As a member of The Beatles and Wings, Paul McCartney has become one of the most celebrated musicians in history.
From dominating the Billboard charts during the 1960s and ’70s to evolving his sound as a respected elder statesman of rock ‘n’ roll, McCartney’s influence spans generations.
Now, he continues to evolve and modernize his sound, even duetting with contemporary names like Kanye West, Dominic Fike, Rihanna, and Dave Grohl.
Despite his fame, McCartney harbors lesser-known facts that reveal a more personal side to his storied career.
1. Paul McCartney composed the melody for “When I’m Sixty-Four” at the age of 14
Paul McCartney wrote “When I’m Sixty-Four” when he was about 14 years old, probably in April or May of 1956.
The initial recording was in a different key, but McCartney requested it be sped up to make his voice sound younger. The song is notable for its use of a clarinet trio, featuring two B♭ clarinets and a bass clarinet.
The Beatles later recorded and released it on their 1967 album “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.”
2. Marijuana significantly influenced his creative process and the lyrics of “Got To Get You Into My Life”
“So this song is my ode to pot,” Paul McCartney once admitted about one of The Beatles’ hits. He has been open about how marijuana influenced their music.
“What we had to get into our lives, it seems, is marijuana. Until we happened upon marijuana, we’d been drinking men. We were introduced to grass when we were in the US. And it blew our tiny little minds.”
Interestingly, their introduction to pot came from a notable figure.
“We were in a hotel suite, maybe in New York, around the summer of ’64. And Bob Dylan turned up. And we were just drinking as usual, having a little party. And Bob had disappeared into a back room. And then Ringo came out of that room looking a bit strange. He said, ‘I’ve just been with Bob and he’s got some pot.’ We said, ‘What’s it like?’ And he said, ‘The ceiling is sort of moving.’ And that was enough.”
Paul and the other Beatles became enthusiastic about marijuana for a while. Though their initial excitement eventually led to darker drug experiences for some band members, it undeniably inspired their lyrics during that period.
“It was something that entered our lives and I thought it would be a good idea to write a song.”
3. Paul McCartney once owned the publishing rights to several Broadway musicals, such as “Guys and Dolls” and “Annie”
In 1969, Paul McCartney founded his own publishing company, MPL Communications. Initially created to manage McCartney’s solo endeavors outside of The Beatles, MPL expanded its scope to include distributing the works of artists like Buddy Holly and Frank Sinatra.
Over time, MPL ventured into the world of musical theater. It provided funding for the early stages of Annie, which debuted in New England before hitting Broadway.
By the early to mid-1980s, MPL had acquired the rights to additional musicals such as Grease, Guys and Dolls, and A Chorus Line. Despite McCartney’s fame from The Beatles, his involvement in the theater industry through MPL has been substantial.
4. McCartney has been a vegetarian in the 1970s
In an interview with the U.K. Telegraph, titled “Meat-Free Is the New Rock ‘n’ Roll,” music legend Paul McCartney talked about his decision to give up meat and fish in the mid-1970s.
At that time, being vegetarian was uncommon and not always convenient, especially while touring. McCartney recalled that on the road, the usual fare was “ham sandwiches all around,” and when he dined at upscale restaurants, they struggled to accommodate his vegetarian diet.
“They brought me a plate of vegetables — just steamed veg. They couldn’t think beyond that,” he explained. This challenge inspired his late wife Linda to publish a vegetarian cookbook in 1989 and later launch a line of frozen vegetarian meals under her name.
5. He’s an official knight
Not all knights wear chainmail. On March 11, 1997, Paul McCartney received a knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II for his “services to music.” The ceremony took place at Buckingham Palace in London, filled with tradition and excitement.
Fans waited outside in a scene reminiscent of Beatlemania of the 1960s. Crowds screamed as McCartney swept through the gates in his limousine and he answered with a thumbs-up.
Outside, fans gathered eagerly, echoing scenes reminiscent of Beatlemania from the 1960s. They cheered as McCartney arrived in his limousine, responding with a thumbs-up gesture.
Sadly, McCartney’s wife, Linda, who was battling breast cancer, couldn’t join him, but three of their four children attended the event. McCartney said, “I would have loved the whole family to be here, but when we heard there were only three tickets, we had to draw straws.”
Reflecting on his knighthood, Sir Paul humorously remarked, “Since the news of my knighthood, they now call me ‘Your Holiness.'” He dedicated this honor to his fellow Beatles and the people of Liverpool, the city he proudly calls home.