some solo albums, his band Wings and excruciating duets with Stevie Wonder and Michael Jackson, it's unlikely he'd be playing Hayarkon Park. Most likely, he'd be doing the oldies circuit at the Hangar in Tel Aviv like Deep Purple - pleasing the old fans with energetic, professional shows but not heralded in any groundbreaking manner.

But, the fact is, McCartney did have a life before Wings - as one of the four most popular and gifted rock musicians ever. As such, the crowd here will applaud politely for solo Paul and go entirely loco at Beatle Paul. And, the fact that he's 66 and we're 46 or 56, or 16, won't matter. For those few brief moments, Beatlemania will be back in full force, and we'll feel fine.

Tickets can be ordered at leaan.co.il

"Me and the band are really looking forward to this one. You never quite know what to expect from a new audience so it's going to be a totally new experience for all of us -- the band and the audience together," McCartney said in a statement. "It's the first time I have ever been to Israel, or really that part of the world, so I am very interested to look around and look at the situation, just personally. I am going to be interested as a tourist just to look around and meet the people."

McCartney declined to offer any specifics about what the audience may expect from his planned Sept. 25 show, but he did promise it would be a night to remember.

"I can't give anything away really, because then it wouldn't be a surprise! We've been rehearsing some songs we've not done for a while, but that's all I'll tell you," he said. "We always try and custom-make the show to the people we are playing to. What I normally do is meet with a translator before the show and try and get some local phrases, local dedications, hopefully... I've got to learn them yet, though."

At the grand old age of 66, Sir Paul McCartney's not our usual fodder.

But there was no way we were going to turn down the chance to sip champers with a Beatle.

And we weren't disappointed as Macca was only too pleased to give us the lowdown on new love Nancy Shevell.

He was gushing with happiness when he talked about the stunning 47-year-old he's been dating since May.

"I'm so happy," he said. As we quaffed Moet and got stuck into vegetarian cannelloni with Macca he raved about their month-long 3,000- mile road trip across seven US states.

"We had a brilliant time in the US. We stayed mainly in hotels but did the whole Route 66 gig," he told us.

"It's an amazing thing to do - I would recommend it.

"It was great and we're so happy."

We met up with Macca at the exclusive 30 Days Of Fashion And Beauty bash at London Fashion Week.

Wearing a dapper suit and, er, trainers, Paul looked on proudly as his photographer daughter, Mary, auctioned off six framed portraits, raising over £42,000 ($84,000) for the MacMillan cancer charity at London's Natural History Museum. Mingling with celebrities including Elle Macpherson, Erin O'Connor and Kate Hudson, he tucked into veggie canapes including a miniature courgette gratin from first wife, Linda's range.

The singer cheered on as a photograph of his other daughter, fashion designer Stella, sitting on a horse, was sold for £8,500 ($17,000). Other works auctioned off included a portrait of supermodel Kate Moss and a photo of Oscar-winning actress, Tilda Swinton.

But there was no stopping Macca singing Nancy's praises. While his American socialite girlfriend chatted to mutual friends, he was overheard saying: "Things are going great. We enjoy one another's company and Nancy gets on brilliantly with the family.

"It is still early days but we are very much together. She is wonderful.

"Our American trip was great, I really enjoyed it. It was good to get away for a bit. We saw some places I'll never forget. But I must say it's nice to be back, too."

Leaving shortly before 9pm, Paul later hosted a dinner for family, friends and Nancy at nearby restaurant Establish & Sons.

Four months ago Macca's divorce from ex-wife Heather was finalised.

Sir Paul has Nancy's backing on controversial mission to Israel

Facing the inevitable barrage of criticism from the Palestinian lobby as he prepares to perform in Israel, Sir Paul McCartney has no more staunch a supporter for his mission than his girlfriend, Nancy Shevell.

"She was very keen from day one that he should go," says an associate of the former Beatle. "She plans to join him out there and is greatly looking forward to it."

This week, Miss Shevell, 47, told friends at a private view of Mary McCartney's new photographic exhibition at the Natural History Museum, in London: "Paul is really excited about playing at Tel Aviv, and so am I, as I'm Jewish." Sir Paul, 66, was banned by the Israeli government from performing in the country back in 1965 as it was believed that the Beatles' music would corrupt young fans. "I'm really looking forward to it," he told Mandrake at the party. "I'm sure it will be a great experience."

The musician has always been willing to take advice from the women in his life: Linda McCartney impressed upon him the merits of vegetarianism; and during his second marriage, to Heather Mills, he took up her causes, such as the abolition of landmines.

Mandrake wonders if Miss Shevell may yet be able to convert Sir Paul to Judaism if, as rumoured, he makes her wife number three.

The stars were out in force last night to support Sir Paul McCartney's daughter Mary at an exhibition of her photographs.

A-list stars including Gwyneth Paltrow, Kate Hudson and Elle Macpherson joined Sir Paul, his girlfriend Nancy Shevell and designer daughter Stella at the Natural History Museum in London.

And the starry guest list didn't stop there, the McCartneys long-time friend Lulu turned up, as well as pop star Jamelia, rock offspring Georgia May Jagger and models Laura Bailey, Erin O'Connor and Jade Parfitt.

The event, entitled 30 Days Of Fashion, included 30 images taken by Mary to celebrate British fashion and beauty and coincided with London Fashion Week, which kicked off on Sunday.

Leaving her husband Alasdhair Willis in care of their three young children, Stella's date for the night was Hollywood pal Kate Hudson, who turns up in loose-fitting metallic number and high-heels.

Stella, 37, added a bit of colour to her plain black and white outfit with a pair of royal blue velvet heels.

Kate, 29, had flown in from Los Angeles earlier that day after attending the U.S. premiere of her latest film My Best Friend's Girl on Monday night.

The actress is set to spend a majority of the remainder of the year in the U.K. as she films her role in upcoming movie musical Nine, which also stars Nicole Kidman, Penelope Cruz and Daniel Day-Lewis.

The event marked a big step in the burgeoning romance between Sir Paul and American heiress Nancy, who started dating at the end of last year.

Nancy's attendance at a family function shows she has been accepted by Sir Paul's children, who were reported to have had a troubled relationship with his ex-wife Heather Mills.

While the couple refrained from posing together on the red carpet, they happily posed together inside the event.

The exhibition included images of Kate Moss with cream crackers and Branston pickle, sister Stella riding one of her beloved horses, fashion queen Dame Vivienne Westwood and model Lily Cole.

Six of these images were auctioned off to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support, a charity close to the Mary's heart after her mother Linda McCartney died of the disease.

She said: 'Losing my mother prematurely has had a profound impact on my life in that it has made me appreciate the people around me.

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

The former Beatle escorted Miss Shevell to an exhibition of photographs by his daughter, Mary, at the Natural History Museum in London.

While they took care to avoid the paparazzi flashbulbs on the red carpet by arriving separately, the couple were happy to be seen together inside the venue.

Stella McCartney, Sir Paul's fashion designer daughter, arrived with Hollywood actress Kate Hudson.

Miss Shevell's attendance at the high profile event, in the company of Sir Paul's children, was seen as a public sign that she has been accepted into the McCartney family.

The 47-year-old American heiress has been dating Sir Paul, 66, since last year. They have been photographed holidaying together, in the Caribbean and on a romantic road trip along Route 66, but have never attended an official engagement before.

Recent reports suggested that the musician was planning to make Miss Shevell wife number three. She is legally separated from her husband of 24 years, Bruce Blakeman, and they are said to be negotiating the final terms of their divorce.

Sir Paul's divorce from his second wife, Heather Mills, was settled in March.

Photographs from the exhibition, British Style Observed, raised £42,500 ($85,000) for Macmillan Cancer Support. Sir Paul's first wife, Linda, died from cancer in 1998.

The event was part of the National Magazine Company's 30 Days of Fashion and Beauty celebrations. Guests included Marie Helvin, Elle Macpherson and Beatles producer Sir George Martin.

September 16, 2008 -- Now Magazine

Heather Mills told Sir Paul McCartney to choose between her and his kids

Former publicist Michele Elyzabeth says she hated her husband's family

Heather Mills hated Stella McCartney so much that she issued ex-husband Sir Paul with an ultimatum to choose between them, claims her former publicist Michele Elyzabeth.

'Away from the cameras Heather called Stella "that little bitch",' Michele tells the News Of The World. 'She said Paul's family wanted their father for themselves and were jealous of her.

'Heather put pressure on Paul to choose between them. She claimed that they couldn't work out their differences because Stella wouldn't get along with her.'

Michele, 58, says she can understand why 66-year-old Paul's family disliked Heather, 41.

She says she has only 2 real friends ­ her sister Fiona and her personal trainer Ben Amigoni.

Renowned biographer Philip Norman has accused the late Beatle of having gay fantasies in his controversial new book John Lennon: The Life.

However in an interview, which you can listen to by clicking here, Paul says John never made a move on him - despite them sharing a bed many times while on tour.

Paul says: "I don't think (the gay claims) are true. John never ever tried anything, I slept with him a million times.

"I've seen him on tour roaring drunk, out of his mind in the early days before he sobered up and went to rehab. Roaring drunk and it was always with a female, never once.

"If you've got a little gay tendancy and your roaring drunk I'd have caught him once."

Promoting Paul McCartney

When you're put on hold while waiting to speak to concert promoter Dudu Zarzevsky, the music playing on the phone in the background is The Beatles' "Help." Even though it's a John Lennon tune, the song is certainly appropriate, because the 46year-old Zarzevsky needs lots of help these few days before the biggest professional moment of his life - and perhaps the biggest cultural event in Israel's history - takes place: Paul McCartney's first concert in Israel.

ALL TOGETHER NOW. It is important for Paul McCartney that he appears for the people, not just the privileged, so massive screens are being imported from Europe to ensure clear views for everyone, explains Dudu Zarzevsky. The promoter had initially expected to be welcoming George Michael this summer.

"It's taking up all of my time. I'm going to sleep at 1 a.m. and praying that I'll sleep until 7. But usually I'm already up at 4 or 5 because I'm already thinking about what I need to do next," said the harried but convivial Zarzevsky, who took a few minutes out of the flurry of activity ahead of the former Beatle's September 25th performance at Hayarkon Park in Tel Aviv to talk to The Jerusalem Post.

"It's like giving birth," he said, describing the elaborate planning and complex logistics required to bring McCartney here. "It started slowly over a few months of negotiations. Now, we're beginning contractions, which will get bigger and bigger until show time."

A veteran promoter on the Israeli scene for over 20 years, Zarzevsky has been involved with the Eilat Jazz Festival, many classical music and world music shows, and events like the Tamar Festival at the Dead Sea during Succot, which is entering its ninth year. He also knows his way around a pop concert, having promoted shows over the last year by Lauryn Hill, Cypress Hill and Ian Brown. However, none of those endeavors has prepared him for the "to-do list" involved in the McCartney show.

"The quantity and quality of the equipment is amazing. The attention to detail is mind boggling. I don't remember a show like this ever being put on in Israel, and it's going to be only him and four musicians on the stage," said Zarzevsky, defending the hefty ticket price for the show.

The price is NIS 490 ($137.50) but there are many options. With Isracard, you can get a NIS 100 ($28) discount, and with different workers' committees and through organizations, you can also get between NIS 40 ($11) and NIS 100 off, he said.

"Ultimately, though, this is not a regular concert, I'm sorry. This is one of the most influential musicians of all time. I've heard claims on TV that the promoters stand to earn millions of shekels in profit. It's bullshit. Most of cost of the ticket sales is going into the production. The costs are terrific.

"Paul's requirements are that every person in the venue has to be capable of hearing and seeing him like they're right in front. And for that, we're bringing in a huge custom sound system from Europe and these huge LED video screens. Even in the back, people will be able to see exactly what he's doing. But all that equipment is so expensive, you couldn't imagine," he added.

WITH 200 people working on the preshow logistics and setup, which will rise to 1,000 workers the day before the show, Zarzevsky is involved in every aspect of the planning - even down to the material of the couches that will grace McCartney's personal tent backstage.

"I spent this morning at the show site. The backstage area is almost like a little city. There are going to be 20 different full-scale tent buildings - one for Paul, who demands his privacy, another for the international production staff, one for the local production staff, a communications center, dining room and so on," said Zarzevsky.

"And every tent is equipped with air conditioning, Internet and phone lines, furniture.

Paul is very green and very healthy. That means no fish or meat is allowed, not just for him, but for anybody in the whole backstage area. Even the furniture can't be made of leather, and must be designed with only natural materials."

It's a far cry from the demands of George Michael. The smooth British R&B crooner was the artist that Zarzevsky originally planned to bring to Israel this summer, before it fell through and McCartney landed in his lap.

"I work with an entertainment planning firm in London called Lilac Palm that alerts us about artists and availability. We were actually far along on a deal to bring over George Michael - we had done all the pre-production, and then he decided he didn't want to come to Tel Aviv at this point in time," said Zarzevsky.

"Lilac Palm told me they'll be in touch if anything else sounds promising. And a few weeks later they called and said, 'what do you think about Paul McCartney?' The rest is history." WELL, NOT quite. The exorbitant costs - estimated at over $4 million - and the elaborate banking requirements that McCartney's appearance required almost stopped the show in its infancy when Zarzevsky's original financial backer, Partner, dropped out.

"The negotiations were such a difficult process, and it took so much time to pin down, that Partner lost patience," he said. "At the beginning we agreed that we needed at least two months to plan for the show - if we didn't get confirmation by then, we wouldn't be able to do it. Then came the six-week mark, then five weeks."

Amid last-minute conference calls and attempts to meet McCartney's demands, Partner decided it was too close for comfort to the show date and backed out, a move which Zarzevsky said he understood and bore no grudge about.

"For me it was very disappointing, and I felt bad for them because they were involved from the very beginning and they did so much work," he said.

However, Zarzevsky was left in the lurch, and McCartney's people gave him only a few days to see if he could arrange for alternative financial support.

"I had meetings around the clock - with companies, sponsors and businessmen," recalled Zarzevsky, who might have been humming the McCartney tune "We Can Work it Out" to himself and his colleagues.

"It was at the very last minute that we found this wonderful, special guy Yakir Sha'ashua, who is an Israeli businessman who lives in London. He sat with us and said, 'guys, I'm with you.' So I and all the people in Israel must thank Yakir, otherwise this would have been the second time that Paul McCartney almost came to Israel," said Zarzevsky, referring to the now infamous attempt to bring The Beatles here in 1966.

WHILE MCCARTNEY is indeed arriving this time, it's unclear if his schedule will entail any sightseeing or, like U2 and Elton John in the 1990s, the superstar will simply jet in and out in a 24-hour period around the show.

"He's coming for the music, so it's unclear if he's going to take time to see the country. He's now busy rehearsing in London," said Zarzevsky, adding that the show, slated to begin exactly at 8 p.m., will be McCartney and only McCartney.

"There won't be any opening act. It's not the kind of concert that needs a warm-up. In any event, we need to finish by 11 p.m. according to police regulations, so it's going to start on time because he's been known to play up to three hours, and we don't want any problems near the end of having to cut him off," he said, adding that his personal favorite Beatles/McCartney song is "Let It Be."

According to Zarzevsky, it was due to McCartney's personal intervention that special VIP sections for the performance were moved from the front of the stage area to the sides.

"It was very important for Paul that he be able to appear for the people, not just the privileged. At the beginning, we planned to put the VIP seats in front of the stage, and we heard right away from them to move it, because he wants to feel and see the people standing next to him."

As D- day gets closer, Zarzevsky said he would be spending more time at the Hayarkon Park venue, and planned to move in for the three days prior to the show.

"I won't be sleeping anyway, so I might as well be there," he said, expressing no regrets at biting off such a big apple from the pop music tree.

"This is a very huge project - totally irregular, out of the ordinary, any superlative adjective you can think of. But for many Israelis my age, The Beatles were a guide for our lives through music. So for them, this is going to be the biggest concert ever."

Expert: No credible threat against Paul McCartney -- Terrorists say they have never even heard of Beatles star

There is no credible threat against Paul McCartney ahead of his concert this month in Tel Aviv, according to a terrorism expert and author who called Palestinian terrorists about the former Beatle today.

An Islamic militant leader in Lebanon had warned McCartney could be the target of a suicide bombing unless he canceled his first concert in Israel, scheduled for Sept. 25, Britain's Sunday Express reported this weekend.

But Aaron Klein, WorldNetDaily's Jerusalem bureau chief and author of the book "Schmoozing with Terrorists," said in response to the threat he called senior leaders from every major Palestinian terror organization, and not one had heard of McCartney or the Beatles.

Klein said he proceeded to sing to the terrorists top Beatles songs, including "Yesterday," "Let It Be" and "She Loves You," but the tunes didn't ring a bell for a single one.

"I don't know any of this," said Muhammad Abdel-Al, spokesman and senior leader of the Popular Resistance Committees terror group.

Abu Ahmed, a senior leader of Islamic Jihad in Gaza, told Klein, "We don't know these Beatles."

Ala Senakreh, chief of the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades in the West Bank city of Nablus, told Klein he, too, is unfamiliar with the star singer and his former group.

"Listen, I have a friend at the University [of Nablus]. I can call him. Maybe he knows of McCartney," Senakreh told Klein.

Senakreh recently was granted amnesty in a deal between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.

Klein said he also called members of Hamas, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and a lesser-known group, the Army of Islam. Those terrorists also drew blanks when asked if they were familiar with McCartney.

While the terrorists may not have heard of McCartney, Klein wrote in one chapter of his book Palestinian terrorists he interviewed all had recognized Madonna and Britney Spears. One terrorist threatened to "cut the heads" of Madonna and Spears for spreading Satanic culture. "If I meet these whores I will have the honor ­ I repeat, I will have the honor ­ to be the first one to cut the heads off Madonna and Britney Spears if they will keep spreading their satanic culture against Islam," said the Committees' spokesman Abdel-Al.

The threats against McCartney came from Omar Bakri, also known as Omar Bakri Mohammad, who was the leader of Al-Muhajiroun, a London-based Islamist organization with the stated goal of creating a worldwide Islamic state starting in Britain.

"If he values his life, Mr. McCartney must not come to Israel," Bakri was quoted as saying. "He will not be safe there. The sacrifice operatives will be waiting for him."

Bakri added: "Instead of supporting the people of Palestine in their suffering, McCartney is celebrating the atrocities of the occupiers. The one who is under occupation is supposed to be getting the help."

Bakri departed the UK for Beirut in 2005 after media reported the British government was planning to investigate high-profile Islamists. He then was banned from returning to the UK by British Home Secretary Charles Clarke.

Klein has interviewed Bakri numerous times. In 1999, Klein spent a weekend with Bakri and his group, penning an article entitled, "My Weekend with the Enemy," published in newspapers, including the Jerusalem Post and Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

Klein called Bakri a "notorious media attention seeker" who is "more talk than action."

He said Palestinian terror groups "pay little to no attention to anything Bakri says or does. They don't take Bakri seriously."

Bakri and his group has threatened many notables in the past, including Salman Rushdie and former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf. Bakri has made numerous claims that did not come to fruition, such as previously telling the media Osama bin Laden provided him with a videotape to address British Muslims.

Meanwhile, McCartney has made clear his concert in Israel will go on as planned.

"I was approached by different groups and political bodies who asked me not to come here. I refused. I do what I think, and I have many friends who support Israel," McCartney said in an interview with Yedioth Ahronoth, Israel's leading daily.

The 2009 Guinness Book of Records will feature new titles for Amy Winehouse, Leona Lewis, Sugababes and Sir Paul McCartney.

Sir Paul McCartney is listed as the 'Most Successful Songwriter Of All Time'. He has had 188 Top 40 hits, 91 of which have made the Top 10 and 33 that made it to number 1.

The 2009 Guinness Book of Records will be released on September 17.

Politicians ordered the £1million ($2 million) Mossad operation over fears of an attack by Suicide Bombers.

Muslim fanatics are angry Macca, 65, agreed to the £4million ($8 million) Friendship First concert, to mark Israel' s 60th anniversary.

But an Israeli source said last night: "Anyone who tries anything will be meeting Allah sooner than they thought."

Exiled preacher Omar Bakri said the ex-Beatle was the "enemy of Muslims."

& then BANS Sir Paul from buying it...

Ranting Heather Mills has banned ex-husband Paul McCartney from buying her £3 million home - even though she's put it up for sale.

Sir Paul said he wanted to have it because their four-year-old daughter Bea loves living there.

But pals told how Heather blew her top at the suggestion and warned him: "Over my dead body."

And she furiously accused him of pushing her former PR Michele Elyzabeth into spilling the beans to a newspaper last weekend about her time working for Mucca.

Heather, 40, bought the spread in Robertsbridge, East Sussex, after splitting with the Beatle legend in 2006.

But a source close to the warring pair said: "She has always felt it wasn't quite right for her.

"Heather put it on the market three weeks ago but she didn't initially let Paul know what she was planning.

"When he found out he told her he wanted to buy it off her because Bea loves it there.

"But she was having none of it and said, 'You're trying to take my house.' He said he was just trying to buy it because of how much Bea loves it there.

"But Heather was furious and ranted, 'You'll get the house over my dead body'.

"She even had to send home some workmen in the yard because she was shouting so loudly and she didn't want them overhearing.

"She said there was no way she was going to sell it to Paul.

"The argument was ferocious and a lot of people were shocked about it."

The insider added: "Heather knows Paul is just trying to be nice by offering to buy the house from her.

"But it seems she won't sell to him out of spite."

Heather is also fuming with Sir Paul following last week's revelations by her one-time publicity chief.

The source told The People: "When Heather heard about it, she flew off the handle at Paul saying he had put Michele up to it to make her look bad.

"Paul replied saying he didn't know what she was talking about.

"It escalated from there and turned into World War Three.

"Paul has told Heather she needs to see a psychiatrist - which made her even more furious.

"She started swearing at him saying, 'What are you bloody talking about?' "Heather told him he wasn't allowed to see Bea, saying he's not fit enough to be her dad because he encourages people to sell stories slagging off her mum.

"She said she'd stayed away all summer to let everything die down and now everyone was saying horrible things about her again."

The source added: "The screaming phone calls have stopped but it all seems to be carrying on via texts.

"I think the battle is still far from over." Heather's mansion is a 30-minute drive from 66-year-old Macca's estate at Peasmarsh.

During their bitter High Court divorce battle earlier this year, Heather claimed the huge house wasn't grand enough for her and demanded a wad of cash to add a pool.

But judge Sir Hugh Bennett poured scorn on her complaint, saying that her house was even MORE luxurious than Macca's.

And he told the court: "The wife says she feels a prisoner there, as she puts it, in the middle of nowhere.

"I find that inconsistent with her having already spent on it £675,000 ($1.4 million) - and wanting another £400,000 ($800,000) to put in a swimming pool."

Meanwhile, Mucca is said to have set her sights on a huge house set in 17 acres in the quiet Kent village of Hawkhurst.

It was once a school and Heather has told pals it is her dream home.

Sir Paul McCartney has been threatened that he will be the target of suicide bombers unless he abandons plans to play his first concert in Israel.

Self-styled preacher of hate Omar Bakri claimed the former Beatle's decision to take part in the Jewish state's 60th anniversary celebrations had made him an enemy of all Muslims.

Sources said Sir Paul was shocked but refused to be intimidated.

In an interview with Israeli media yesterday he said: "I was approached by different groups and political bodies who asked me not to come here. I refused. I do what I think and I have many friends who support Israel."

Sir Paul, 65, should have gone to Israel with the Beatles in 1965 but they were barred by the Jewish nation's government over fears they would corrupt young people.

Yesterday a number of websites described him as an infidel and suggested he was going to Israel only because of the reported £2.3 million ($4.6 million) fee for the one-off concert.

A message posted on one website said: "Shame on you Paul McCartney for day trippin' to apartheid Israel" and vowed never to buy his music again.

Bakri, who made his weekly internet broadcast to fellow extremists from his home in Lebanon, where he has lived in exile since being banned from returning to Britain, said Sir Paul was "making more enemies than friends".

Syrian-born Bakri, 48, went on: "I heard today that the pop star Paul McCartney is playing as a part of the celebrations.

"If you speak about the holocaust and its authenticity never being proved historically in the way the Jewish community portray it, people will arrest you. People will you say you should not speak like this. Yet they go and celebrate the anniversary of 60 years of what?

"Instead of supporting the people of Palestine in their suffering, McCartney is celebrating the atrocities of the occupiers. The one who is under occupation is supposed to be getting the help.

"And so I believe for Paul McCartney, what he is doing really is creating more enemies than friends."

Explaining his comments, Bakri told the Sunday Express: "Our enemy's friend is our enemy.

"Thus Paul McCartney is the enemy of every Muslim. We have what we call 'sacrifice' operatives who will not stand by while he joins in a celebration of their oppression.

"If he values his life Mr McCartney must not come to Israel. He will not be safe there. The sacrifice operatives will be waiting for him."

Lawyer Anjem Choudary, who last week chaired a meeting in London at which extremists claimed the next 9/11-style atrocity would be in Britain, said Sir Paul had allowed himself to become a propaganda tool for Israel.

He added: "Muslims have every right to be angry at Paul McCartney. How would the world react if he wanted to have a
concert in occupied Kashmir?

"They would not allow it to happen but because it is Israel he can play. A country which, as the celebration indicates did not exist 60 years ago, only exists thanks to stealing and occupying another country's lands." Yesterday the comments drew condemnation from Palestinian sources and outsiders.

Omar Barghouti, of The Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel, described the threat as "deplorable".

Patrick Mercer, the Conservative MP for Newark and a former Shadow Security Minister, said: "One could dismiss Bakri as a ranting extremist but history has shown that he has an ability to twist minds, so his comments should not be underestimated.

"If Sir Paul McCartney wants to play at the 60th anniversary then it is the worst form of illiberalism for Omar Bakri to restrict the artist's freedom in this way."

A spokesman for Sir Paul declined to comment on the threat, saying: "Paul's Friendship First concert is about his music. Paul's is a message of peace."

Tickets for the concert range from £70 ($140) to £230 ($460).

Last night Sir Paul performed his first concert in the Ukraine, playing to tens of thousands in the capital Kiev.

As has been reported recently, The Beatles were supposed to visit Israel in the early sixties, but Yossi Sarid's father (how ironic is that!), who was then the Minister of Culture, vetoed the concert because the Beatles were considered to be a "bad influence" on the country's youth. It's straight out of "Footloose." Something of the anti-rock and roll sentiment from the Elvis years seemed to have rooted in Israel's socialist leadership back then, and they actually vetoed the concert. When you think about Israeli artists today like Aviv Geffen, it's hard to believe exactly how puritanical the country was back then. What a blown opportunity!

But in the spirit of "it's never too late" (although it obviously is, with two members of the band already dead), Paul is helping Israel redeem itself with a concert that has the country in a tizzy. My sister, whom I remember well having posters of the Fab Four on her bedroom wall when we were kids, informed me that she spent five hundred shekel for a standing room ticket! Five hundred shekel! For standing room! And there are expected to be countless thousands of people there, willing to pay that much and obviously much more.

Truth be told, were I there, I would pay it in a heartbeat. With all the issues facing Israel, one more existentially threatening than the other, with all the sorrows and all the disappointments, people like my sister will get to be teenagers again for a few spectacular hours. Already last Friday afternoon, one of the Israeli radio stations was playing a possible set list for the concert, fueling the frenzy.

September 11, Iran, political corruption, deep and painful worries about the future Hearing "She Loves You" can only be what the doctor ordered.

'My eye was drawn to this woman. Is she pensive, excited - or about to cry?'

I love people-watching. I've been taking pictures of well-known models and actresses for an ongoing project on British style, but I wanted to combine that with everyday British occasions and informal dress. So this summer I decided a day at the races would be perfect.

I don't really understand horse racing, but I got a train to Cheltenham and quickly got a feel for it, because there were people going up and down the train carriage selling beers at 10.30 in the morning. I didn't buy any - I don't have the stamina. And I was working, of course. By the time I got to the racetrack, it was raining, typically. I wandered around looking at people, who would see me checking them out and think: "Why is she looking at me?" I didn't know if I was going to find anything interesting, and I almost got a bit negative, thinking, "Why did I come here? I've gone through all the palaver, but am I actually going to get anything?"

Then the first race started. Everyone stopped and focused on it. The energy is exciting. When they're all watching the race, I'm a bit more invisible and can look at the crowd.

Out of all the characters around me, I found this lady particularly interesting. My eye was drawn to her. That action of holding that booklet over her face, almost blinkering herself. It was intriguing. I wasn't sure if she was upset, pensive or just excited. She was doing it throughout the race, and looked as though she was going to start crying. She almost seemed as if she was worrying about something else. I couldn't tell. And I still don't know. But it was exactly what I was looking for.

Curriculum vitae

Born: London, 1969

Studied: "I did a really short course on how to use a camera at the University of Westminster. I didn't do a degree or anything."

Inspirations: "My mum, Linda McCartney, and a lot of the classic photographers - Julia Margaret Cameron, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Eve Arnold and André Kertész. Then some more modern people, like Richard Billingham."

Low point: "When someone hates having their photograph taken. One person who was nice but difficult was Lou Reed - I felt like I was torturing him. Each time I took his picture, I had to count, 'One, two, three,' to tell him when to open his eyes. And then he'd close them again. I think he just wasn't in the mood."

Pet hate: "Tripods."

Dream subject: "I would quite like to go to Nashville and take pictures of Dolly Parton. I'd quite like to check out her home. I imagine she's got lots of trinkets."

· Interview by Leo Benedictus. Mary McCartney's work features in the 30 Days of Fashion and Beauty festival.

Details: 30daysoffashionandbeauty.co.uk

New Guitar Hero World Tour Songs:
Wings - "Band on the Run"
Dream Theater - "Pull Me Under"
Filter - "Hey Man Nice Shot"
NOFX - "Soul Doubt"
Rise Against - "Re-Education (Through Labor)"
Steve Miller - "The Joker"
The Answer - "Never Too Late"
The Stone Roses - "Love Spreads"
Trust - "Anti-Social"

Sir Paul McCartney is said to be furious after a new book he contributed to accuses John Lennon of wanting a gay relationship with his fellow Beatle.

McCartney and Lennon's widow Yoko Ono, 75, both reportedly agreed to be interviewed for author Philip Norman's new biography, John Lennon: The Life.

But after learning the book claims Lennon lusted over McCartney and fantasised about his mother, the pair are allegedly distancing themselves from the project, with Ono withdrawing her endorsement.

A source tells Britain's Daily Mirror, "Both Sir Paul and Yoko are extremely angry and upset."

Pro-Palestinian groups have frequently called on international academics and prominent cultural figures to boycott Israel over its occupation of the West Bank and blockade of the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip.

Jewish groups have condemned cultural and academic boycotts as anti-Semitic.

McCartney will perform hits from his Beatles days and his solo career during a September 25 concert in Tel Aviv as part of a series of shows that has taken McCartney to cities he never visited before.

Asked about how members of the Beatles, one of the most popular bands in rock history, felt when the Israeli government scrapped their concert in 1965 on the grounds it could corrupt the nation's youth, McCartney said it was "a bit insulting, the thought we could corrupt the youth."

"The Beatles had a pretty positive influence on the world and only regimes that wanted to control their peoples were afraid of us. We mostly laughed at the Israeli government decision," McCartney said in comments translated into Hebrew.

Another account in Israel's Haaretz newspaper last month pinned the cancellation of the 1965 Beatles concert on a rift between two concert promoters.

McCartney said in comments published on his Web site last month he looks forward to this chance to perform in Israel. "I've heard so many great things about Tel Aviv and Israel, but hearing is one thing and experiencing it for yourself is another," he said.

The rumour mill is on overdrive today following American reports Sir Paul McCartney is gearing up to propose to girlfriend Nancy Shevell.

The heiress is close to finalising her divorce from estranged husband Bruce Blakeman, and there are whispers the Beatles star is planning to ask her to marry him after that.

Chicago Sun-Times newspaper columnist Bill Zwecker reports: 'It looks like the romance between Paul McCartney and wealthy New York socialite Nancy Shevell may be on the verge of moving up a notch. A source very close to the Beatles legend tells me Shevell may finally have worked out details of her divorce.

'When that happens, Sir Paul is expected to announce his engagement to his lady love - who would become his third wife.' (read Sun-Times article)

It follows reports that McCartney, 66, has been househunting in the same Manhattan neighbourhood as 47-year-old Shevell.

All you need is love: The pair have been dating since November

The pair have grown increasingly close since they began dating last November.

They enjoyed a romantic trip to Antigua in April and a road trip across seven US states last month.

And last week they were pictured having an intimate Japanese meal in the Hamptons on New York's Long Island.

Shevell, whose family has a multi-million dollar transport firm, is still to officially finalise her divorce from her politician husband of 23 years, Bruce Blakeman.

He is now reportedly in the running to become the next New York mayor.

Meanwhile, McCartney's former wife Heather Mills has reportedly been dropped from Donald Trump's reality TV show Celebrity Apprentice after she made 'ludicrous' contract demands.

Network NBC had her lined up to appear on the show but rejected Mills after she allegedly insisted on a clause in her contract to guarantee her a place in the final.

A representative for McCartney did not return calls.

A New York lawyer whose estranged wife is dating former Beatle Paul McCartney says he will run for mayor of the largest U.S. city as a Republican.

Bruce Blakeman told the New York Post that his models are the current mayor, Michael Bloomberg, a Democrat turned Republican turned independent, and his predecessor, Rudolph Giuliani, a Republican.

"I think there's a real desire for continuity," he said.

The 52-year-old Blakeman once served as presiding officer of the legislature in suburban Nassau County. In 1998, he ran for state comptroller, losing to Democrat Carl McCall.

Nancy Shevell, Blakeman's estranged wife, is a board member of the MTA, the New York regional transit system. Last year, she was reported to be involved with McCartney, who recently shed his second wife in a nasty divorce case.

At least five others from both parties are reported to be contemplating mayoral runs. To complicate things, Bloomberg has not ruled out trying to change the city's term limits law to allow him to run for a third term.

It looks like the romance between Paul McCartney and wealthy New York socialite Nancy Shevell may be on the verge of moving up a notch. A source very close to the Beatles legend tells me Shevell -- long separated from her rich financier hubby Bruce Blakeman -- may finally have worked out details of her divorce. When that happens, Sir Paul is expected to announce his engagement to his lady love -- who would become his third wife.

No comment from the official McCartney camp, but the signs have been pointing toward another McCartney wedding since the couple began dating last November -- after being good, non-romantic pals for quite a while.

After a few furtive dates in New York's Hamptons, the duo were spied smooching everywhere from out-of-the-way East Coast eateries to a posh Antigua resort (in March) to their much-publicized Route 66 tour taken this summer -- marking Sir Paul's own 66th birthday.

· If and when the nuptials take place, don't be surprised if Barbara Walters gets the first big TV interview: The creator of ''The View'' is Shevell's cousin.

· A major New York real estate source told me McCartney is looking at a number of eight-figure condos in Shevell's Upper East Side Manhattan neighborhood. ''He hasn't looked at anything more than three blocks from Nancy's apartment,'' said the source.

· Like Shevell, the music superstar has a home in the Hamptons -- where they first met.

· In addition, McCartney has long owned a New York apartment on the West Side, ''but he lived there with Heather [Mills, his ex-wife], and you've got to assume there's lots of bad karma there for him,'' said another McCartney friend. That apartment's privacy factor has been diminished; a recent addition to the Museum of Modern Art gives visitors a direct view into the ex-Beatle's digs.

· Speaking of Mills, it seems she's found a way around that gag order that was part of her $50 million divorce settlement with Sir Paul. The London Daily Telegraph reports Mills may get as much as a $2 million advance for a novel she's penning -- about a model who marries a rock star before their relationship turns sour. Of course ex-model Mills will claim it's pure fiction. Right...

Eye Yoga with Paul McCartney

Did you ever think you'd learn yoga from Paul McCartney of The Beatles? Well thanks to YouTube, you can! Here, Paul teaches us yoga exercises for your eyes, to improve your eye health.

Spending hour upon hour on the computer, as many of us do, our eyes tend to suffer the brunt of the work. No longer are our jobs and pleasures mostly the pursuits of hard labour, but we sit at a computer for a living, or we sit at the computer or TV for fun. This means we simply cannot overlook our eyes when it comes to creating a yoga routine that addresses all our vital functions and organs.

Yoga can help lessen eye strain and improve vision. It can even help give you a new psychological perspective. Try this to see what I mean
1) Keep your head still and look straight ahead.

2) Focus on a spot in front of you and very slowly turn your face towards the left, as far as you can go while still keeping your eyes on that spot you chose when you were facing forward.

3) Go slowly or you'll get dizzy! Don't push it if your eyes hurt when you try this. But if you can make it through, see how your entire field of vision changes? See how your whole visual perspective is altered?

You can gain a whole new perspective on situations just by trying that simple exercise from time to time. First to the left side, then to the right side, moving slowly and never straining your eyes or your neck. Stuck on a problem at work? Need a "time out" before dealing with a stressful situation? Use that simple exercise to clear your mind by giving yourself a new angle on things through your sight.

For the rest, let's turn to Sir McCartney, who knows full well we YouTube fanatics are eating up his yoga tips online!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGg9tjshInM

WEBMASTER'S NOTE: Or for better quality video go to the Memory Almost Full ASK PAUL page and type in "eye yoga"...

Paul McCartney looked every inch the man in love as he enjoyed a romantic candlelit dinner with girlfriend Nancy Shevell.

The 66-year-old appeared relaxed and happy as the pair dined at the exclusive Bamboo Japanese restaurant in the Hamptons on New York's Long Island.

Their display of love comes days after it was revealed that McCartney is searching for a New York City apartment near 47-year-old Shevell's home.

The former Beatle has reportedly been house-hunting in the area around her East 83rd Street residence.

McCartney has owned a property on West 54th Street since the 1980s, a home he most recently shared with his ex-wife Heather Mills.

But the Let It Be singer is now looking for a new home on the Upper East Side to be closer to Shevell, reports the New York Post.

McCartney, 66, and Shevell, 47, have been seeing each other with increasingly regularity since last November.

The pair enjoyed a romantic trip to Antigua in April and a road trip across seven US states last month.

MORE

September 8, 2008 -- The Mirror

Paul McCartney's romantic candlelit dinner with new love Nancy

There was no mistaking the close bond of affection between Paul McCartney and his new love Nancy Shevell as they enjoyed a romantic candlelit dinner.

She gazes adoringly and leans on his shoulder. He smiles contentedly to feel her next to him.

Sir Paul, 66, and heiress Nancy, 47, cosied up for meal at the exclusive Bamboo Japanese restaurant in the Hamptons on New York's Long Island, where they both have homes.

Later, Nancy and the former Beatle had drinks at the trendy Nichols bar.

Sir Paul and Nancy were first revealed to be an item last November when they were spotted kissing in a car in New York.

With his divorce from Heather behind him, he has taken Nancy cruising on his boat named after first wife Linda and is said to have been contemplating marriage for a third time. With a love like this, Paul, you know you should be glad.

Last night her closest PR aide Michele Elyzabeth sensationally admitted: "That witch tricked me into spreading LIES about Paul. She's a bitch!"

We expose Mills' outrageous dirty tricks campaign against rock legend McCartney.

Top publicist and manager Elyzabeth spent four years championing the ex-porn star and defended her throughout the couple's multi-million pound divorce battle.

But last night she confessed: "Heather is a calculating, pathological liar and the biggest bitch on the planet. She not only misled me, she misled the entire world.

"At one stage we were so close I viewed her as the daughter I never had. Today I think of her as the witch I wish I'd never met."

READ: HEATHER MILLS' $1M VIDEO NASTY

Hollywood public relations executive Michele, 58, quit working for Mills-dubbed Mucca for her seedy past-just six weeks ago when she finally realised she too had been betrayed. In fury she told us how 40-year-old Heather:

* LEAKED false stories to blacken husband Paul's name.
* BUGGED his private chats in a bid to dig dirt.
* VOWED to DESTROY the former Beatle.
* TRICKED the world into thinking she'd been dumped penniless but secretly...
* BANKED £3million from her estranged hubby while dodging bills and blagging freebies.
* DECEIVED the public over how much she gave to charity.

Foolish

Angry Michele admitted: "Heather used me as her mouthpiece for four years, and I'm ashamed to say throughout that time I simply told lies. As her friend I BELIEVED she was telling the truth, but now I realise she conned me. I was foolish and saw her simply as the devoted humanitarian, charity campaigner and protective mother she wanted the world to see. Now I want the public to know who the REAL Heather Mills is."

In October, 2006, Heather-who lost her lower left leg in a road accident-was determined to convince Michele that Macca, 66, was pushing her to the edge and called her to a meeting at his Beverly Hills mansion, after FORCING her way in and taking up residence.

Inside, ex-call girl Heather-who has consistently lied about her vice and porn shame- played a tape of a BUGGED conversation between Macca and daughter Stella discussing the split. Heather wore latex GLOVES as she handled the tape. Red with rage she screamed: "I'll destroy him!"

Michele said: "Heather and Paul had been apart for six months but she still demanded to stay in the house.

"Paul's security guard tried to get her to leave. But she threatened to call the cops if he touched her, and then defiantly declared, 'Let Paul get me out!' I guess Paul just let her have her way.

"We had a brief business meeting, before we went into her lounge where a specialist pain doctor treated her leg. Then all of a sudden Heather was acting very unusually, over the top-trying to make us intrigued.

"She said, 'I want you to listen to how Paul and Stella are plotting against me. Who knows what they're trying to do?'

"She pulled a cassette player out of a bag by the couch and said, 'I've been taping Paul for weeks.'

"Then acting anxiously, Heather put on these latex gloves in front of us. It was all very mysterious, but it was part of her plan to get us hooked. Naturally I asked, 'What are you doing?' As she pulled out a tape from the bag she replied, 'This could be evidence.'

"She said she didn't want her fingerprints on it at all, so they couldn't trace it back to her.

"I was mesmerised. I felt as if I was about to learn a huge secret. Heather played it brilliantly, like a cloak and dagger operation. She loved the drama.

"So she played it to both of us (Michele and the doctor) and I could clearly hear it was Paul's voice. Then I recognised Stella as well-I knew her voice from TV. I heard Paul say, 'Heather is really crazy, she's driving me nuts. She should be happy to get what she's getting she always wants more. She's never happy.'

"His tone made me feel that Paul thought she was being unreasonable. I didn't understand the exact nature of this conversation.

"They then talked about what she was putting them through. He spoke about her demands and how 'up the wall' he thought it was.

"Then Stella made a joke, something like, 'She doesn't have a leg to stand on!' I think they both laughed.

"As the 2 -minute tape played Heather sat looking at us with her eyes acting all astonished, even though she MUST have heard it before. I had mixed feelings about it. I knew Paul and Stella weren't being vicious but they WERE making fun of Heather. And at that time I was on her side and felt that wasn't fair.

"But I couldn't believe she was letting this 'top secret' play out in front of the doctor, a virtual stranger.

"Now I look back it feels like a set-up. And I don't know exactly how she got that tape.

"After it finished playing, she looked all wounded and shocked then added, 'I know what he's doing to me. Can you believe that bastard?' As we left the house Heather told me she felt this would 'be enough to bring Paul down.'"
Tight

In his March judgement on the £24.3 million ($48.6 million) divorce, Mr Justice Bennett noted: "It is said that on June 25, 2006, the wife illegally bugged the husband's telephone, in particular a call in which Stella made very unflattering comments about the wife.

"It is further said that the wife leaked the intercepted material to the press to discredit the husband."

The judge added that none of Mucca's alleged leaks, lies or breaches of confidentiality played any part in the size of her payout.

Michele, who has 35 years experience promoting Hollywood celebs, told us: "I've asked myself many times what was Heather's motivation, but it all points to one thing-money.

"She's a gold digger. I'm certain her marriage to Paul was all about the money. I've spent hours with Heather, I've seen how tight she is with her cash, how she lied to me about Paul giving her money and experienced how she dodges bills-including my own fees.

"She's the tightest human being I know. I believe Heather felt the further she pushed Paul emotionally, the bigger the payout would be. In the two-year run-up to the divorce she openly told the world that Paul gave her nothing, but then the court papers revealed he'd supported her to the tune of over £3 million ($6 million)."

On GMTV last October hypocrite Mills insisted: "I have NEVER used the press for anything, except promoting my charity."

But in reality Mills manipulated stories to bring down McCartney's iconic stature in the eyes of the world. In August 2006 she gave unsuspecting Michele the green light to lie about Macca's financial contribution on American TV show Extra.

"I told millions of viewers Paul didn't give her any money at all," said Michele. "The media lapped it up. I even briefed reporters in England on the story. After every appearance Heather was encouraging me to keep up the fight. But she always added, 'Make sure you tell people it wasn't my idea.'"

Determined Michele even repeated the lie on her own website, and on YouTube. Michele was also battling breast cancer at the time but put aside her own problems to produce a series of videos defending Heather.

Michele said: "I stood up for her, insisting Paul wasn't paying her. But it was a pack of lies." And in March 2007 Heather herself kept up the pretence that Paul was mean, telling Sky TV: "It's like getting blood from a stone."

But Mr Justice Bennett concluded: "In interviews the wife lost her cool completely, went right over the top, and behaved in an erratic, out of control, and vengeful manner."

His divorce judgement noted: "In the light of the husband's generosity towards her I find the wife's behaviour distinctly distasteful. In any event it damages her overall credibility."

Michele and Heather first met at an Adopt a Minefield charity project in October, 2004. Within days Mills was using the star PR's expertise for free to further her own career in America.

Believing Mills's lies about being broke, Michele didn't charge her for 2 years. Then Mucca slipped up by splashing out £15,000 ($30,000) on a cruise at a charity auction.

Michele said: "I tackled her about it and she agreed to pay me £2,500 ($5,000) per month plus expenses. Heather had lied to me, but I was happy just to get money. It didn't last though. Next day I was told I'd get a thousand pounds less, but I'd be taken care of when she got the 'big settlement'. She often talked about 'the big settlement'.

"Heather promised verbally to look after me and I saw that as a binding contract, so I stuck by her. When they split Heather gave me a green light to get her business deals to raise cash. That way she could pay for my time with the deals we achieved.

"But once the money landed in her bank she coldly told me that she'd have to make cutbacks, and was unlikely to be able to pay my already reduced fee. I couldn't believe it. She wanted to cheat me and I was now being pushed out. I'd always felt sorry for her, letting her emotional outbursts make me treat our relationship as more than business.

"I threw parties at my home at my own expense for her to meet major businessmen and media people. I put her and her friends up, I even let it ride when she'd tag her mates along to drink my wine and eat my food.

"Never once did she stick her hand in her pocket at these business functions organised for her benefit. And at the time I didn't want her to, because I always thought she was broke.

"But she NEVER had cash on her. I always found myself spending MY money on her-whether it was drinks or lunches, I'd end up with the bill.

"In the first 2 years working together I forked out thousands on couriers, postage and taking out TV people to improve her image in the US.

"And it was hard work. Nobody liked her, and it cost me a lot in swish lunches and dinners to turn that opinion around. I was trying to get her work at HER request. Not once did she offer to pay me. What a leech!

"She had a credit card, but it must have had cobwebs on it. She once told me it was simply a little gesture from Paul for friends' lunches. Well I was her friend, and she rarely paid for me.

"She must have bought about six lunches in total out of the dozens we had-and they were always the cheap ones.

"Even when we met at her house for an important business lunch, we'd just be given a sandwich.

"In the early days I introduced her to my hairdresser David Paul to do her hair as a favour. But Heather just rocked up to his salon every two days when she was in Los Angeles.

"This went on for three years and not once did she offer to pay. David guessed, like the rest of us, that once the divorce was finalised we'd be repaid. But it never happened.

"Heather's method was to get everything for free, relying on goodwill. But when the subject of money came up, she'd drop people from her life and deny they'd done anything for her. It became so predictable. I call her 'The Black Widow' now to my friends.
Nasty

"I know now that even after they split Paul helped her out on some of her unpaid bills. There was a doctor in LA who looked after her leg and also security staff. Paul covered pretty much everything for her, although he didn't say anything publicly. But Heather just expected that of him."

The two women are now at legal loggerheads over a disputed bill for £168,000 ($236,000) from Michele. And Heather insists SHE fired Michele.

Michele revealed that Mucca's disloyalty to Paul extended even into their private love life. Heather would ridicule his performance between the sheets to amuse her friends in crowded restaurants and at David Paul's salon. Michele added: "Heather would say on TV how she still loved her husband then take the mickey when she was with her girlfriends.

"She'd run down Paul as a man and be very nasty about him. She was exceptionally dismissive about him, going into graphic detail about their love lives. She was very indiscreet.

"I witnessed this many times. I couldn't believe my ears the first time when she just rattled off all these insults in public, quite openly, to people she barely knew-really anyone who'd listen.

"I remember quite a few times when she'd sit down at my hairdressers, and just open up about Paul, without prompting. She often declared, 'If I had to do it again I'd never have married him.' And we all knew that days earlier she'd been on TV claiming she'd never attack the father of her child. She was such a hypocrite.

"But Heather had no interest in other men when she was married. I think her prime concern was getting hold of his cash, and that took up all her time and focus.

"She always made up that she was hard up with Paul. I remember once she told me, 'My husband is so cheap, if we go to lunch and there's a bottle of water left on the table, he'll take it away with him.

"I had a rude awakening when the divorce judgement came through. All her words were lies, her way of manipulating me.

"Since getting her hands on the money she also got abusive towards me. Then in July she threw a fit on the phone at me and I quit."

I'm fixer for the Queen
|
DELUDED Heather bragged to Michele that she was a go-between for the THE QUEEN.

The PR boss described how Mucca once insisted: "I know the Queen. I organise for celebrities to meet her."

Michele added: "It was a very brief aside, which she just slipped into her conversation. I was shocked and found it quite incredible.
Idea

"Heather added that she regularly took along famous names to meet her. She made out it was 100 per cent genuine.

"It's one of the strangest things I ever heard her claim, as I can't imagine the Queen would associate herself with an activist and campaigner like Heather.

"I told Heather to set me up a meeting the next time I was over. She thought it was a good idea.

"But I quit before I got my chance."

Spend spend spend

PUBLICIST Michele Elyzabeth watched gobsmacked as tightwad Heather suddenly turned into a spendthrift-in a vain bid to prove to a judge she needed a megabucks divorce payout.

Mucca lashed out over £3 million ($6 million) of Macca's cash from October 2006 to December 2007 on Hollywood parties, private jets and helicopter taxis.

In his judgement Mr Justice Benett said he had seen through her bid to ramp up her living costs.

But in her infamous GMTV meltdown Mills lied again and DENIED blowing millions of Macca's cash. She moaned: "All I did was go to the hairdressers."

Aldo Zilli creates an entirely vegetarian menu for Paul McCartney visit

Paul McCartney, 66, got stuck into a massive five-course lunch at celebrity chef Aldo Zilli's restaurant yesterday.

Knowing Macca's strict diet, the staff at Signor Zilli in Soho, London, created an entirely vegetarian menu especially for him and the singer wolfed down all five courses.

Didn't fancy popping into Gordon Ramsay's, eh Paul?

The long and winding lunch included avocado and mango salad, asparagus wrapped in leeks, chargrilled veg with mozzarella and goat's cheese ravioli. Phew.

Paul McCartney has a Monopoly on Beatles memorabilia

Sir Paul McCartney looks set for A Hard Day's Night playing a new Beatles Monopoly boardgame.

The 66-year-old emerged from his offices in London's Soho Square yesterday with the Fab Four edition of the popular game.

McCartney's chauffeur popped the upcoming Beatles Monopoly game on the back seat of his car as the eternally youthful singer bounded outside.

Can't buy me Mayfair: Paul McCartney leaves Soho Square perhaps to play a spot of Beatles Monopoly at his St John's Wood home

With a roll of the dice, Macca may pass Penny Lane via Abbey Road on his way to Strawberry Fields during a quiet evening in playing the game.

Things are certainly looking up for McCartney recently.

He has been romancing New York socialite Nancy Shevell, 47, since last November.

The pair enjoyed a romantic trip to Antigua in April and a road trip across seven US states last month.

However, reports that McCartney is planning soon to make Miss Shevell his third wife are believed to be wide of the mark.

His adult children Stella, Mary and James are said to be completely against the idea of their father marrying for a very long time after his acrimonious divorce from his last wife, Heather Mills.

And Miss Shevell, whose family has a £315 million ($630 million) transport firm, is still to finalise her divorce from her politician husband of 23 years, Bruce Blakeman.

Paul McCartney is on the lookout for another New York City apartment - this time, closer to the Upper East Side apartment of his new flame Nancy Shevell.

Sources say the former Beatle, who has had a place on West 54th Street since the 1980s - where he and ex-wife Heather Mills last bunked together in Gotham - has been combing the area close to Shevell's East 83rd Street residence.

"He's been looking at eight-figure apartments," says a real-estate insider. "I think he just wants to rid himself of the Heather factor."

Plus, he reportedly lost much of his privacy a few years ago when the Museum of Modern Art added a glass facade that gives visitors an unobstructed view of his apartment. And he probably wouldn't mind adding more distance between himself and Mills' new downtown condo, which she recently bought at 173 Perry St.

McCartney's rep did not respond to our inquiries.

Via Ecorazzi : Linda and Paul McCartney's photographer daughter, Mary, revealed to the Scottish newspaper Herald that "One of the projects that has been occupying her and her family recently has been 'revitalising' the Linda McCartney vegetarian food range, which was launched in 1991.

Last year, the firm Hain Celestial bought the licence to the foods and the McCartney family (who are all vegetarian) have since been working with the firm, not only with photography and packaging design, but with new lines.

"We're working with them now on coming up with ideas based on the recipes that mum had and the way she cooked. We're very hands-on. We want to do it or her, the way she would have wanted it done."

Linda McCartney Vegetarian Foods

Paul McCartney caused a buzz when he dropped by the Amagansett library with daughter Beatrice for the lecture "Eric's Big Bugs." He also encountered a librarian with a pun-ny bone: As the former Beatle walked past her, a spy tells us, "She whispered under her breath, 'That was the biggest bug of them all!'"

Nancy gets her song

Sir Paul McCartney has written a love song for his girlfriend Nancy Shevell.

The 66-year-old former Beatle feels so strongly about the US heiress he has put his emotions into music for Nancy, 48.

"The song Paul has written a song for Nancy looks set to be on his new album. Paul has long been inspired by the women in his life and Nancy is no different," a source revealed.

Earlier this year, it was revealed Paul had collaborated on a song about his ex-wife Heather Mills - who he divorced this year - with world music artist Nitin Sawhney.

"Paul has done a track about how he feels about Heather because no one has heard his side of it at all. It's a very emotional and very powerful song," the source said of the track.

Paul has also previously composed songs for his first wife Linda, who passed away after a battle with breast cancer in 1998, including "Maybe I'm Amazed" in 1970.

A number of Paul's songs for The Beatles, including "And I Love Her" and "Here, There and Everywhere" were said to be inspired by his ex-fiancée, Jane Asher.

It used to be Sir Paul McCartney's escape from chaos - a simple sailing dinghy named after his first wife Linda.

Suddenly it's his love boat, carrying the ex-Beatle and new girlfriend Nancy Shevell as they share a romantic kiss.

The pair had eyes only for each other as they glided through the sun-kissed waters of The Hamptons on New York's Long Island.

And after the stormy seas of his divorce from second wife Heather Mills, Macca could hardly have looked calmer.

Whirlwind

At the height of his troubles, he said of his Sunfish dinghy: "It's my antidote to chaos. I like the freedom, the peace."

Now Sir Paul, 66, has found all the peace he needs with 47-year-old American heiress Nancy, who has battled breast cancer - the disease that killed Linda in 1998.

The couple have been caught in a whirlwind romance since they were seen kissing in a New York car last November.

They were joined on their holiday by Paul's daughter Beatrice, four.

Nancy and her lawyer husband Bruce Blakeman are due to divorce after 23 married years.

It could soon be plain sailing for Sir Paul and his new love.

Not everyone is ready to let it be over Paul McCartney's upcoming show in Tel Aviv.

The Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI) has called on the former Beatle to cancel the show, saying that "Palestinian dispossession and Israeli apartheid are no cause for celebration."

In a press release, the PACBI added that "since the creation of this state 60 years ago, [Israel] dispossessed and uprooted hundreds of thousands of Palestinians from their homes and lands, condemning them to a life of exile and destitution."

"Performing in Israel at this time is morally equivalent to performing in South Africa at the height of the apartheid era... We strongly urge you to uphold the values of freedom, equality and just peace for all by joining this growing boycott against Israeli apartheid. Nothing less would do justice to the legendary legacy of the Beatles."

Another Palestinian lobby group - the Palestine Solidarity Campaign - has formulated a letter which it asks supporters to send to McCartney's management, asking him to reconsider performing in Tel Aviv.

"As I'm sure you are aware, the State of Israel continues to breach international and human rights law by its illegal occupation of the West Bank and Gaza and treatment of the Palestinian people. As well as the constant attacks by the Israeli army and armed settlers, Palestinian land is systematically stolen, houses demolished and crops destroyed," said the letter. "Your music has always been associated with hopeful and free aspirations; this reputation will undoubtedly be tarnished should this concert go ahead."

In a response to the two boycott attempts, the UK branch of Israel advocacy organization StandWithUs sent a letter to McCartney and his manager Stuart Bell, saying that the "blatant lies in the PACBI press release are simply beyond belief."

According to StandWithUs representative Joy Wolfe, "The more they call for boycotts, the more people want to come out to prove how fruitless they are and to demonstrate that it is by contact and dialogue, and indeed by staging concerts such as yours, that things may hopefully improve. At least when you appear in Tel Aviv you can expect to have a mixed audience of Jews, Muslims and Christians, something that would be impossible in any Arab country."

Regardless of the calls for McCartney to stay home, ticket sales for the show passed the 25,000 mark at the beginning of the week, according to the producers of the concert. And later this week, the first members of McCartney's technical staff will arrive in Israel to begin preparations for the show's infrastructure.

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