Paul McCartney

File:20 forthlin road.jpg, Allerton, where the McCartney family moved in 1955]]

James Paul McCartney was born on 18 June 1942 at Walton Hospital in the Walton area of Liverpool, where his mother, Mary Patricia (née Mohin), had qualified to practise as a nurse. Both of his parents were of Irish descent.{{sfn|Spitz|2005|p=75}} McCartney has a younger brother, Peter Michael, and a younger stepsister, Ruth, born to his father Jim's second wife, Angie, during her first marriage.{{cite web|last=Wright|first=Jade|date=14 January 2013|title=Macca, me and my mum's marzipan butties – Beatles star Paul McCartney's stepmum on life just outside the spotlight|url=http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/macca-mums-marzipan-butties---3324767|access-date=28 January 2022|website=Liverpool Echo|language=en|archive-date=28 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220128031350/https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/macca-mums-marzipan-butties---3324767|url-status=live}} Paul and Michael were baptised in their mother's Catholic faith, even though their father was a former Protestant who had turned agnostic. Religion was not emphasised in the household.{{harvnb|Miles|1997|p=4}}: (primary source); {{harvnb|Benitez|2010|p=1}}: (secondary source).

Before the war, Jim had worked as a salesman for the cotton merchants A. Hannay and Co., having been promoted from his job as a sample boy in their warehouse; when the war broke out, Hannay's was shuttered, and Jim was employed as a lathe turner at Napier's defence engineering works, volunteering for the fire brigade at night.{{Harvnb|Carlin|2009|pp=8–9}}. The growing family was rehoused at a flat in Knowsley in 1944 and then in a council housing development in Speke in 1946. After the war, Jim returned to his job at the cotton merchants with a reduced income. Mary's work as a visiting midwife was much more remunerative.{{Harvnb|Carlin|2009|p=11}}.

McCartney attended Stockton Wood Road Primary School in Speke from 1947 until 1949, when he transferred to Joseph Williams Junior School in Belle Vale because of overcrowding at Stockton.{{harvnb|Benitez|2010|p=1}}: Transferred to Joseph Williams Junior School due to overcrowding at Stockton; {{harvnb|Carlin|2009|p=13}}: Transferred to Joseph Williams in 1949. In 1953, he was one of only three students out of 90 to pass the 11-Plus exam, meaning he could attend the Liverpool Institute, a grammar school rather than a secondary modern school.For his attendance at Joseph Williams Junior School see: {{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/merseyside/8203923.stm|title=Beatle's schoolboy photo auction|work=BBC News|date=16 August 2009|access-date=13 June 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120502022815/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/merseyside/8203923.stm|archive-date=2 May 2012}}; For McCartney passing the 11-plus exam see: {{harvnb|Miles|1997|p=9}}: (primary source); {{harvnb|Benitez|2010|pp=1–2}}: (secondary source). In 1954, he met schoolmate George Harrison on the bus from his suburban home in Speke. The two quickly became friends; McCartney later admitted: "I tended to talk down to him because he was a year younger."{{harvnb|Benitez|2010|p=2}}: The two soon became friends, "I tended to talk down to him because he was a year younger"; {{harvnb|Spitz|2005|pp=82–83}}: On grammar school versus secondary modern, 125: On meeting Harrison.

{{quote box|align=left|width=25%|quote=The type of people that I came from, I never saw better! [...] I mean, the Presidents, the Prime Minister, I never met anyone half as nice as some of the people I know from Liverpool who are nothing, who do nothing. They're not important or famous. But they are smart, like my dad was smart. I mean, people who can just cut through problems like a hot knife through butter. The kind of people you need in life. Salt of the earth.Playboy Interview, December 1984|source= — Paul McCartney, Playboy interview, 1984}}

Mary McCartney's midwifery paid well, and her earnings enabled them to move into 20 Forthlin Road in Allerton,{{cite web|url=http://www.infobritain.co.uk/Paul_McCartney_Forthlin_Road.htm|title=20 Forthlin Road|work=infobritain.co.uk|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924034755/http://www.infobritain.co.uk/Paul_McCartney_Forthlin_Road.htm|archive-date=24 September 2015}} where they lived until 1964.{{harvnb|Benitez|2010|p=2}}: "Mary was the family's primary wage earner"; {{harvnb|Harry|2002|pp=340–341}}: "where they lived through 1964". She rode a bicycle to her patients; McCartney described an early memory of her leaving at "about three in the morning [the] streets ... thick with snow".{{sfn|Miles|1997|p=6}} On 31 October 1956, when McCartney was 14, his mother died of an embolism as a complication of surgery for breast cancer.{{harvnb|Benitez|2010|p=2}}: On Mary's death (secondary source); {{harvnb|Miles|1997|p=20}}: On Mary's death (primary source); {{harvnb|Womack|2007|p=10}}: Mary died from an embolism. McCartney's loss later became a connection with John Lennon, whose mother, Julia, died in 1958 when Lennon was 17.{{sfn|Miles|1997|p=31}}

McCartney's father was a trumpet player and pianist who led Jim Mac's Jazz Band in the 1920s. He kept an upright piano in the front room, encouraged his sons to be musical and advised McCartney to take piano lessons. However, McCartney preferred to learn by ear.{{sfn|Miles|1997|pp=22–23}}{{refn|group=nb|Jim McCartney's father Joe played an E-flat tuba.{{sfn|Spitz|2005|p=71}} McCartney's father also pointed out the bass parts in songs on the radio, and often took his sons to local brass band concerts.{{sfn|Miles|1997|pp=23–24}}}} When McCartney was 11, his father encouraged him to audition for the Liverpool Cathedral choir, but he was not accepted. McCartney then joined the choir at St Barnabas' Church, Mossley Hill.{{cite book |last=Welch |first=Chris |date=1984 |title=Paul McCartney: The Definitive Biography |location=London |publisher=Proteus Books |page=18 |isbn=978-0-86276-125-7 |author-link=Chris Welch }} McCartney received a nickel-plated trumpet from his father for his fourteenth birthday, but when rock and roll became popular on Radio Luxembourg, McCartney traded it for a £15 Framus Zenith (model 17) acoustic guitar, since he wanted to be able to sing while playing.{{harvnb|Miles|1997|p=21}}: Jim gave McCartney a nickel-plated trumpet which was later traded for a Zenith acoustic guitar; {{harvnb|Spitz|2005|p=86}}: when rock and roll became popular on Radio Luxembourg. He found it difficult to play guitar right-handed, but after noticing a poster advertising a Slim Whitman concert and realising that Whitman played left-handed, he reversed the order of the strings.{{sfn|Miles|1997|p=21}} McCartney wrote his first song, "I Lost My Little Girl", on the Zenith, and composed another early tune that would become "When I'm Sixty-Four" on the piano. American rhythm and blues influenced him, and Little Richard was his schoolboy idol; "Long Tall Sally" was the first song McCartney performed in public, at a Butlin's Filey holiday camp talent competition.{{harvnb|Harry|2002|pp=509}}: McCartney: "The first song I ever sang in public was "Long Tall Sally"., 533–534: Harry: "Long Tall Sally", was "The first number Paul ever sang on stage".

{{Main|The Quarrymen}}

At the age of fifteen on 6 July 1957, McCartney met John Lennon and his band, the Quarrymen, at the St Peter's Church Hall fête in Woolton.{{sfn|Spitz|2005|p=93}} The Quarrymen played a mix of rock and roll and skiffle, a type of popular music with jazz, blues and folk influences.{{harvnb|Spitz|2005|p=95}}: "The Quarrymen played a spirited set of songs—half skiffle, half rock 'n roll". Soon afterwards, the members of the band invited McCartney to join as a rhythm guitarist, and he formed a close working relationship with Lennon. Harrison joined in 1958 as lead guitarist, followed by Lennon's art school friend Stuart Sutcliffe on bass, in 1960.{{sfn|Lewisohn|1992|p=18}} By May 1960, the band had tried several names, including Johnny and the Moondogs, Beatals and the Silver Beetles.{{sfn|Lewisohn|1992|pp=18–22}} They adopted the name the Beatles in August 1960 and recruited drummer Pete Best shortly before a five-engagement residency in Hamburg.{{sfn|Lewisohn|1992|pp=17–25}}

{{Main|The Beatles}}

File:Paul McCartney (cropped and edited).jpg

In 1961, Sutcliffe left the band, and McCartney became their bass player. It is disputed whether he did so reluctantly or actively sought out the role.{{harvnb|Norman|1981|pp=145,146}}{{harvnb|Miles|1997|p=74}}: McCartney: "Nobody wants to play bass, or nobody did in those days".;{{harvnb|Gould|2007|p=89}}: On McCartney playing bass when Sutcliffe was indisposed., {{harvnb|Gould|2007|p=94}}: "Sutcliffe gradually began to withdraw from active participation in the Beatles, ceding his role as the group's bassist to Paul McCartney". While in Hamburg, they recorded professionally for the first time and were credited as the Beat Brothers, who were the backing band for English singer Tony Sheridan on the single "My Bonnie".{{sfn|Spitz|2005|pp=249–251}} This resulted in attention from Brian Epstein, who was a key figure in their subsequent development and success. He became their manager in January 1962.{{sfn|Miles|1997|pp=84–88}} Ringo Starr replaced Best in August, and the band had their first hit, "Love Me Do", in October, becoming popular in the UK in 1963, and in the US a year later. The fan hysteria became known as "Beatlemania", and the press sometimes referred to McCartney as the "cute Beatle".{{harvnb|Lewisohn|1992|p=59}}: "Love Me Do", {{harvnb|Lewisohn|1992|p=75}}: Replacing Best with Starr., {{harvnb|Lewisohn|1992|pp=88–94}}: "Beatlemania" in the UK., {{harvnb|Lewisohn|1992|pp=136–140}}: "Beatlemania" in the US; {{harvnb|Miles|1997|p=470}}: the cute Beatle; {{harvnb|Spitz|2005|p=330}}: Starr joining the Beatles in August 1962.{{refn|group=nb|In 1963, the Beatles released two studio albums: Please Please Me and With the Beatles. Two more albums followed in 1964: A Hard Day's Night and Beatles for Sale.{{sfn|Lewisohn|1992|pp=350–351}}}} McCartney co-wrote (with Lennon) several of their early hits, including "I Saw Her Standing There", "She Loves You", "I Want to Hold Your Hand" (1963) and "Can't Buy Me Love" (1964).For song authorship see: {{harvnb|Harry|2002|p=90}}: "Can't Buy Me Love", {{harvnb|Harry|2002|p=439}}: "I Saw Her Standing There"; {{harvnb|Harry|2000a|pp=561–562}}: "I Want to Hold Your Hand"; and {{harvnb|MacDonald|2005|pp=66–68}}: "I Saw Her Standing There", {{harvnb|MacDonald|2005|pp=83–85}}: "She Loves You", {{harvnb|MacDonald|2005|pp=99–103}}: "I Want to Hold Your Hand", {{harvnb|MacDonald|2005|pp=104–107}}: "Can't Buy Me Love", {{harvnb|MacDonald|2005|pp=171–172}}; For release dates, US and UK peak chart positions of the preceding songs see: {{harvnb|Lewisohn|1992|pp=350–351}}.

In August 1965, the Beatles released the McCartney composition "Yesterday", featuring a string quartet. Included on the Help! LP, the song was the group's first recorded use of classical music elements and their first recording that involved only a single band member.{{harvnb|Buk|1996|p=51}}: Their first recording that involved only a single band member; {{harvnb|Gould|2007|p=278}}: The group's first recorded use of classical music elements in their music. "Yesterday" became one of the most covered songs in popular music history.{{harvnb|MacDonald|2005|pp=157–158}}: "Yesterday" as the most covered song in history. Later that year, during recording sessions for the album Rubber Soul, McCartney began to supplant Lennon as the dominant musical force in the band. Musicologist Ian MacDonald wrote, "from [1965] ... [McCartney] would be in the ascendant not only as a songwriter, but also as instrumentalist, arranger, producer, and de facto musical director of the Beatles."{{sfn|MacDonald|2005|p=172}} Critics described Rubber Soul as a significant advance in the refinement and profundity of the band's music and lyrics.{{harvnb|Levy|2005|p=18}}: Rubber Soul is described by critics as an advancement of the band's music; {{harvnb|Brown|Gaines|2002|pp=181–82}}: As they explored facets of romance and philosophy in their lyrics. Considered a high point in the Beatles catalogue, both Lennon and McCartney said they had written the music for the song "In My Life".{{Harvnb|MacDonald|2005|pp=169–170}}: "In My Life" as a highlight of the Beatles catalogue.; {{Harvnb|Spitz|2005|p=587}}: Both Lennon and McCartney have claimed lead authorship for "In My Life". McCartney said of the album, "we'd had our cute period, and now it was time to expand."{{sfn|The Beatles|2000|p=197}} Recording engineer Norman Smith stated that the Rubber Soul sessions exposed indications of increasing contention within the band: "the clash between John and Paul was becoming obvious ... [and] as far as Paul was concerned, George [Harrison] could do no right—Paul was absolutely finicky."{{sfn|Harry|2000b|p=780}}

In 1966, the Beatles released the album Revolver. Featuring sophisticated lyrics, studio experimentation, and an expanded repertoire of musical genres ranging from innovative string arrangements to psychedelic rock, the album marked an artistic leap for the Beatles.{{sfn|Gould|2007|p=348}} The first of three consecutive McCartney A-sides, the single "Paperback Writer" preceded the LP's release.{{harvnb|MacDonald|2005|p=195}}: The first of three consecutive McCartney A-sides; {{harvnb|Lewisohn|1992|pp=350–351}}: Revolver{{'}}s release was preceded by "Paperback Writer". The Beatles produced a short promotional film for the song, and another for its B-side, "Rain". The films, described by Harrison as "the forerunner of videos", aired on The Ed Sullivan Show and Top of the Pops in June 1966.{{harvnb|The Beatles|2000|p=214}}: "the forerunner of videos"; {{harvnb|Lewisohn|1992|pp=221–222}}: The films aired on The Ed Sullivan Show and Top of the Pops. Revolver also included McCartney's "Eleanor Rigby", which featured a string octet. According to Jonathan Gould, the song is "a neoclassical tour de force ... a true hybrid, conforming to no recognizable style or genre of song".{{harvnb|Gould|2007|p=350}}: "neoclassical tour de force", {{harvnb|Gould|2007|p=402}}: "a true hybrid". Except for some backing vocals, the song included only McCartney's lead vocal and the strings arranged by producer George Martin.{{sfn|Harry|2002|pp=313–316}}{{refn|group=nb|Also included on Revolver was "Here, There and Everywhere", a McCartney composition which is his second favourite after "Yesterday".{{sfn|Everett|1999|p=328}}}}

File:McCartney (cropped).jpg in 1964|alt=]]

The band gave their final commercial concert at the end of their 1966 US tour.{{sfn|Lewisohn|1992|p=230}} Later that year, McCartney completed his first musical project independent of the group—a film score for the UK production The Family Way. The score was a collaboration with Martin, who used two McCartney themes to write thirteen variations. The soundtrack failed to chart, but it won McCartney an Ivor Novello Award for Best Instrumental Theme.{{sfn|Blaney|2007|p=8}}

Upon the end of the Beatles' performing career, McCartney sensed unease in the band and wanted them to maintain creative productivity. He pressed them to start a new project, which became Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, widely regarded as rock's first concept album.{{harvnb|Harry|2000a|p=970}}: Rock's first concept album; {{harvnb|MacDonald|2005|p=254}}: McCartney sensed unease among the bandmates and wanted them to maintain creative productivity. McCartney was inspired to create a new persona for the group, to serve as a vehicle for experimentation and to demonstrate to their fans that they had musically matured. He invented the fictional band of the album's title track.{{harvnb|Miles|1997|p=303}}: McCartney creating a new identity for the group. As McCartney explained, "We were fed up with being the Beatles. We really hated that fucking four little mop-top approach. We were not boys we were men ... and [we] thought of ourselves as artists rather than just performers."{{sfn|Miles|1997|p=303}}

Starting in November 1966, the band adopted an experimental attitude during recording sessions for the album.{{sfn|Lewisohn|1992|p=232}} Their recording of "A Day in the Life" required a forty-piece orchestra, which Martin and McCartney took turns conducting.{{harvnb|Emerick|Massey|2006|p=158}}: Martin and McCartney took turns conducting; {{harvnb|Gould|2007|pp=387–388}}: Recording "A Day in the Life" required a forty-piece orchestra. The sessions produced the double A-side single "Strawberry Fields Forever"/"Penny Lane" in February 1967, and the LP followed in June.{{sfn|Lewisohn|1992|pp=350–351}}{{refn|group=nb|Written by McCartney as a commentary on his childhood in Liverpool, "Penny Lane" featured a piccolo trumpet solo inspired by Bach's second Brandenburg concerto.{{sfn|Sounes|2010|pp=161–162}}}} Based on an ink drawing by McCartney, the LP's cover included a collage designed by pop artists Peter Blake and Jann Haworth, featuring the Beatles in costume as the Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, standing with a host of celebrities.{{harvnb|Gould|2007|pp=391–395}}: The Sgt. Pepper cover featured the Beatles as the imaginary band alluded to in the album's title track, standing with a host of celebrities (secondary source); {{harvnb|The Beatles|2000|p=248}}: Standing with a host of celebrities (primary source); {{harvnb|Miles|1997|p=333}}: On McCartney's design for the Sgt. Pepper cover (primary source); {{harvnb|Sounes|2010|p=168}}: On McCartney's design for the Sgt. Pepper cover (secondary source). The cover piqued a frenzy of analysis.{{harvnb|Gould|2007|pp=391–395}}: The Sgt. Pepper cover attracted curiosity and analysis; {{harvnb|Miles|1997|p=333}}: On McCartney's design for the Sgt. Pepper cover (primary source); {{harvnb|Sounes|2010|p=168}}: On McCartney's design for the Sgt. Pepper cover (secondary source).

{{quote box

| quote = After Brian died ... Paul took over and supposedly led us you know ... we went round in circles ... We broke up then. That was the disintegration. I thought, 'we've fuckin' had it.'{{sfn|Wenner|2000|pp=24–25}}

| source = — John Lennon, Rolling Stone magazine, 1970

| width = 25%

| align = left

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Epstein's death in August 1967 created a void, which left the Beatles perplexed and concerned about their future.{{sfn|Brown|Gaines|2002|p=247}} McCartney stepped in to fill that void and gradually became the de facto leader and business manager of the group that Lennon had once led.{{sfn|Benitez|2010|pp=8–9}} In his first creative suggestion after this change of leadership, McCartney proposed that the band move forward on their plans to produce a film for television, which was to become Magical Mystery Tour. According to Beatles historian Mark Lewisohn, the project was "an administrative nightmare throughout".{{sfn|Lewisohn|1992|pp=238–239}} McCartney largely directed the film, which brought the group their first unfavourable critical response.{{sfn|Gould|2007|pp=455–456}} However, the film's soundtrack was more successful. It was released in the UK as a six-track double extended play disc (EP) and as an identically titled LP in the US, filled out with five songs from the band's recent singles.{{sfn|Lewisohn|1992|pp=350–351}} The only Capitol compilation later included in the group's official canon of studio albums, the Magical Mystery Tour LP achieved $8 million in sales within three weeks of its release, higher initial sales than any other Capitol LP up to that point.{{sfn|Harry|2000a|p=699}}

The Beatles' animated film Yellow Submarine, loosely based on the imaginary world evoked by McCartney's 1966 composition, premiered in July 1968. Though critics admired the film for its visual style, humour and music, the soundtrack album issued six months later received a less enthusiastic response.{{harvnb|Gould|2007|p=487}}: Critical response; {{harvnb|Lewisohn|1992|p=278}}: Filming of the promotional trailer, {{harvnb|Lewisohn|1992|p=304}}: Yellow Submarine soundtrack release. By late 1968, relations within the band were deteriorating. The tension grew during the recording of their eponymous double album, also known as the "White Album".{{sfn|Lewisohn|1992|pp=276–304}}{{refn|group=nb|The Beatles was the band's first Apple Records LP release; the label was a subsidiary of Apple Corps, a conglomerate formed as part of Epstein's plan to reduce the group's taxes.{{harvnb|Gould|2007|p=470}}: Apple Corps formed as part of Epstein's business plan; {{harvnb|Lewisohn|1992|p=278}}: The Beatles' first Apple Records LP release.}} Matters worsened the following year during the Let It Be sessions, when a camera crew filmed McCartney lecturing the group: "We've been very negative since Mr. Epstein passed away ... we were always fighting [his] discipline a bit, but it's silly to fight that discipline if it's our own".{{harvnb|Brown|Gaines|2002|p=299}}: "We've been very negative since Mr. Epstein passed away"; {{harvnb|Lewisohn|1992|pp=276–304}}: The White Album, {{harvnb|Lewisohn|1992|pp=304–314}}: Let It Be.

In March 1969, McCartney married his first wife, Linda Eastman, and in August, the couple had their first child, Mary, named after his late mother.{{harvnb|Sounes|2010|pp=171–172}}: Paul and Linda's first meeting; {{harvnb|Sounes|2010|pp=245–248}}: On their wedding; {{harvnb|Sounes|2010|p=261}}: On the birth of their first child Mary. Abbey Road was the band's last recorded album, and Martin suggested "a continuously moving piece of music", urging the group to think symphonically.{{sfn|Gould|2007|p=563}} McCartney agreed, but Lennon did not. They eventually compromised, agreeing to McCartney's suggestion: an LP featuring individual songs on side one and a long medley on side two.{{sfn|Gould|2007|p=563}} In October 1969, a rumour surfaced that McCartney had died in a car crash in 1966 and was replaced by a lookalike, but this was quickly refuted when a November Life magazine cover featured him and his family, accompanied by the caption "Paul is still with us".{{sfn|Gould|2007|pp=593–594}}

John Lennon privately left the Beatles in September 1969, though agreed not to go public with the information to not jeopardise ongoing business negotiations. McCartney was in the midst of business disagreements with his bandmates, largely concerning Allen Klein's management of the group, when he announced his own departure from the group on 10 April 1970.{{harvnb|Lewisohn|1992|p=349}}: McCartney's departure from the Beatles (secondary source); {{harvnb|Miles|1998|pp=314–316}}: McCartney's departure from the Beatles (primary source); {{harvnb|Spitz|2005|pp=243, 819–821}}: Lennon's personal appointment of Klein, {{harvnb|Spitz|2005|pp=832–833}}: McCartney's disagreement with Lennon, Harrison, and Starr over Klein's management of the Beatles. He filed a suit for the band's formal dissolution on 31 December 1970, and in March 1971 the court appointed a receiver to oversee the finances of the Beatles' company Apple Corps. An English court legally dissolved the Beatles' partnership on 9 January 1975, though sporadic lawsuits against their record company EMI, Klein, and each other persisted until 1989.{{sfn|Benitez|2010|pp=8–9}}{{refn|group=nb|When the Beatles were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988, their first year of eligibility, McCartney did not attend the ceremony, stating that unresolved legal disputes would make him "feel like a complete hypocrite waving and smiling with [Harrison and Starr] at a fake reunion".{{sfn|Harry|2002|p=753}}}}{{refn|group=nb|The Beatles released twenty-two UK singles and twelve LPs, of which seventeen singles and eleven LPs reached number one on various charts.{{sfn|Roberts|2005|p=54}} The band topped the US Billboard Hot 100 twenty times, and recorded fourteen number-one albums, as Lennon and McCartney became one of the most celebrated songwriting partnerships of the 20th century.{{harvnb|Lewisohn|1992|pp=350–351}}: US and UK singles and album release dates with peak chart positions; {{harvnb|Gould|2007|pp=8–9}}: "one of the greatest phenomena in the history of mass entertainment", "widely regarded as the greatest concentration of singing, songwriting, and all-around musical talent that the rock'n'roll era has produced"; {{harvnb|Spitz|2005|p=856}}: "not anything like anything else ... [a] vastness of talent ... of genius, incomprehensible". McCartney was the primary writer of five of their last six US number-one singles: "Hello, Goodbye" (1967), "Hey Jude" (1968), "Get Back (1969)", "Let It Be" and "The Long and Winding Road" (1970).For song authorship see: {{harvnb|MacDonald|2005|pp=333–334}}: "Get Back", {{harvnb|MacDonald|2005|pp=272–273}}: "Hello, Goodbye", {{harvnb|MacDonald|2005|pp=302–304}}: "Hey Jude", {{harvnb|MacDonald|2005|pp=337–338}}: "Let it Be", {{harvnb|MacDonald|2005|pp=339–341}}: "The Long and Winding Road"; For release dates, US and UK peak chart positions of the preceding songs see: {{harvnb|Lewisohn|1992|pp=350–351}}.}}

{{Main|Wings (band)}}

{{quote box|quote= I didn't really want to keep going as a solo artist ... so it became obvious that I had to get a band together ... Linda and I talked it through and it was like, "Yeah, but let's not put together a supergroup, let's go back to square one."{{sfn|Lewisohn|2002|p=29}} |source= — McCartney |width=25%|align=right|style=padding:8px;}}

As the Beatles were breaking up in 1969–70, McCartney fell into a depression. His wife helped him pull out of that condition by praising his work as a songwriter and convincing him to continue writing and recording. In her honour, he wrote "Maybe I'm Amazed", explaining that with the Beatles breaking up, "that was my feeling: Maybe I'm amazed at what's going on ... Maybe I'm a man and maybe you're the only woman who could ever help me; Baby won't you help me understand ... Maybe I'm amazed at the way you pulled me out of time, hung me on the line, Maybe I'm amazed at the way I really need you." He added that "every love song I write is for Linda."Heatley, Michael; Hopkinson, Frank. The Girl in the Song: The Real Stories Behind 50 Rock Classics, Pavilion Books (2010) e-book[http://www.beatlesbible.com/people/paul-mccartney/songs/maybe-im-amazed/ "Maybe I'm Amazed"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402163348/http://www.beatlesbible.com/people/paul-mccartney/songs/maybe-im-amazed/ |date=2 April 2012 }}, The Beatles Bible

In 1970, McCartney continued his musical career with his first solo release, McCartney, a US number-one album. Apart from some vocal contributions from Linda, McCartney is a one-man album, with McCartney providing compositions, instrumentation and vocals.{{harvnb|Harry|2002|pp=556–563}}: McCartney; {{harvnb|Blaney|2007|p=31}}: McCartney, a US number one.{{refn|group=nb|McCartney peaked in the UK at number two, spending thirty-two weeks in the charts.{{harvnb|Roberts|2005|p=312}}: Peak UK chart position and weeks on charts for McCartney.}} In 1971, he collaborated with Linda and drummer Denny Seiwell on a second album, Ram. A UK number one and a US top five, Ram included the co-written US number-one hit single "Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey".{{harvnb|Ingham|2009|pp=105}}: Ram, 114–115: "Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey"; {{harvnb|McGee|2003|p=245}}: Peak US chart positions for Ram. Later that year, ex-Moody Blues guitarist Denny Laine joined the McCartneys and Seiwell to form the band Wings. McCartney had this to say on the group's formation: "Wings were always a difficult idea ... any group having to follow [the Beatles'] success would have a hard job ... I found myself in that very position. However, it was a choice between going on or finishing, and I loved music too much to think of stopping."{{sfn|Lewisohn|2002|p=7}}{{refn|group=nb|Wings' first album together, Wild Life, reached the top ten in the US and the top twenty in the UK, staying on the UK charts for nine weeks.{{harvnb|McGee|2003|p=245}}: Peak UK and US chart positions for Wild Life; {{harvnb|Roberts|2005|p=312}}: Peak UK chart position and weeks on chart for Wild Life.}} In September 1971, the McCartneys' daughter Stella was born, named in honour of Linda's grandmothers, both of whom were named Stella.{{harvnb|Sounes|2010|pp=287–288}}: Birth of Stella; {{harvnb|Harry|2002|pp=613–615}}: Stella McCartney.

Following the addition of guitarist Henry McCullough, Wings' first concert tour began in 1972 with a debut performance in front of an audience of seven hundred at the University of Nottingham. Ten more gigs followed as they travelled across the UK in a van during an unannounced tour of universities, during which the band stayed in modest accommodation and received pay in coinage collected from students, while avoiding Beatles songs during their performances.{{harvnb|Harry|2002|p=845}}: "traveled across the UK"; {{harvnb|Ingham|2009|p=106}}: "Scrupulously avoiding Beatles songs". McCartney later said, "The main thing I didn't want was to come on stage, faced with the whole torment of five rows of press people with little pads, all looking at me and saying, 'Oh well, he is not as good as he was.' So we decided to go out on that university tour which made me less nervous ... by the end of that tour I felt ready for something else, so we went into Europe."{{sfn|Harry|2002|p=847}} During the seven-week, 25-show Wings Over Europe Tour, the band played almost solely Wings and McCartney solo material: the Little Richard cover "Long Tall Sally" was the only song that the Beatles had previously recorded. McCartney wanted the tour to avoid large venues; most of the small halls they played had capacities of fewer than 3,000 people.{{sfn|Harry|2002|p=845}}

In March 1973, Wings achieved their first US number-one single, "My Love", included on their second LP, Red Rose Speedway, a US number one and UK top five.{{harvnb|Harry|2002|pp=641–642}}: "My Love", {{harvnb|Harry|2002|pp=744–745}}: Red Rose Speedway; {{harvnb|McGee|2003|p=245}}: Peak US chart positions for Red Rose Speedway; {{harvnb|Roberts|2005|p=312}}: Peak UK chart position for Red Rose Speedway.{{refn|group=nb|In May 1973, Wings began a 21-show tour of the UK, this time with supporting act Brinsley Schwarz.{{sfn|Harry|2002|p=847}}}} McCartney's collaboration with Linda and former Beatles producer Martin resulted in the song "Live and Let Die", which was the theme song for the James Bond film of the same name. Nominated for an Academy Award, the song reached number two in the US and number nine in the UK. It also earned Martin a Grammy for his orchestral arrangement.{{harvnb|Harry|2002|pp=515–516}}: "Live and Let Die"; {{harvnb|Harry|2002|pp=641–642}}: "My Love". Music professor and author Vincent Benitez described the track as "symphonic rock at its best".{{harvnb|Benitez|2010|p=50}}: "symphonic rock at its best"; {{harvnb|Harry|2002|pp=515–516}}: "Live and Let Die" US chart peak; {{harvnb|Roberts|2005|p=311}}: "Live and Let Die" UK chart peak.{{refn|group=nb|"Live and Let Die" became a staple of McCartney's live shows, its modern sound well-suited for the pyrotechnics and laser light displays Wings employed during their 1970s stadium performances.{{harvnb|Sounes|2010|p=304}}: Pyrotechnics; {{harvnb|Sounes|2010|p=329}}: Laser lighting display; {{harvnb|Sounes|2010|p=440}}: Performing "Live and Let Die" with pyrotechnics, 1993; {{harvnb|Sounes|2010|pp=512–513}}: Performing "Live and Let Die" with pyrotechnics, 2002.}}

File:Paul McCartney with Linda McCartney - Wings - 1976.jpg in 1976]]

After the departure of McCullough and Seiwell in 1973, the McCartneys and Laine recorded Band on the Run. The album was the first of seven platinum Wings LPs.{{sfn|McGee|2003|pp=248–249}} It was a US and UK number one, the band's first to top the charts in both countries and the first ever to reach Billboard magazine's charts on three separate occasions. One of the best-selling releases of the decade, it remained on the UK charts for 124 weeks. Rolling Stone named it one of the Best Albums of the Year for 1973, and in 1975, Paul McCartney and Wings won the Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Performance for the song "Band on the Run", and Geoff Emerick won the Grammy for Best Engineered Recording for the album.{{harvnb|Benitez|2010|pp=51–60}}: Band on the Run; {{harvnb|Roberts|2005|p=312}}: Band on the Run a number-one album in the UK with 124 weeks on the charts.{{refn|group=nb|Band on the Run became the UK's first platinum LP.{{sfn|McGee|2003|p=60}}}} In 1974, Wings achieved a second US number-one single with the title track.{{harvnb|Harry|2002|pp=53–54}}: "Band on the Run" (single). The album also included the top-ten hits "Jet" and "Helen Wheels", and earned the 418th spot on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.{{Cite magazine|url=http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/500-greatest-albums-of-all-time-19691231/band-on-the-run-wings-19691231|title=Band on the Run ranked 418th greatest album|magazine=Rolling Stone|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101220145418/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/500-greatest-albums-of-all-time-19691231/band-on-the-run-wings-19691231|access-date=18 July 2021|url-status=dead|archive-date=20 December 2010}} In 1974, McCartney hired guitarist Jimmy McCulloch and drummer Geoff Britton to replace McCullough and Seiwell. Britton subsequently quit during recording sessions in 1975 and was replaced by Joe English.{{sfn|Benitez|2010|pp=61–62}}

Wings followed Band on the Run with the chart-topping albums Venus and Mars (1975) and Wings at the Speed of Sound (1976).{{harvnb|Harry|2002|pp=882–883}}: Venus and Mars, {{harvnb|Harry|2002|pp=910–911}}: Wings at the Speed of Sound; {{harvnb|Roberts|2005|p=312}}: Peak UK chart position for Venus and Mars.{{refn|group=nb|Wings at the Speed of Sound peaked in the UK at number 2, spending 35 weeks in the charts. In the UK, NME was alone in ranking the album number 1. The LP reached number 1 on three charts in the US.{{harvnb|McGee|2003|p=245}}: NME ranking Wings at the Speed of Sound number 1, and the LP was number 1 on three charts in the US; {{harvnb|Roberts|2005|p=312}}: Peak UK chart position and weeks on charts for Wings at the Speed of Sound.}} In 1975, they began the fourteen-month Wings Over the World Tour, which included stops in the UK, Australia, Europe and the US. The tour marked the first time McCartney performed Beatles songs live with Wings, with five in the two-hour set list: "I've Just Seen a Face", "Yesterday", "Blackbird", "Lady Madonna" and "The Long and Winding Road".{{harvnb|Blaney|2007|p=116}}: "And for the first time, McCartney included songs associated with the Beatles, something he'd been unwilling to do previously"; {{harvnb|Harry|2002|pp=848–850}}: Wings Over the World Tour; {{harvnb|Ingham|2009|p=107}}: "featuring a modest handful of McCartney's Beatle tunes"; {{harvnb|McGee|2003|p=85}}: "Paul decided it would be a mistake not to ... [perform] a few Beatles songs." Following the second European leg of the tour and extensive rehearsals in London, the group undertook an ambitious US arena tour that yielded the US number-one live triple LP Wings over America.{{harvnb|Harry|2002|pp=912–913}}: Wings over America; {{harvnb|Lewisohn|2002|p=83}}: "After extensive rehearsals in London".

In September 1977, the McCartneys' third child was born, a son they named James. In November, the Wings song "Mull of Kintyre", co-written with Laine, was quickly becoming one of the best-selling singles in UK chart history.{{harvnb|Carlin|2009|pp=247–248}}: Birth of James; {{harvnb|Doggett|2009|p=264}}: one of the best-selling singles in UK chart history. The most successful single of McCartney's solo career, it achieved double the sales of the previous record holder, "She Loves You", and went on to sell 2.5 million copies and hold the UK sales record until the 1984 charity single, "Do They Know It's Christmas?"{{harvnb|Ingham|2009|pp=107–108}}: "Mull of Kintyre"; {{harvnb|Benitez|2010|p=86}}: "the biggest hit of McCartney's career".{{refn|group=nb|In 1977, McCartney released the album Thrillington, an orchestral arrangement of Ram, under the pseudonym Percy "Thrills" Thrillington, with a cover designed by Hipgnosis.{{harvnb|Harry|2002|pp=840–841}}: Thrillington Hipgnosis cover art; {{harvnb|Lewisohn|2002|p=168}}: Thrillington.}}

File:Paul McCartney 930-6404.jpg, January 1980]]

London Town (1978) spawned a US number-one single ("With a Little Luck"), and continued Wings' string of commercial successes, making the top five in both the US and the UK. Critical reception was unfavourable, and McCartney expressed disappointment with the album.{{sfn|Blaney|2007|pp=122–125}}{{refn|group=nb|During the production of London Town, McCulloch and English quit Wings; they were replaced by guitarist Laurence Juber and drummer Steve Holly.{{sfn|Benitez|2010|p=79}}}} Back to the Egg (1979) featured McCartney's assemblage of a rock supergroup dubbed "Rockestra" on two tracks. The band included Wings along with Pete Townshend, David Gilmour, Gary Brooker, John Paul Jones, John Bonham and others. Though certified platinum, critics panned the album.{{harvnb|Harry|2002|pp=42–43}}: Back to the Egg, {{harvnb|Harry|2002|pp=530–532}}: London Town, {{harvnb|Harry|2002|pp=758–760}}: the Rockestra; {{harvnb|Ingham|2009|p=108}}: London Town and Back to the Egg; {{harvnb|McGee|2003|p=245}}: Back to the Egg certified platinum. Wings completed their final concert tour in 1979, with twenty shows in the UK that included the live debut of the Beatles songs "Got to Get You into My Life", "The Fool on the Hill" and "Let It Be".{{harvnb|Harry|2002|pp=845–851}}: Wings tours details, {{harvnb|Harry|2002|pp=850–851}}: Wings UK Tour 1979; {{harvnb|Ingham|2009|p=108}}: Wings UK Tour 1979.

In 1980, McCartney released his second solo LP, the self-produced McCartney II, which peaked at number one in the UK and number three in the US. As with his first album, he composed and performed it alone.{{harvnb|Harry|2002|p=578}}: He composed all the music and performed the instrumentation himself; {{harvnb|Lewisohn|2002|p=167}}: McCartney II a UK number-one, and a US top-five. The album contained the song "Coming Up", the live version of which, recorded in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1979 by Wings, became the group's last number-one hit.{{harvnb|Benitez|2010|pp=100–103}}: McCartney II; {{harvnb|Blaney|2007|pp=136–137}}: "Coming Up". By 1981, McCartney felt he had accomplished all he could creatively with Wings and decided he needed a change. The group discontinued in April 1981 after Laine quit following disagreements over royalties and salaries.{{sfn|Benitez|2010|pp=96–97}}{{refn|group=nb|Other factors in Wings' split included tension caused by the disappointment of their last effort, Back to the Egg, and McCartney's 1980 marijuana bust in Japan, which resulted in the cancelling of the tour and caused a major loss of wages for the group. Laine claimed that a significant cause of their dissolution was McCartney's reluctance to tour, fearing for his personal safety after the 1980 murder of Lennon. McCartney's then-spokesman said, "Paul is doing other things, that's all".{{harvnb|Benitez|2010|pp=96–97}}: On Wings' April dissolution, McCartney fearing for his personal safety and the commercial disappointment of Back to the Egg; {{harvnb|Blaney|2007|p=132}}: "Back to the Egg spent only eight weeks in the British charts, the shortest chart run of any Wings album".; {{harvnb|Doggett|2009|pp=276}}: "Paul is doing other things, that's all".; {{harvnb|George-Warren|2001|p=626}}: McCartney's reluctance to tour for fear of his personal safety; {{harvnb|McGee|2003|p=144}}: On McCartney's reluctance to tour out of fear for his personal safety, and Laine's statement that this was a significant contributing factor to Wings' dissolution.}}{{refn|group=nb|Wings produced a total of seven studio albums, two of which topped the UK charts and four the US charts. Their live triple LP, Wings over America, was one of only a few live albums ever to achieve the top spot in America.{{harvnb|Ingham|2009|pp=109–110}}: Wings disbanded in 1981; {{harvnb|McGee|2003|p=245}}: US and UK chart positions of Wings' LPs; {{harvnb|Harry|2002|pp=904–910}}: Wings, 912–913: Wings over America; {{harvnb|Lewisohn|2002|p=163}}: one of few live albums ever to achieve the top spot in America. They made six US Billboard number-one singles, including "Listen to What the Man Said" and "Silly Love Songs", as well as eight top-ten singles. They achieved eight RIAA-certified platinum singles and six platinum albums in the US.{{sfn|McGee|2003|pp=248–249}} In the UK, they achieved one number-one and twelve top-ten singles, as well as two number-one LPs.{{harvnb|McGee|2003|pp=244–245}}: Wings' US and UK singles and albums chart positions; {{harvnb|Harry|2002|pp=511–512}}: "Listen to What the Man Said", 788: "Silly Love Songs"}}

In 1982, McCartney collaborated with Stevie Wonder on the Martin-produced number-one hit "Ebony and Ivory", included on McCartney's Tug of War LP, and with Michael Jackson on "The Girl Is Mine" from Thriller.{{harvnb|Harry|2002|p=311}}: "Ebony and Ivory"; {{harvnb|Harry|2002|pp=361–362}}: "The Girl Is Mine"; {{harvnb|Harry|2002|p=820}}: Eric Stewart.{{refn|group=nb|Tug of War was a number-one album in both the UK and the US.{{sfn|Blaney|2007|p=153}}}} "Ebony and Ivory" was McCartney's record 28th single to hit number one on the Billboard 100.{{Cite AV media|title=American Top 40 replay |location=Green Bay, Wisconsin |date=22 May 1982 |time=9:55 am}} The following year, he and Jackson worked on "Say Say Say", McCartney's most recent US number one {{as of|2014|lc=y}}. McCartney earned his latest UK number one {{as of|2014|lc=y}} with the title track of his LP release that year, "Pipes of Peace".{{harvnb|Harry|2002|pp=720–722}}: Pipes of Peace album and song., {{harvnb|Harry|2002|pp=776–777}}: "Say Say Say"; {{harvnb|Roberts|2005|p=311}}: Last UK number one single; For the peak US chart position of Pipes of Peace see: {{harvnb|Blaney|2007|p=159}}.{{refn|group=nb|Pipes of Peace peaked in the UK at number 4, spending 23 weeks in the charts. The LP reached number 15 in the US and is McCartney's most recently recorded RIAA certified platinum studio album {{as of|2012|lc=y}}.For the Recording Industry Association of America database see: {{cite web|url=http://riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?content_selector=gold-platinum-searchable-database|title=RIAA: Searchable Database|publisher=the Recording Industry Association of America|access-date=24 June 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140830055854/http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?content_selector=gold-platinum-searchable-database|archive-date=30 August 2014}}; {{harvnb|Roberts|2005|p=312}}: Peak UK chart position and weeks on charts for Pipes of Peace; {{harvnb|Blaney|2007|p=159}}: US chart peak for Pipes of Peace.}}

In 1984, McCartney starred in Give My Regards to Broad Street, a feature film he also wrote and produced and which included Starr in an acting role. It was disparaged by critics: Variety described the film as "characterless, bloodless, and pointless";{{harvnb|Harry|2002|pp=365–374}}: Give My Regards to Broad Street (film); {{harvnb|Harry|2002|p=817}}: Starr in Give My Regards to Broad Street. while Roger Ebert awarded it a single star, writing, "you can safely skip the movie and proceed directly to the soundtrack".{{cite news |first=Roger |last=Ebert |author-link=Roger Ebert |date=1 January 1984 |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/give-my-regards-to-broad-street-1984 |title=Give My Regards to Broad Street review |work=Chicago Sun-Times |access-date=1 February 2024 }} The album fared much better, reaching number one in the UK and producing the US top-ten hit single "No More Lonely Nights", featuring David Gilmour on lead guitar.{{harvnb|Blaney|2007|p=167}}: Peak US chart position for "No More Lonely Nights", (number 6); {{harvnb|Graff|2000|p=40}}: Gilmour on guitar; {{harvnb|Harry|2002|pp=368–369}}: "No More Lonely Nights". In 1985, Warner Brothers commissioned McCartney to write a song for the comedic feature film Spies Like Us. He composed and recorded the track in four days, with Phil Ramone co-producing.{{sfn|Blaney|2007|p=171}}{{refn|group=nb|"Spies Like Us" peaked in the UK at number 13 spending 10 weeks in the charts. The single reached number 7 in the US and is McCartney's most recently recorded US top-ten as of 2012.{{harvnb|Blaney|2007|p=171}}: Peak US and UK chart positions for "Spies Like Us"; {{harvnb|Benitez|2010|p=117}}: "Became a top-ten hit for McCartney"; {{harvnb|Roberts|2005|p=311}}: Peak UK chart position for "Spies Like Us".}} McCartney participated in Live Aid, performing "Let it Be", but technical difficulties rendered his vocals and piano barely audible for the first two verses, punctuated by squeals of feedback. Equipment technicians resolved the problems and David Bowie, Alison Moyet, Pete Townshend and Bob Geldof joined McCartney on stage, receiving an enthusiastic crowd reaction.{{sfn|Sounes|2010|pp=402–403}}

McCartney collaborated with Eric Stewart on Press to Play (1986), with Stewart co-writing more than half the songs on the LP.{{sfn|Blaney|2007|p=177}}{{refn|group=nb|Press to Play reached number 8 in the UK, and number 30 in the US.{{harvnb|Blaney|2007|p=177}}: Peak UK and US chart positions for Press to Play; {{harvnb|Roberts|2005|p=8}}: Peak UK chart position for Press to Play.}} In 1988, McCartney released Снова в СССР, initially available only in the Soviet Union, which contained eighteen covers; recorded over the course of two days.{{harvnb|Harry|2002|p=100}}: Снова в СССР; {{harvnb|Harry|2002|p=728}}: Press to Play; {{harvnb|Harry|2002|p=820}}: Eric Stewart. In 1989, he joined forces with fellow Merseysiders Gerry Marsden and Holly Johnson to record an updated version of "Ferry Cross the Mersey", for the Hillsborough disaster appeal fund.{{sfn|Harry|2002|pp=327–328}}{{refn|group=nb|In 1989, "Ferry Cross the Mersey" reached number 1 in the UK.{{sfn|Roberts|2005|pp=688–689}}}} That same year, he released Flowers in the Dirt; a collaborative effort with Elvis Costello that included musical contributions from Gilmour and Nicky Hopkins.{{harvnb|Harry|2002|pp=272–273}}: Elvis Costello; {{harvnb|Harry|2002|pp=337–338}}: Flowers in the Dirt.{{refn|group=nb|Flowers in the Dirt is McCartney's most recent UK number-one album as of 2012; it reached number 21 in the US.{{harvnb|Blaney|2007|p=191}}: Peak US chart position for "Flowers in the Dirt" (#21); {{harvnb|Roberts|2005|p=312}}: Peak UK chart position for "Flowers in the Dirt" (#1).}} McCartney then formed a band consisting of himself and Linda, with Hamish Stuart and Robbie McIntosh on guitars, Paul "Wix" Wickens on keyboards and Chris Whitten on drums.{{harvnb|Harry|2002|p=851}}: the Paul McCartney World Tour band; {{harvnb|Sounes|2010|pp=420–421}}: the Paul McCartney World Tour band. In September 1989, they launched the Paul McCartney World Tour, his first in over a decade. During the tour, McCartney performed for the largest paying stadium audience in history on 21 April 1990, when 184,000 people attended his concert at Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.{{sfn|Badman|1999|p=444}} That year, he released the triple album Tripping the Live Fantastic, which contained selected performances from the tour.{{sfn|Harry|2002|p=851}}{{refn|group=nb|Tripping the Live Fantastic reached number 17 in the UK and number 26 in the US.{{sfn|Blaney|2007|p=201}}}}{{refn|group=nb|During the ten-month, 104-show Tripping the Live Fantastic tour, McCartney played as many as fourteen Beatles songs a night, comprising nearly half the performance{{sfn|Sounes|2010|p=512}}}}

McCartney ventured into orchestral music in 1991 when the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Society commissioned a musical piece by him to celebrate its sesquicentennial. He collaborated with composer Carl Davis, producing Liverpool Oratorio. The performance featured opera singers Kiri Te Kanawa, Sally Burgess, Jerry Hadley and Willard White with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and the choir of Liverpool Cathedral.{{harvnb|Harry|2002|pp=526–528}}: Liverpool Oratorio. Reviews were negative. The Guardian was especially critical, describing the music as "afraid of anything approaching a fast tempo", and adding that the piece has "little awareness of the need for recurrent ideas that will bind the work into a whole".{{sfn|Harry|2002|p=528}} The paper published a letter McCartney submitted in response in which he noted several of the work's faster tempos and added, "happily, history shows that many good pieces of music were not liked by the critics of the time so I am content to ... let people judge for themselves the merits of the work."{{sfn|Harry|2002|p=528}} The New York Times was slightly more generous, stating, "There are moments of beauty and pleasure in this dramatic miscellany ... the music's innocent sincerity makes it difficult to be put off by its ambitions".{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/11/20/arts/review-music-mccartney-s-liverpool-oratorio.html|title=Review/Music; McCartney's 'Liverpool Oratorio'|work=The New York Times|last=Rothstein|first=Edward|date=20 November 1991|access-date=11 June 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120525120639/http://www.nytimes.com/1991/11/20/arts/review-music-mccartney-s-liverpool-oratorio.html?src=pm|archive-date=25 May 2012}} Performed around the world after its London premiere, the Liverpool Oratorio reached number one on the UK classical chart, Music Week.{{harvnb|Benitez|2010|p=134}}: Performed around the world; {{harvnb|Blaney|2007|p=210}}: on the UK classical chart, Music Week.

In 1991, McCartney performed a selection of acoustic-only songs on MTV Unplugged and released a live album of the performance titled Unplugged (The Official Bootleg).{{harvnb|Harry|2002|pp=873–874}}: Unplugged: the Official Bootleg.{{refn|group=nb|Unplugged: The Official Bootleg reached number 7 in the UK and number 14 in the US.{{sfn|Blaney|2007|p=205}}}} During the 1990s, McCartney collaborated twice with Youth of Killing Joke as the musical duo "the Fireman". The two released their first electronica album together, Strawberries Oceans Ships Forest, in 1993.{{sfn|Harry|2002|pp=332–334}} McCartney released the rock album Off the Ground in 1993.{{sfn|Harry|2002|p=656}}{{refn|group=nb|Off the Ground reached number 5 in the UK and number 17 in the US.{{sfn|Blaney|2007|p=215}}}} The subsequent New World Tour followed, which led to the release of the Paul Is Live album later that year.{{harvnb|Harry|2002|pp=685–686, 687}}: The New World Tour.{{refn|group=nb|Paul is Live reached number 34 in the UK and number 78 in the US.{{sfn|Blaney|2007|p=219}}}}{{refn|group=nb|For the New World Tour, Whitten was replaced by drummer Blair Cunningham.{{sfn|Sounes|2010|p=429}} McCartney's 1993 tour of the US was the second highest grossing effort of the year in America, bringing in $32.3 million from twenty-four shows.{{sfn|Everett|1999|p=282}}}}

Starting in 1994, McCartney took a four-year break from his solo career to work on Apple's Beatles Anthology project with Harrison, Starr and Martin. He recorded a radio series called Oobu Joobu in 1995 for the American network Westwood One, which he described as "widescreen radio".{{sfn|Miles|1997|pp=218–219}} Also in 1995, Prince Charles presented him with an Honorary Fellowship of the Royal College of Music—"kind of amazing for somebody who doesn't read a note of music", commented McCartney.{{harvnb|Sounes|2010|p=458}}: Honorary Fellowship, {{harvnb|Sounes|2010|p=477}}: McCartney; "Yeah, it's kind of amazing for somebody who doesn't read a note of music".

In 1997, McCartney released the rock album Flaming Pie. Starr appeared on drums and backing vocals in "Beautiful Night".{{sfn|Blaney|2007|pp=224}}{{refn|group=nb|Flaming Pie reached number 2 in the UK and the US. It also yielded McCartney's highest charting UK top-twenty hit song {{as of|2012|lc=y}}, "Young Boy", which reached number 19.{{harvnb|Blaney|2007|p=223}}: The peak UK chart position for "Young Boy", {{harvnb|Blaney|2007|p=224}}: Starr on "Beautiful Night", {{harvnb|Blaney|2007|p=225}}: Peak US chart position for Flaming Pie; {{harvnb|Roberts|2005|p=311}}: Peak UK chart position for "Young Boy", {{harvnb|Roberts|2005|p=312}}: Peak UK chart position for Flaming Pie.}} Later that year, he released the classical work Standing Stone, which topped the UK and US classical charts.{{sfn|Blaney|2007|p=229}} In 1998, he released Rushes, the second electronica album by the Fireman.{{harvnb|Harry|2002|pp=335–336}}: Flaming Pie; {{harvnb|Harry|2002|p=807}}: Standing Stone; {{harvnb|Harry|2002|p=770}}: Rushes In 1999, McCartney released Run Devil Run.{{sfn|Blaney|2007|p=241}}{{refn|group=nb|Run Devil Run reached number 12 in the UK and number 27 in the US.{{sfn|Blaney|2007|p=241}}}} Recorded in one week, and featuring Ian Paice and David Gilmour, it was primarily an album of covers with three McCartney originals. He had been planning such an album for years, having been previously encouraged to do so by Linda, who had died of cancer in April 1998.{{harvnb|Graff|2000|p=40}}; {{harvnb|Harry|2002|pp=593–595}}: Linda's battle with cancer., {{harvnb|Harry|2002|pp=765–766}}: Run Devil Run.

McCartney did an unannounced performance at the benefit tribute, "Concert for Linda", his wife of 29 years who died a year earlier. It was held at the Royal Albert Hall in London on 10 April 1999, and was organised by two of her close friends, Chrissie Hynde and Carla Lane. Also during 1999, he continued his experimentation with orchestral music on Working Classical.{{sfn|Harry|2002|pp=710–711}}

In 2000, he released the electronica album Liverpool Sound Collage with Super Furry Animals and Youth, using the sound collage and musique concrète techniques that had fascinated him in the mid-1960s.{{sfn|Harry|2002|pp=528–529}} He contributed the song "Nova" to a tribute album of classical, choral music called A Garland for Linda (2000), dedicated to his late wife.{{harvnb|Harry|2002|pp=350–351}}: "Choral"; {{harvnb|George-Warren|2001|pp=626–627}}: "Classical".

Having witnessed the September 11 attacks from the JFK airport tarmac, McCartney was inspired to take a leading role in organising the Concert for New York City. His studio album release in November that year, Driving Rain, included the song "Freedom", written in response to the attacks.{{harvnb|Harry|2002|pp=268–270}}: The Concert for New York City; {{harvnb|Harry|2002|pp=346–347}}: "Freedom".{{refn|group=nb|Driving Rain reached number 46 in the UK and number 26 in the US.{{sfn|Blaney|2007|p=255}}}} The following year, McCartney went out on tour with a new band that included guitarists Rusty Anderson and Brian Ray, accompanied by Paul "Wix" Wickens on keyboards and Abe Laboriel Jr. on drums.{{harvnb|Benitez|2010|p=15}}: New band details; {{harvnb|Sounes|2010|pp=510–511}}: New band details. They began the Driving World Tour in April 2002, which included stops in the US, Mexico and Japan. The tour resulted in the double live album Back in the US, released internationally in 2003 as Back in the World.{{sfn|Sounes|2010|pp=517–518}}{{refn|group=nb|Back in the US reached number 8 in the US, and Back in the World reached number 5 in the UK.{{harvnb|Blaney|2007|p=261}}: Peak US chart position for Back in the U.S.; {{harvnb|Roberts|2005|p=312}}: Peak UK chart position for Back in the World.}}{{refn|group=nb|During the Driving World Tour McCartney performed twenty-three Beatles songs in a thirty-six song set, including an all-Beatles encore.{{sfn|Sounes|2010|p=512}}}} The tour earned a reported $126.2 million, an average of over $2 million per night, and Billboard named it the top tour of the year.For tour box office gross see: {{cite magazine|last=Waddell|first=Ray|title=The Top Tours of 2002: Veterans rule the roost, with Sir Paul leading the pack|magazine=Billboard|date=28 December 2002|access-date=12 June 2012|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RA0EAAAAMBAJ&q=billboard+box+office+2002+gross+world+mccartney&pg=PA60|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130525120956/http://books.google.com/books?id=RA0EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA60&dq=billboard+box+office+2002+gross+world+mccartney&hl=en&sa=X&ei=3UIST-zwI4bnsQLxyOXQAw&ved=0CDAQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=billboard%20box%20office%202002%20gross%20world%20mccartney&f=false|archive-date=25 May 2013}} The group continues to play together; McCartney has played live with Ray, Anderson, Laboriel, and Wickens longer than he played live with the Beatles or Wings.{{Cite news|url=http://somethingelsereviews.com/2013/05/09/something-else-interview-brian-ray-on-paul-mccartney-etta-james-and-the-bayonets/|title=Interview of Brian Ray on Paul McCartney|last=Deruso|first=Nick|date=9 May 2013|newspaper=Something Else!|access-date=6 February 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170206105730/http://somethingelsereviews.com/2013/05/09/something-else-interview-brian-ray-on-paul-mccartney-etta-james-and-the-bayonets/|archive-date=6 February 2017}}

In July 2002, McCartney married Heather Mills. In November, on the first anniversary of George Harrison's death, McCartney performed at the Concert for George.{{harvnb|Harry|2002|pp=577}}: McCartney's marriage to Mills; {{harvnb|Doggett|2009|pp=332–333}}: Concert for George. He participated in the National Football League's Super Bowl, performing "Freedom" during the pre-game show for Super Bowl XXXVI in 2002 and headlining the halftime show at Super Bowl XXXIX in 2005.{{harvnb|Harry|2002|pp=825–826}}: McCartney performing at Super Bowl XXXVI in 2002; {{harvnb|Sandford|2006|p=396}}: McCartney performing at Super Bowl XXXIX in 2005. The English College of Arms honoured McCartney in 2002 by granting him a coat of arms. His crest, featuring a Liver bird holding an acoustic guitar in its claw, reflects his background in Liverpool and his musical career. The shield includes four curved emblems which resemble beetles' backs. The arms' motto is Ecce Cor Meum, Latin for "Behold My Heart".{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/2599041.stm |title=Ex-Beatle granted coat of arms |work=BBC News |date=22 December 2002 |access-date=1 July 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120619084505/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/2599041.stm |archive-date=19 June 2012 }} In 2003, the McCartneys had a child, Beatrice Milly.{{sfn|Sounes|2010|p=523}}

In July 2005, he performed at the Live 8 event in Hyde Park, London, opening the show with "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" (with U2) and closing it with "Drive My Car" (with George Michael), "Helter Skelter", and "The Long and Winding Road".{{sfn|Blaney|2007|pp=268–269}}{{refn|group=nb|In June 2005, McCartney released the electronica album Twin Freaks, a collaborative project with bootleg producer and remixer Freelance Hellraiser consisting of remixed versions of songs from his solo career.{{sfn|Blaney|2007|p=268}}}} In September, he released the rock album Chaos and Creation in the Backyard, for which he provided most of the instrumentation.{{sfn|Molenda|2005|pp=68–70}}{{refn|group=nb|Chaos and Creation in the Backyard is McCartney's most recent top-ten album {{as of|2012|lc=y}}. It reached number 10 in the UK, and number 6 in the US. It was supported by a UK top-twenty hit single, his most recent {{as of|2014|lc=y}}, "Fine Line", which failed to chart in the US, and "Jenny Wren", which reached number 22 in the UK.{{harvnb|Blaney|2007|p=269}}: Peak UK and US chart positions for "Fine Line"; {{harvnb|Blaney|2007|p=271}}: Peak UK and US chart positions for Chaos and Creation in the Backyard; {{harvnb|Blaney|2007|p=274}}: Peak UK chart position for "Jenny Wren".}}{{refn|group=nb|McCartney followed the release of Chaos and Creation in the Backyard with the 'US' Tour, the tenth top earning act of 2005 in the US, taking in over $17 million in ticket sales for eight shows. During the opening performance of the tour, he played thirty-five songs, of which twenty-three were Beatles tracks.For 30 November 2005 Los Angeles setlist see: {{cite web |url=https://www.paulmccartney.com/live/us-tour |title=US Tour |work=PaulMcCartney.com |access-date=7 December 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220622004053/https://www.paulmccartney.com/live/us-tour |archive-date=22 June 2022 |date=30 November 2005}}; For the Billboard boxscores see:{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jA0EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA30|last=Waddell|first=Ray|title=Top Tours Take Center Stage|magazine=Billboard|date=5 August 2006|access-date=13 June 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130525130001/http://books.google.com/books?id=jA0EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA30&dq|archive-date=25 May 2013}}}} In 2006, McCartney released the classical work Ecce Cor Meum.{{sfn|Blaney|2007|p=276}}{{refn|group=nb|Ecce Cor Meum reached number 2 on the classical charts in both the UK and the US.{{sfn|Blaney|2007|p=276}}}} The rock album Memory Almost Full followed in 2007.{{sfn|Sounes|2010|pp=540–541}}{{refn|group=nb|Memory Almost Full reached number 3 in the US and spending fifteen weeks in the charts. {{As of|2014}}, it remains McCartney's most recent top-five album.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/paul-mccartney/chart-history/|title=Memory Almost Full – Paul McCartney|magazine=Billboard|date=23 June 2007|access-date=2 July 2012|archive-date=21 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211121092216/https://www.billboard.com/artist/paul-mccartney/chart-history/|url-status=live}}}} In 2008, he released his third Fireman album, Electric Arguments.{{sfn|Sounes|2010|p=559}}{{refn|group=nb|Electric Arguments reached number 67 on the Billboard 200 and number one on the Independent Albums chart.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/album/the-fireman/electric-arguments/1190371|title=Electric Arguments – the Fireman|magazine=Billboard|date=13 December 2008|access-date=2 July 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121027111117/http://www.billboard.com/album/the-fireman/electric-arguments/1190371|archive-date=27 October 2012}}}} Also in 2008, he performed at a concert in Liverpool to celebrate the city's year as European Capital of Culture. In 2009, after a four-year break, he returned to touring and has since performed over 80 shows.{{cite magazine|title=Paul McCartney Treats Liverpool to 'A Day in the Life' Live Debut|magazine=Rolling Stone |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2008/06/02/paul-mccartney-treats-liverpool-to-a-day-in-the-life-live-debut/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080701222334/http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2008/06/02/paul-mccartney-treats-liverpool-to-a-day-in-the-life-live-debut/ |archive-date=1 July 2008 |date=2 June 2008 |url-status=dead|access-date=3 May 2012}} More than forty-five years after the Beatles first appeared on American television during The Ed Sullivan Show, he returned to the same New York theatre to perform on Late Show with David Letterman.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/paul-mccartney-stuns-manhattan-with-set-on-lettermans-marquee-20090716|title=Paul McCartney Stuns Manhattan With Set on Letterman's Marquee|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=16 July 2009|access-date=4 May 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120508054227/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/paul-mccartney-stuns-manhattan-with-set-on-lettermans-marquee-20090716|archive-date=8 May 2012}} On 9 September 2009, EMI reissued the Beatles catalogue following a four-year digital remastering effort, releasing a music video game called The Beatles: Rock Band the same day.For 9 September 2009 remasters see: {{cite press release |publisher=EMI |title=The Beatles' Entire Original Recorded Catalogue Remastered by Apple Corps Ltd. |date=7 April 2009 |url=http://www.emimusic.com/news/2009/the-beatles-entire-original-recorded-catalogue-remastered-by-apple-corps-ltd-and-emi-music-for-worldwide-release-on-september-9-2009-9-9-09/ |access-date=25 June 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120401100034/http://www.emimusic.com/news/2009/the-beatles-entire-original-recorded-catalogue-remastered-by-apple-corps-ltd-and-emi-music-for-worldwide-release-on-september-9-2009-9-9-09/ |archive-date=1 April 2012 }}; For the Beatles: Rock Band see: {{cite news |last=Gross |first=Doug |url=http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/Music/09/04/beatles.999/index.html |title=Still Relevant After Decades, The Beatles Set to Rock 9 September 2009 |date=4 September 2009 |publisher=CNN |access-date=25 June 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106162502/http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/Music/09/04/beatles.999/index.html |archive-date=6 November 2012 }}

McCartney's enduring fame has made him a popular choice to open new venues. In 2009, he performed three sold-out concerts at the newly built Citi Field, a venue constructed to replace Shea Stadium in Queens, New York. These performances yielded the double live album Good Evening New York City later that year.{{sfn|Sounes|2010|p=560}}

File:Paul McCartney live in Dublin2.jpg, 2010]]

In 2010, McCartney opened the Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; it was his first concert in Pittsburgh since 1990 due to the old Civic Arena being deemed unsuitable for McCartney's logistical needs.{{cite news |url=http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/breaking/paul-mccartney-sells-out-two-shows-at-consol-251182/ |first=Scott |last=Mervis |title=Paul McCartney sells out two shows at Consol |work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |date=14 June 2010 |access-date=3 May 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120507042728/http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/breaking/paul-mccartney-sells-out-two-shows-at-consol-251182/ |archive-date=7 May 2012 }}{{refn|group=nb|In November 2010, iTunes made available the official canon of thirteen Beatles studio albums, Past Masters and the 1962–1966 and 1967–1970 greatest-hits compilations, making the group among the last of the seminal classic rock artists to offer their music for sale on the digital marketplace.For "among the last" of the classic rock catalogues available online see: {{cite news |last=La Monica |first=Paul R. |title=Hey iTunes, Don't Make It Bad ...|publisher=CNNMoney.com |date=7 September 2005 |url=https://money.cnn.com/2005/09/07/technology/personaltech/beatles/index.htm |access-date=25 June 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120704202347/http://money.cnn.com/2005/09/07/technology/personaltech/beatles/index.htm |archive-date=4 July 2012 }}; For the Beatles catalogue available on iTunes see: {{cite news |last=Aswad |first=Jem |title=Beatles End Digital Boycott, Catalog Now on iTunes |magazine=Rolling Stone |location=New York |date=16 November 2010 |access-date=17 November 2010 |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/beatles-end-digital-boycott-catalog-now-on-itunes-20101116 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101217060655/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/beatles-end-digital-boycott-catalog-now-on-itunes-20101116 |archive-date=17 December 2010 }}}} In July 2011, McCartney performed at two sold-out concerts at the new Yankee Stadium. A New York Times review of the first concert reported that McCartney was "not saying goodbye but touring stadiums and playing marathon concerts".{{cite news |title=A Gentle Reminder of Paul McCartney's Survival and Vitality |author=Pareles, Jon |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/17/arts/music/paul-mccartney-yankee-stadium-concert-review.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=16 July 2011 |access-date=25 October 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170313083058/http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/17/arts/music/paul-mccartney-yankee-stadium-concert-review.html?_r=1&adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1351188035-olFM0An2vU8CahviBsDdvQ& |archive-date=13 March 2017 }} In August 2011, McCartney left EMI and signed with Decca Records, the same record company that famously rejected the Beatles back in January 1962.{{cite magazine |last1=Perpetua |first1=Matthew |title=Paul McCartney Signs to Label That Rejected the Beatles |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/paul-mccartney-signs-to-label-that-rejected-the-beatles-243487/ |access-date=11 July 2023 |magazine=Rolling Stone |publisher=Penske Media Corporation |date=23 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200801160720/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/paul-mccartney-signs-to-label-that-rejected-the-beatles-243487/ |archive-date=1 August 2020 |location=New York | url-status = live}} McCartney was commissioned by the New York City Ballet, and in September 2011, he released his first score for dance, a collaboration with Peter Martins called Ocean's Kingdom on Decca Records.{{cite web |url=https://www.paulmccartney.com/discography/albums/oceans-kingdom |title=Ocean's Kingdom |work=PaulMcCartney.com |access-date=7 December 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220525133501/https://www.paulmccartney.com/discography/albums/oceans-kingdom |archive-date=25 May 2022 |date=2 October 2011}} Also in 2011, McCartney married Nancy Shevell.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-15230730|title=Sir Paul McCartney marrying for the third time|work=BBC News|date=9 October 2011|access-date=5 May 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120401031637/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-15230730|archive-date=1 April 2012}} He released Kisses on the Bottom, a collection of standards, in February 2012, the same month that the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences honoured him as the MusiCares Person of the Year, two days prior to his performance at the 54th Annual Grammy Awards.{{cite web |url=https://www.paulmccartney.com/discography/albums/kisses-on-the-bottom |title=Kisses On The Bottom |work=PaulMcCartney.com |access-date=7 December 2024}}; For McCartney's MusiCares award, and his performance at the 54th Grammy Awards see: {{cite web |url=http://www.grammy.com/news/paul-mccartney-is-2012-musicares-person-of-the-year |title=Paul McCartney Is 2012 MusiCares Person of the Year |publisher=National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences |date=13 September 2011 |access-date=3 May 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/6AQXlIOeI?url=http://www.grammy.com/news/paul-mccartney-is-2012-musicares-person-of-the-year |archive-date=4 September 2012 }}

McCartney remains one of the world's top draws. He played to over 100,000 people during two performances in Mexico City in May, with the shows grossing nearly $6 million.For the Billboard boxscores on the Mexico City shows see: {{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/currentboxscore.jsp|title=Charts:Current Box Score|magazine=Billboard|access-date=13 June 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120719003236/http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/currentboxscore.jsp|archive-date=19 July 2012}}{{refn|group=nb|McCartney's band performed thirty-seven songs during 8 May 2012, performance in Mexico City, twenty-three of which were Beatles tracks.{{cite web |url=https://www.paulmccartney.com/live/on-the-run |title=On the Run |work=PaulMcCartney.com |access-date=7 December 2024}}}} In June 2012, McCartney closed Queen Elizabeth's Diamond Jubilee Concert held outside Buckingham Palace, performing a set that included "Let It Be" and "Live and Let Die".{{cite magazine|last=Sutherland|first=Mark|date=5 June 2012|title=Paul McCartney, Elton John Honor Queen at Diamond Jubilee Concert|magazine=Rolling Stone|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/paul-mccartney-elton-john-honor-queen-at-diamond-jubilee-concert-20120605|access-date=12 May 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130605150229/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/paul-mccartney-elton-john-honor-queen-at-diamond-jubilee-concert-20120605|archive-date=5 June 2013}} He closed the opening ceremony of the 2012 Summer Olympics in London on 27 July, singing "The End" and "Hey Jude" and inviting the audience to join in on the coda.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18329666|title=Sir Paul to end London 2012 opening ceremony|work=BBC News|access-date=5 June 2012|date=5 June 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120605121038/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18329666|archive-date=5 June 2012}} Having donated his time, he received £1 from the Olympic organisers.{{cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/30/paul-mccartney-olympics-payment_n_1720412.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120731135054/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/30/paul-mccartney-olympics-payment_n_1720412.html|archive-date=31 July 2012|title=Paul McCartney Olympics Payment: Singer Paid One Pound ($1.57) For Big Gig |work=HuffPost|access-date=5 August 2012|date=30 July 2012}}

On 12 December 2012, McCartney performed with three former members of Nirvana (Krist Novoselic, Dave Grohl, and guest member Pat Smear) during the closing act of 12-12-12: The Concert for Sandy Relief, seen by approximately two billion people worldwide.{{cite news|last1=Shriver|first1=Jerry|last2=Deutsch|first2=Lindsay|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/music/2012/12/12/sandy-benefit-concert-review/1762995/?dlvrit=206567|title=Springsteen, Kanye, Stones, McCartney rock Sandy relief|work=USA Today|date=13 December 2012|access-date=13 December 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170918111928/https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/music/2012/12/12/sandy-benefit-concert-review/1762995/?dlvrit=206567|archive-date=18 September 2017|url-status=live}} On 28 August 2013, McCartney released the title track of his upcoming studio album New, which came out in October 2013.{{cite magazine |last=Greenwald |first=David |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/5672788/paul-mccartneys-new-single-lands-album-due-in-october-listen |title=Paul McCartney's 'New' Single Lands, Album Due in October: Listen |magazine=Billboard |date=28 August 2013 |access-date=31 August 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130830083739/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/5672788/paul-mccartneys-new-single-lands-album-due-in-october-listen |archive-date=30 August 2013 }} A primetime entertainment special was taped on 27 January 2014 at the Ed Sullivan Theater with a 9 February 2014 CBS airing. The show featured McCartney and Ringo Starr, and celebrated the legacy of the Beatles and their groundbreaking 1964 performance on The Ed Sullivan Show. The show, titled The Night That Changed America: A Grammy Salute to The Beatles, featured 22 classic Beatles songs as performed by various artists, including McCartney and Starr.Gans, Andrew. [https://web.archive.org/web/20140222204612/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/187391-Anna-Kendrick-David-Letterman-John-Mayer-Keith-Urban-Katy-Perry-Sean-Penn-Stevie-Wonder-and-More-Set-for-CBS-Beatles-Tribute-Song-List-Announced?tsrc=hph "Anna Kendrick, David Letterman, John Mayer, Keith Urban, Katy Perry, Sean Penn, Stevie Wonder and More Set for CBS' Beatles Tribute; Song List Announced"] Playbill, 7 February 2014

In May 2014, McCartney cancelled a sold-out tour of Japan and postponed a US tour to October due to begin that month after he contracted a virus.{{Cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/the-beatles/10840033/Paul-McCartney-cancels-a-string-of-Japan-concerts-due-to-unspecified-virus.html |title=Paul McCartney cancels a string of Japan concerts due to unspecified 'virus' |last1=Demetriou |first1=Danielle |date=19 May 2014 |website=The Daily Telegraph |access-date=20 May 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140519175152/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/the-beatles/10840033/Paul-McCartney-cancels-a-string-of-Japan-concerts-due-to-unspecified-virus.html |archive-date=19 May 2014 }} He resumed the tour with a high-energy three-hour appearance in Albany, New York on 5 July 2014.{{cite news|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/paul-mccartney-bounces-back-in-albany-20140706|title=Paul McCartney Bounces Back in Albany|last=Vozick-Levinson|first=Simon|date=6 July 2014|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=21 July 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140716105311/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/paul-mccartney-bounces-back-in-albany-20140706|archive-date=16 July 2014}} On 14 August 2014, McCartney performed in the final concert at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, California before its demolition; this was the same venue at which the Beatles played their final concert for a paying audience in 1966.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/live-reviews/paul-mccartney-candlestick-park-final-show-ferguson-tribute-20140815?flv=1|title=Paul McCartney Closes Candlestick Park 'in Style' – Rolling Stone|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=27 September 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924191620/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/live-reviews/paul-mccartney-candlestick-park-final-show-ferguson-tribute-20140815?flv=1|archive-date=24 September 2015|date=15 August 2014}} In 2014, McCartney wrote and performed "Hope for the Future", the ending song for the video game Destiny.{{cite web |last=Sinclair |first=Brendan |date=7 July 2012 |url=http://www.gamespot.com/news/paul-mccartney-working-with-bungie-6386022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120709020402/http://www.gamespot.com/news/paul-mccartney-working-with-bungie-6386022 |archive-date=9 July 2012 |title=Paul McCartney working with Bungie |work=GameSpot|publisher=CBS Interactive |access-date=7 July 2012}}{{cite web|title=Destiny End Credits Easter Egg reveals Paul McCartney's Song Hope for the Future|url=http://www.gamespot.com/videos/destiny-end-credits-easter-egg-reveals-paul-mccart/2300-6421274/|publisher=Gamespot|access-date=12 September 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140913202041/http://www.gamespot.com/videos/destiny-end-credits-easter-egg-reveals-paul-mccart/2300-6421274/|archive-date=13 September 2014|date=11 September 2014}} In November 2014, a 42-song tribute album titled The Art of McCartney was released, which features a wide range of artists covering McCartney's solo and Beatles work.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/paul-mccartney-tribute-comp-bob-dylan-kiss-cover-beatles-20140909|title=Bob Dylan, Kiss and More Cover Paul McCartney for Tribute Comp – Rolling Stone|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=27 September 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140927063948/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/paul-mccartney-tribute-comp-bob-dylan-kiss-cover-beatles-20140909|archive-date=27 September 2014|date=9 September 2014}} Also that year, McCartney collaborated with American rapper Kanye West on the single "Only One", released on 31 December.{{cite web|last1=Markman|first1=Rob|title=Kanye West Drops New Song For The New Year: Listen To 'Only One'|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/2038419/kanye-west-only-one-new-year/|publisher=MTV|access-date=1 January 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150103205002/http://www.mtv.com/news/2038419/kanye-west-only-one-new-year/|archive-date=3 January 2015}} In January 2015, McCartney collaborated with West and Barbadian singer Rihanna on the single "FourFiveSeconds".{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/2058811/rihanna-four-five-seconds/|title=Rihanna Dropped Her New Song With Kanye And Paul McCartney—Hear 'FourFiveSeconds'|publisher=MTV News|last=White|first=Caitlin|date=25 January 2015|access-date=11 February 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150214071154/http://www.mtv.com/news/2058811/rihanna-four-five-seconds/|archive-date=14 February 2015}} They released a music video for the song in January{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/videos/watch-rihanna-kanye-and-mccartney-on-fourfiveseconds-video-shoot-20150131|title=Watch Rihanna, Kanye and McCartney on 'FourFiveSeconds' Video Shoot|magazine=Rolling Stone|last=Kreps|first=Daniel|date=31 January 2015|access-date=11 February 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150211180249/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/videos/watch-rihanna-kanye-and-mccartney-on-fourfiveseconds-video-shoot-20150131|archive-date=11 February 2015}} and performed it live at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards on 8 February 2015.{{cite news|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/events/grammys-2015/6465691/2015-grammys-best-and-worst-moments|title=The 2015 Grammys: Best and Worst Moments|magazine=Billboard|last=Payne|first=Chris|date=11 February 2015|access-date=9 February 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150210175936/http://www.billboard.com/articles/events/grammys-2015/6465691/2015-grammys-best-and-worst-moments|archive-date=10 February 2015}} McCartney featured on West's 2015 single "All Day", which also features Theophilus London and Allan Kingdom.{{cite web|url=https://www.stereogum.com/1784411/kanye-west-all-day-feat-allan-kingdom-theophilus-london/mp3s/|title=Kanye West – "All Day" (Feat. Allan Kingdom, Theophilus London, & Paul McCartney)|work=Stereogum|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150304040627/http://www.stereogum.com/1784411/kanye-west-all-day-feat-allan-kingdom-theophilus-london/mp3s/|archive-date=4 March 2015|date=2 March 2015}}

File:Show Paul McCartney São Paulo-26 de março de 2019 04.jpg

In February 2015, McCartney performed with Paul Simon for the Saturday Night Live 40th Anniversary Special. McCartney and Simon performed the first verse of "I've Just Seen a Face" on acoustic guitars, and McCartney later performed "Maybe I'm Amazed".{{cite magazine|last1=Blistein|first1=Joel|title=Paul McCartney, Miley Cyrus, Paul Simon Captivate at 'SNL 40' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/tv/news/paul-mccartney-miley-cyrus-paul-simon-captivate-at-snl-40-20150216|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=17 February 2015|date=16 February 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150217045304/http://www.rollingstone.com/tv/news/paul-mccartney-miley-cyrus-paul-simon-captivate-at-snl-40-20150216|archive-date=17 February 2015}} McCartney shared lead vocals on the Alice Cooper-led Hollywood Vampires supergroup's cover of his song "Come and Get It", which appears on their debut album, released on 11 September 2015.{{cite web|last1=Britton|first1=Luke Morgan|title=Alice Cooper details 'Hollywood Vampires' album featuring Paul McCartney, Dave Grohl and Johnny Depp|url=https://www.nme.com/news/alice-cooper/87381|work=NME|access-date=27 September 2015|date=5 August 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150928052329/http://www.nme.com/news/alice-cooper/87381|archive-date=28 September 2015}} On 10 June 2016, McCartney released the career-spanning collection Pure McCartney.{{cite web |url=http://www.uncut.co.uk/news/paul-mccartney-announces-career-spanning-compilation-73421 |first=Polly |last=Foreman |title=Paul McCartney announces career-spanning compilation |date=31 March 2016 |work=Uncut |access-date=2 April 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160409072813/http://www.uncut.co.uk/news/paul-mccartney-announces-career-spanning-compilation-73421 |archive-date=9 April 2016 }} The set includes songs from throughout McCartney's solo career and his work with Wings and the Fireman, and is available in three different formats (2-CD, 4-CD, 4-LP and Digital). The 4-CD version includes 67 tracks, most of which were top-40 hits.{{cite web |url=https://www.facebook.com/thebeatles/posts/10154080518514539 |title=Pure McCartney |date=31 March 2016 |via=Facebook |access-date=1 April 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170918033555/https://www.facebook.com/thebeatles/posts/10154080518514539 |archive-date=18 September 2017 }}{{Primary source inline|date=June 2024}}{{cite web |url=https://www.paulmccartney.com/news/67-tracks-of-pure-mccartney |title=67 Tracks of Pure McCartney ... |date=31 March 2016 |work=PaulMcCartney.com |access-date=7 December 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220624151432/https://www.paulmccartney.com/news/67-tracks-of-pure-mccartney |archive-date=24 June 2022}} McCartney appeared in the 2017 adventure film Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, in a cameo role as Uncle Jack.{{cite web | url=https://deadline.com/2016/03/paul-mccartney-pirates-of-the-caribbean-dead-men-tell-no-tales-johnny-depp-disney-keith-richards-1201725706/ | title=Paul McCartney Joins Johnny Depp & Crew For 'Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales' | work=Deadline Hollywood | date=24 March 2016 | access-date=26 December 2016 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170525012254/http://deadline.com/2016/03/paul-mccartney-pirates-of-the-caribbean-dead-men-tell-no-tales-johnny-depp-disney-keith-richards-1201725706/ | archive-date=25 May 2017 }}

In January 2017, McCartney filed a suit in United States district court against Sony/ATV Music Publishing seeking to reclaim ownership of his share of the Lennon–McCartney song catalogue beginning in 2018. Under US copyright law, for works published before 1978 the author can reclaim copyrights assigned to a publisher after 56 years.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/jan/18/paul-mccartney-sue-sony-rights-beatles-songs|title=We can't work it out: Paul McCartney to sue Sony for rights to Beatles classics|date=18 January 2017|newspaper=The Guardian|issn=0261-3077|access-date=19 January 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170119012029/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/jan/18/paul-mccartney-sue-sony-rights-beatles-songs|archive-date=19 January 2017}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-38675147|title=Sir Paul McCartney sues Sony over Beatles songs|date=19 January 2017|newspaper=BBC News|access-date=19 January 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170119114251/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-38675147|archive-date=19 January 2017}} McCartney and Sony agreed to a confidential settlement in June 2017.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/jul/04/beatles-song-rights-dispute-paul-mccartney-and-sony-atv-work-it-out|title=Beatles song rights dispute: Paul McCartney and Sony ATV work it out|agency=Agence France-Presse|date=3 July 2017|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=4 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180504082753/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/jul/04/beatles-song-rights-dispute-paul-mccartney-and-sony-atv-work-it-out|archive-date=4 May 2018|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://fortune.com/2017/06/30/sony-beatles-copyright/|title=Paul McCartney Settles with Sony/ATV to Reclaim Beatles Copyright|website=Fortune|access-date=4 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180616153758/http://fortune.com/2017/06/30/sony-beatles-copyright/|archive-date=16 June 2018|url-status=live}} On 20 June 2018, McCartney released "I Don't Know" and "Come On to Me" from his album Egypt Station, which was released on 7 September through Capitol Records.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/paul-mccartney-details-new-double-a-side-single-w521717|title=Paul McCartney Details New Double A-Side Single|first=Jon|last=Blistein|date=19 June 2018|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=4 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180620011814/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/paul-mccartney-details-new-double-a-side-single-w521717|archive-date=20 June 2018|url-status=live}} Egypt Station became McCartney's first album in 36 years to top the Billboard 200, and his first to debut at number one.{{Cite news|url=https://news.sky.com/story/paul-mccartney-scores-first-number-one-album-in-united-states-in-36-years-11500498|title=Paul McCartney scores first number one album in United States in 36 years|publisher=Sky News|access-date=17 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180917143327/https://news.sky.com/story/paul-mccartney-scores-first-number-one-album-in-united-states-in-36-years-11500498|archive-date=17 September 2018|url-status=live}} On 26 July 2018, McCartney played at The Cavern Club, with his regular band of Anderson, Ray, Wickens and Abe Laboriel Jr. The gig was filmed and later broadcast by BBC, on Christmas Day 2020, as Paul McCartney at the Cavern Club.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000qq7t/paul-mccartney-at-the-cavern-club|title=Paul McCartney at the Cavern Club|access-date=20 November 2021|archive-date=20 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211120230511/https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000qq7t/paul-mccartney-at-the-cavern-club|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url = https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/paul-mccartney/2018/cavern-club-liverpool-england-7beb26dc.html|title = Paul McCartney Setlist at Cavern Club, Liverpool|website = setlist.fm|access-date = 20 November 2021|archive-date = 20 November 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211120230514/https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/paul-mccartney/2018/cavern-club-liverpool-england-7beb26dc.html|url-status = live}}

McCartney's 18th solo album, McCartney III, was released on 18 December 2020, via Capitol Records; it became his first number-one solo album in the UK since Flowers in the Dirt in 1989.{{cite magazine |last1=Martoccio |first1=Angie |title=Paul McCartney Announces New Album, 'McCartney III' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/paul-mccartney-new-album-mccartney-iii-1077937/ |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=21 October 2020 |date=21 October 2020 |archive-date=20 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210820171303/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/paul-mccartney-new-album-mccartney-iii-1077937/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web|title=LadBaby land third Christmas No.1 with fastest-selling single of 2020|url=https://www.musicweek.com/talent/read/ladbaby-land-third-christmas-no-1-with-fastest-selling-single-of-2020/082294|access-date=27 December 2020|website=Music Week|language=en|archive-date=27 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201227034947/https://www.musicweek.com/talent/read/ladbaby-land-third-christmas-no-1-with-fastest-selling-single-of-2020/082294|url-status=live}} The album was recorded in England during the COVID-19 lockdowns and continues McCartney's trend of self-titled solo albums with him playing all of the instruments.{{Cite web|url=https://www.loudandquiet.com/interview/its-just-me-an-exclusive-interview-with-paul-mccartney-about-mccartney-iii/|title='It's just me': an exclusive interview with Paul McCartney about McCartney III|date=21 October 2020|website=Loud and Quiet|access-date=21 October 2020|archive-date=26 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201026032535/https://www.loudandquiet.com/interview/its-just-me-an-exclusive-interview-with-paul-mccartney-about-mccartney-iii/|url-status=live}} An album of "reinterpretations, remixes, and covers" titled McCartney III Imagined was released on 16 April 2021.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/paul-mccartney-st-vincent-beck-phoebe-bridgers-iii-remix-1139545/|date=11 March 2021|title=Paul McCartney Taps St. Vincent, Beck, Phoebe Bridgers for 'III Imagined' Album|first=Daniel|last=Kreps|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=12 March 2021|archive-date=12 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210312004142/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/paul-mccartney-st-vincent-beck-phoebe-bridgers-iii-remix-1139545/|url-status=live}}

McCartney's book The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present was released in November 2021. Described as a "self-portrait in 154 songs", the book is based on conversations McCartney had with the Irish poet Paul Muldoon.{{cite magazine |last1=Kreps |first1=Daniel |title=Paul McCartney Announces 'The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present' Memoir |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/paul-mccartney-the-lyrics-book-1132709/ |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=23 July 2021 |date=24 February 2021 |archive-date=1 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220301192336/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/paul-mccartney-the-lyrics-book-1132709/ |url-status=live }} The Lyrics was named Book of the Year by both Barnes & Noble and Waterstones.{{cite web|date=18 November 2021|title=The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present is the 2021 Barnes & Noble Book of the Year!|url=https://www.barnesandnoble.com/blog/barnes-noble-book-of-the-year-winner-2021/|access-date=4 February 2022|website=B&N Reads|language=en-US|archive-date=17 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220217213150/https://www.barnesandnoble.com/blog/barnes-noble-book-of-the-year-winner-2021/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.waterstones.com/category/cultural-highlights/book-awards/the-waterstones-book-of-the-year|title=Waterstones Book of the Year 2021|access-date=4 February 2022|website=Waterstones.com|archive-date=19 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220319101231/https://www.waterstones.com/category/cultural-highlights/book-awards/the-waterstones-book-of-the-year|url-status=live}} McCartney's "Got Back" tour ran from 28 April 2022 to 16 June 2022 in the United States, his first in the country since 2019.{{cite magazine |last1=Blistein |first1=Jon |title=Paul McCartney Will Get Back to the Road on 'Got Back' Tour |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/paul-mccartney-got-back-2022-tour-dates-1302327/ |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=18 February 2022 |publisher=Rolling Stone, LLC. (Penske Media Corporation) |access-date=28 April 2022 |archive-date=9 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220409132119/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/paul-mccartney-got-back-2022-tour-dates-1302327/ |url-status=live }} The tour concluded on 25 June 2022 when McCartney headlined Glastonbury Festival, a week after his 80th birthday. Performing on the Pyramid Stage, he became the oldest solo headliner at the festival.{{cite web|url=https://www.itv.com/news/2022-06-25/sir-paul-mccartney-makes-history-as-oldest-solo-headliner-at-glastonbury|title=Sir Paul McCartney makes history as oldest solo headliner at Glastonbury|date=25 June 2022|website=ITV News|access-date=25 June 2022|archive-date=25 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220625215803/https://www.itv.com/news/2022-06-25/sir-paul-mccartney-makes-history-as-oldest-solo-headliner-at-glastonbury|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/paul-mccartney-frome-jessie-ware-pyramid-stage-volodymyr-zelensky-b2109178.html|title=Sir Paul McCartney set to make history as oldest solo headliner at Glastonbury|date=25 June 2022|website=The Independent|access-date=25 June 2022|archive-date=25 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220625220329/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/paul-mccartney-frome-jessie-ware-pyramid-stage-volodymyr-zelensky-b2109178.html|url-status=live}} Special guests were Dave Grohl and Bruce Springsteen.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0018sfr|title=BBC Music – Glastonbury, 2022, Paul McCartney|publisher=BBC|access-date=26 June 2022|archive-date=26 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220626081022/https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0018sfr|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/paul-mccartney-dave-grohl-bruce-springsteen-glastonbury-2022-setlist-footage-3255915|title=Watch Dave Grohl and Bruce Springsteen join Paul McCartney on stage at Glastonbury 2022|website=NME|date=26 June 2022|access-date=26 June 2022|archive-date=26 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220626081016/https://www.nme.com/news/music/paul-mccartney-dave-grohl-bruce-springsteen-glastonbury-2022-setlist-footage-3255915|url-status=live}} In 2022, he received the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series at the 74th Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards, as a producer for the documentary The Beatles: Get Back.{{Cite web |last=Carey |first=Matthew |date=4 September 2022 |title=Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Director Peter Jackson Win Emmys For 'The Beatles: Get Back' |url=https://deadline.com/2022/09/creative-arts-emmys-outstanding-documentary-or-nonfiction-series-the-beatles-get-back-paul-mccartney-ringo-starr-peter-jackson-news-1235107349/ |access-date=4 September 2022 |website=Deadline |archive-date=4 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220904013047/https://deadline.com/2022/09/creative-arts-emmys-outstanding-documentary-or-nonfiction-series-the-beatles-get-back-paul-mccartney-ringo-starr-peter-jackson-news-1235107349/ |url-status=live }}

File:McCartneyO2101224 p2 (167 of 191) (54225060041).jpg playing together on 19 December 2024, in London]]

In 2023, McCartney published the book 1964: Eyes of the Storm, a collection of recently discovered photos he had taken at the height of Beatlemania.{{Cite web |date=18 June 2023 |title=Rediscovering Paul McCartney's photos of The Beatles' 1964 invasion – CBS News |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/paul-mccartney-photos-of-the-beatles-invasion-of-america-1964-eyes-of-the-storm/ |access-date=18 June 2023 |publisher=CBS News |language=en-US |archive-date=18 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230618143319/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/paul-mccartney-photos-of-the-beatles-invasion-of-america-1964-eyes-of-the-storm/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=See Paul McCartney's personal photos of The Beatles from his book '1964: Eyes of the Storm' |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/books/2023/06/13/paul-mccartney-photos-beatles-1964-eyes-of-the-storm-book/70315760007/ |access-date=18 June 2023 |website=USA Today |language=en-US |archive-date=17 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230617192613/https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/books/2023/06/13/paul-mccartney-photos-beatles-1964-eyes-of-the-storm-book/70315760007/ |url-status=live }}

In February 2025, McCartney performed for the Saturday Night Live 50th Anniversary Special. Backed by his touring band, McCartney performed "Golden Slumbers", "Carry That Weight", and "The End" in medley form to close out the anniversary special.{{Cite web |date=2025-02-16 |title=The best moments from the 'Saturday Night Live' 50th anniversary special |url=https://apnews.com/article/snl-50th-anniversary-special-52f44dc84c13b5b9a461a249db493033 |access-date=2025-02-27 |website=AP News |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2025-02-18 |title=SNL 50 Closes Out with Paul McCartney-Led 'Abbey Road' Medley |url=https://axs.tv/news-story/snl-50-celebration-closes-out-with-paul-mcartney-led-abbey-road-medley/ |access-date=2025-02-27 |website=AXS TV |language=en-US}}

McCartney is a largely self-taught musician, and his approach was described by musicologist Ian MacDonald as "by nature drawn to music's formal aspects yet wholly untutored ... [he] produced technically 'finished' work almost entirely by instinct, his harmonic judgement based mainly on perfect pitch and an acute pair of ears ... [A] natural melodist—a creator of tunes capable of existing apart from their harmony."{{harvnb|MacDonald|2005|p=12}}: Natural melodist, {{harvnb|MacDonald|2005|p=13}}: Perfect pitch and an acute pair of ears. McCartney likened his approach to "the primitive cave artists, who drew without training".{{sfn|Benitez|2010|p=134}}

{{quote box|quote= The Messiah has arrived!{{harvnb|The Beatles|2000|p=21}}: "the Messiah has arrived!", (primary source); {{harvnb|Spitz|2005|p=41}}: "The Messiah had arrived", (secondary source). |source= — McCartney on Elvis Presley, The Beatles Anthology, 2000|width=20%|align=right|style=padding:8px;}}

McCartney's earliest musical influences include Elvis Presley, Little Richard, Buddy Holly, Carl Perkins, and Chuck Berry.{{harvnb|Harry|2000a|pp=140–141}}: Chuck Berry; {{harvnb|Harry|2002|pp=420–425}}: Buddy Holly, {{harvnb|Harry|2002|p=727}}: Elvis Presley; {{harvnb|Mulhern|1990|p=33}}: Carl Perkins and Little Richard; {{harvnb|Spitz|2005|pp=41, 92, 97, 124}}: Presley, {{harvnb|Spitz|2005|pp=131–133, 225, 538}}: Holly, {{harvnb|Spitz|2005|pp=134, 374, 446, 752}}: Berry. When asked why the Beatles did not include Presley on the Sgt. Pepper cover, McCartney replied, "Elvis was too important and too far above the rest even to mention ... so we didn't put him on the list because he was more than merely a ... pop singer, he was Elvis the King."{{sfn|Harry|2002|p=727}} McCartney stated that in his bassline for "I Saw Her Standing There", he quoted Berry's "I'm Talking About You".{{harvnb|MacDonald|2005|pp=66–67}}: "According to McCartney, the bassline was taken from "...I'm Talking About You"; {{harvnb|Mulhern|1990|p=18}}: McCartney: "I'm not gonna tell you I wrote the thing when Chuck Berry's bass player did; {{harvnb|Miles|1997|p=94}}: McCartney: "I played exactly the same notes as he did and it fitted our number perfectly".

McCartney called Little Richard an idol, whose falsetto vocalisations inspired McCartney's own vocal technique.{{sfn|Mulhern|1990|p=33}} McCartney said he wrote "I'm Down" as a vehicle for his Little Richard impersonation.{{harvnb|MacDonald|2005|p=156}}: (secondary source); {{harvnb|Miles|1997|p=201}}: (primary source). In 1971, McCartney bought the publishing rights to Holly's catalogue, and in 1976, on the fortieth anniversary of Holly's birth, McCartney inaugurated the annual "Buddy Holly Week" in England. The festival has included guest performances by famous musicians, songwriting competitions, drawing contests and special events featuring performances by the Crickets.{{harvnb|Harry|2002|pp=420–425}}: "Buddy Holly Week" 1976–2001.

File:DesertTrip2016-117 (30018692150).jpg bass in 2016]]

Best known for primarily using a plectrum or pick, McCartney occasionally plays fingerstyle.{{sfn|Bacon|Morgan|2006|p=28}} He was strongly influenced by Motown artists, in particular James Jamerson, whom McCartney called a hero for his melodic style. He was also influenced by Brian Wilson, as he commented: "because he went to very unusual places".{{sfn|Bacon|Morgan|2006|pp=38–39}} Another favourite bassist of his is Stanley Clarke.{{harvnb|Mulhern|1990|p=18}}: The influence of Motown and James Jamerson, {{harvnb|Mulhern|1990|p=22}}: Stanley Clarke. McCartney's skill as a bass player has been acknowledged by bassists including Sting, Dr. Dre bassist Mike Elizondo, and Colin Moulding of XTC.{{sfn|Bacon|Morgan|2006|p=8}}

McCartney has consistently been ranked at or near the top of lists of the best bass players ever. He was voted the best rock bassist in Creem{{'}}s 1973 and 1974 Reader Poll Results and the third best rock bassist in its 1975 and 1977 Reader Poll Results.{{cite web | url=http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/creem_lists.htm | title=Creem magazine selected readers poll results | access-date=23 November 2023 | archive-date=20 January 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120120135552/http://rocklistmusic.co.uk/creem_lists.htm | url-status=live }} He was voted the third best bassist of all time in a 2011 Rolling Stone readers' poll{{cite magazine | url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/rolling-stone-readers-pick-the-top-ten-bassists-of-all-time-10325/ | title=Rolling Stone Readers Pick the Top Ten Bassists of All Time | magazine=Rolling Stone | date=31 March 2011 | access-date=23 November 2023 | archive-date=26 October 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201026200440/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/rolling-stone-readers-pick-the-top-ten-bassists-of-all-time-10325/ | url-status=live }} and, in 2020, the same magazine ranked him the ninth greatest bassist of all time.{{cite magazine | url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/50-greatest-bassists-of-all-time-1003022/ | title=The 50 Greatest Bassists of All Time | magazine=Rolling Stone | date=1 July 2020 | access-date=23 November 2023 | archive-date=29 October 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201029063208/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/50-greatest-bassists-of-all-time-1003022/tony-levin-1003071 | url-status=live }} In 2020, Bass Player magazine ranked him the third best bass player of all time.{{cite magazine | url=https://www.guitarworld.com/features/the-100-best-bass-players-of-all-time | title=The 100 best bass players of all time | magazine= Bass Player | date=10 August 2020 | access-date=23 November 2023 | archive-date=28 April 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190428181456/https://www.bassplayer.com/artists/the-100-greatest-bass-players-of-all-time | url-status=live }} He was voted the fifth greatest bassist of all time in a 2021 MusicRadar readers' poll.{{cite magazine | url=https://www.musicradar.com/news/greatest-bassists-of-all-time-ever | title=The 30 greatest bassists of all time – ranked | magazine=MusicRadar | date=9 June 2021 | access-date=23 November 2023 | archive-date=23 November 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231123105506/https://www.musicradar.com/news/greatest-bassists-of-all-time-ever | url-status=live }} Music critic J. D. Considine ranked McCartney the second best bass player.{{cite web | url=http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/steveparker/index.htm | title=Steve Parker Micro Site – New Book of Rock Lists | access-date=23 November 2023 | archive-date=29 July 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130729062341/http://rocklistmusic.co.uk/steveparker/index.htm | url-status=live }}

{{quote box|quote= Paul is one of the most innovative bass players ... half the stuff that's going on now is directly ripped off from his Beatles period ... He's an egomaniac about everything else, but his bass playing he'd always been a bit coy about.{{sfn|Sheff|1981|p=142}} |source= — Lennon, Playboy magazine published in January 1981|width=25%|align=right|style=padding:8px;}}

During McCartney's early years with the Beatles, he primarily used a Höfner 500/1 bass, although from 1965, he favoured his Rickenbacker 4001S for recording. While typically using Vox amplifiers, by 1967, he had also begun using a Fender Bassman for amplification.{{harvnb|Babiuk|2002|pp=16–17}}: Höfner 500/1, {{harvnb|Babiuk|2002|pp=44–45}}: Rickenbacker 4001, {{harvnb|Babiuk|2002|pp=85–86, 92–93, 103, 116, 134, 140, 173, 175, 187, 211}}: Vox amplifiers; {{harvnb|MacDonald|2005|p=298}}: Fender Bassman. During the late 1980s and early 1990s, he used a Wal 5-String, which he said made him play more thick-sounding basslines, in contrast to the much lighter Höfner, which inspired him to play more sensitively, something he considers fundamental to his playing style.{{sfn|Jisi|2005|p=42}} He changed back to the Höfner around 1990 for that reason.{{sfn|Jisi|2005|p=42}} He uses Mesa Boogie bass amplifiers while performing live.{{sfn|Mulhern|1990|p=19}}

MacDonald identified "She's a Woman" as the turning point when McCartney's bass playing began to evolve dramatically, and Beatles biographer Chris Ingham singled out Rubber Soul as the moment when McCartney's playing exhibited significant progress, particularly on "The Word".{{harvnb|MacDonald|2005|pp=133–134}}: "She's a Woman"; {{harvnb|Ingham|2009|p=299}}: "began to come into its own". Bacon and Morgan agreed, calling McCartney's groove on the track "a high point in pop bass playing and ... the first proof on a recording of his serious technical ability on the instrument."{{harvnb|Bacon|Morgan|2006|pp=10, 44}}: Rubber Soul as the starting point for McCartney's bass improvement, {{harvnb|Bacon|Morgan|2006|p=98}}: "a high point in pop bass playing". MacDonald inferred the influence of James Brown's "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag" and Wilson Pickett's "In the Midnight Hour", American soul tracks from which McCartney absorbed elements and drew inspiration as he "delivered his most spontaneous bass-part to date".{{sfn|MacDonald|2005|pp=178–180}}

Bacon and Morgan described his bassline for the Beatles song "Rain" as "an astonishing piece of playing ... [McCartney] thinking in terms of both rhythm and 'lead bass' ... [choosing] the area of the neck ... he correctly perceives will give him clarity for melody without rendering his sound too thin for groove."{{sfn|Bacon|Morgan|2006|pp=112–113}} MacDonald identified the influence of Indian classical music in "exotic melismas in the bass part" on "Rain" and described the playing as "so inventive that it threatens to overwhelm the track".{{sfn|MacDonald|2005|pp=196–198}} By contrast, he recognised McCartney's bass part on the Harrison-composed "Something" as creative but overly busy and "too fussily extemporised".{{sfn|MacDonald|2005|p=349}} McCartney identified Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band as containing his strongest and most inventive bass playing, particularly on "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds".{{sfn|Jisi|2005|p=45–46}}

File:Paul McCartney - Out There Concert - 140420-5762-jikatu (13926436996).jpg in 2014]]

{{quote|quote= If I couldn't have any other instrument, I would have to have an acoustic guitar.{{sfn|Mulhern|1990|p=22}} |source= — McCartney, Guitar Player, July 1990}}

McCartney primarily flatpicks while playing acoustic guitar, though he also uses elements of fingerpicking.{{sfn|Mulhern|1990|p=22}} Examples of his acoustic guitar playing on Beatles tracks include "Yesterday", "Michelle", "Blackbird", "I Will", "Mother Nature's Son" and "Rocky Raccoon".{{harvnb|MacDonald|2005|pp=157–158}}: "Yesterday", {{harvnb|MacDonald|2005|pp=174–175}}: "I'm Looking Through You", {{harvnb|MacDonald|2005|pp=175–176}}: "Michelle", {{harvnb|MacDonald|2005|pp=291–292}}: "Blackbird", {{harvnb|MacDonald|2005|pp=305–306}}: "Mother Nature's Son", {{harvnb|MacDonald|2005|p=308}}: "Rocky Raccoon", {{harvnb|MacDonald|2005|p=315}}: "I Will". McCartney singled out "Blackbird" as a personal favourite and described his technique for the guitar part in the following way: "I got my own little sort of cheating way of [fingerpicking] ... I'm actually sort of pulling two strings at a time ... I was trying to emulate those folk players."{{sfn|Mulhern|1990|p=22}} He employed a similar technique for "Jenny Wren".{{sfn|Molenda|2005|p=79}} He played an Epiphone Texan on many of his acoustic recordings, but also used a Martin D-28.{{harvnb|Babiuk|2002|pp=146–147, 152, 161, 164}}: Epiphone Texan; {{harvnb|Babiuk|2002|pp=215, 218, 222, 239}}: Martin D-28.

File:Paul-mccartney-1350317931.jpg in concert, 2009]]

McCartney played lead guitar on several Beatles recordings, including what MacDonald described as a "fiercely angular slide guitar solo" on "Drive My Car", which McCartney played on an Epiphone Casino. McCartney said of the instrument: "if I had to pick one electric guitar it would be this."{{harvnb|Babiuk|2002|p=149}}: "If I had to pick one electric guitar"; {{harvnb|MacDonald|2005|pp=166–167}}: "Drive My Car", "fiercely angular slide guitar solo". McCartney bought the Casino in 1964, on the knowledge that the guitar's hollow body would produce more feedback. He has retained that original guitar to the present day.{{cite news|url=https://guitar.com/news/music-news/paul-mccartney-guitar-jimi-hendrix/|title=PAUL MCCARTNEY EXPLAINS HOW JIMI HENDRIX MADE HIM BUY HIS FAVOURITE GUITAR|newspaper=Guitar.com | All Things Guitar|date=13 August 2020|access-date=25 November 2020|archive-date=1 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201201031038/https://guitar.com/news/music-news/paul-mccartney-guitar-jimi-hendrix/|url-status=live}} He contributed what MacDonald described as "a startling guitar solo" on the Harrison composition "Taxman" and the "shrieking" guitar on "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" and "Helter Skelter". MacDonald also praised McCartney's "coruscating pseudo-Indian" guitar solo on "Good Morning Good Morning".{{harvnb|MacDonald|2005|pp=200–201}}: "Taxman", {{harvnb|MacDonald|2005|pp=232–234}}: "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band", {{harvnb|MacDonald|2005|pp=234–235}}: "Good Morning Good Morning", {{harvnb|MacDonald|2005|pp=297–298}}: "Helter Skelter". McCartney also played lead guitar on "Another Girl".{{sfn|MacDonald|2005|p=145}}

{{quote box|quote= Linda was a big fan of my guitar playing, whereas I've got my doubts. I think there are proper guitar players and then there are guys like me who love playing it.{{sfn|Mulhern|1990|p=23}} |source= — McCartney, Guitar Player, July 1990|width=20%|align=right|style=padding:8px;}}

During his years with Wings, McCartney tended to leave electric guitar work to other group members,{{sfn|McGee|2003|p=165}} though he played most of the lead guitar on Band on the Run.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gzl1lBFXKhQC&pg=RA2-PT585|page=585|title=The Album: A Guide to Pop Music's Most Provocative, Influential, and Important Creations|author=James E. Perone|publisher=ABC-CLIO|date=17 October 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170918033555/https://books.google.com/books?id=gzl1lBFXKhQC&pg=RA2-PT585|archive-date=18 September 2017|isbn=978-0-313-37907-9}} In 1990, when asked who his favourite guitar players were he included Eddie Van Halen, Eric Clapton and David Gilmour, stating, "but I still like Hendrix the best".{{sfn|Mulhern|1990|p=22}} He has primarily used a Gibson Les Paul for electric work, particularly during live performances.{{sfn|Mulhern|1990|p=19}}

In addition to these guitars, McCartney is known to use and own a range of other electric guitars, usually favouring the Fender Esquire and its subsequent incarnation, the Fender Telecaster, using the latter with a sunburst finish on Wings' tours in the 1970s. He also owns a rare Ampeg Dan Armstrong Plexi guitar, the only left handed one known to be in existence, which appeared in the Wings video for "Helen Wheels".{{cite web|url=https://mixdownmag.com.au/features/columns/gear-rundown-paul-mccartney/|title=Gear Rundown: Paul McCartney|date=7 July 2017|access-date=26 November 2020|archive-date=4 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201204144929/https://mixdownmag.com.au/features/columns/gear-rundown-paul-mccartney/|url-status=dead}}

McCartney is known for his belting power, versatility and wide tenor vocal range, spanning over four octaves.{{cite web|title=Axl Rose is NOT the singer with the widest range|publisher=Consequence of Sound|author=Coplan, Chris|url=https://consequence.net/2014/05/turns-out-mike-patton-and-not-axl-rose-is-the-greatest-singer-of-all-time/|date=25 May 2014|access-date=25 April 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140527224545/https://consequence.net/2014/05/turns-out-mike-patton-and-not-axl-rose-is-the-greatest-singer-of-all-time/|archive-date=27 May 2014}}{{cite web|title=The Vocal Ranges of the World's Greatest Singers|publisher=Concert Hotels|url=http://www.concerthotels.com/worlds-greatest-vocal-ranges|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150814135701/http://www.concerthotels.com/worlds-greatest-vocal-ranges|archive-date=14 August 2015}} He was ranked the 11th greatest singer of all time by Rolling Stone,{{cite web|title=100 Greatest Singers – Paul McCartney|publisher=The Rolling Stone|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/100-greatest-singers-of-all-time-19691231/paul-mccartney-20101202|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170619194517/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/100-greatest-singers-of-all-time-19691231/paul-mccartney-20101202|archive-date=19 June 2017|date=3 December 2010}} voted the 8th greatest singer ever by NME readers{{cite web|title=The greatest singers ever – as voted by you|work=NME|url=https://www.nme.com/photos/the-greatest-singers-ever-as-voted-by-you/219416#/photo/14|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306062019/http://www.nme.com/photos/the-greatest-singers-ever-as-voted-by-you/219416#/photo/14|archive-date=6 March 2016|date=21 June 2011}} and number 10 by Music Radar readers in the list of "the 30 greatest lead singers of all time".{{cite web|title=The 30 Greatest Lead Singers of All Time|date=7 December 2010|publisher=The Music Radar|url=http://www.musicradar.com/news/guitars/the-30-greatest-lead-singers-of-all-time-315448|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141219133213/http://www.musicradar.com/news/guitars/the-30-greatest-lead-singers-of-all-time-315448|archive-date=19 December 2014}} Over the years, McCartney has been named a significant vocal influence by Chris Cornell,{{cite news|title=Soundgarden singer Chris Cornell goes quiet|newspaper=Stuff|date=6 June 2015|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/music/69026070/soundgarden-singer-chris-cornell-goes-quiet.html|access-date=13 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160416125433/http://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/music/69026070/soundgarden-singer-chris-cornell-goes-quiet.html|archive-date=16 April 2016|url-status=live}} Billy Joel,{{cite web|title=33 Years Ago: Billy Joel Channels the Beatles on 'The Nylon Curtain'|date=23 September 2015 |work=Stuff|url=http://ultimateclassicrock.com/billy-joel-the-nylon-curtain-turns-30/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160220232628/http://ultimateclassicrock.com/billy-joel-the-nylon-curtain-turns-30/|archive-date=20 February 2016}} Steven Tyler,{{cite web|title='Steven Tyler's 'Abbey Road' Tribute To Paul McCartney!'|date=13 May 2015 |publisher=Society Of Rock|url=https://societyofrock.com/steven-tylers-abbey-road-tribute-to-paul-mccartney/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160215212006/http://societyofrock.com/steven-tylers-abbey-road-tribute-to-paul-mccartney/|archive-date=15 February 2016}} Brad Delp,{{cite web|title=Remembering Brad Delp|work=Stuff|url=https://www.boston.com/ae/music/articles/2007/03/10/remembering_brad_delp/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130925103236/http://www.boston.com/ae/music/articles/2007/03/10/remembering_brad_delp/|archive-date=25 September 2013}} and Axl Rose.{{cite magazine|title=Axl Rose responds to list calling him 'world's greatest singer'|magazine=Rolling Stone|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/axl-rose-responds-to-list-calling-him-worlds-greatest-singer-20140528|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170619202559/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/axl-rose-responds-to-list-calling-him-worlds-greatest-singer-20140528|archive-date=19 June 2017|date=28 May 2014}}

McCartney's vocals have crossed several music genres throughout his career. On "Call Me Back Again", according to Benitez, "McCartney shines as a bluesy solo vocalist", while MacDonald called "I'm Down" "a rock-and-roll classic" that "illustrates McCartney's vocal and stylistic versatility".{{harvnb|Benitez|2010|p=68}}: "Call Me Back Again"; {{harvnb|MacDonald|2005|p=156}}: "I'm Down". MacDonald described "Helter Skelter" as an early attempt at heavy metal, and "Hey Jude" as a "pop/rock hybrid", pointing out McCartney's "use of gospel-style melismas" in the song and his "pseudo-soul shrieking in the fade-out".{{harvnb|MacDonald|2005|pp=297–298}}: "Helter Skelter", {{harvnb|MacDonald|2005|pp=302–304}}: "Hey Jude". Benitez identified "Hope of Deliverance" and "Put It There" as examples of McCartney's folk music efforts while musicologist Walter Everett considered "When I'm Sixty-Four" and "Honey Pie" attempts at vaudeville.{{harvnb|Benitez|2010|p=128}}: "Put It There", {{harvnb|Benitez|2010|p=138}}: "Hope of Deliverance"; {{harvnb|Everett|1999|pp=112–113}}: "When I'm Sixty-Four", {{harvnb|Everett|1999|pp=189–190}}: "Honey Pie". MacDonald praised the "swinging beat" of the Beatles' twenty-four bar blues song, "She's a Woman" as "the most extreme sound they had manufactured to date", with McCartney's voice "at the edge, squeezed to the upper limit of his chest register and threatening to crack at any moment."{{sfn|MacDonald|2005|pp=133–134}} MacDonald described "I've Got a Feeling" as a "raunchy, mid-tempo rocker" with a "robust and soulful" vocal performance and "Back in the U.S.S.R." as "the last of [the Beatles'] up-tempo rockers", McCartney's "belting" vocals among his best since "Drive My Car", recorded three years earlier.{{harvnb|MacDonald|2005|pp=309–310}}: "Back in the U.S.S.R"., {{harvnb|MacDonald|2005|p=332}}: "I've Got a Feeling", a "raunchy, mid-tempo rocker" with a "robust and soulful" performance.

McCartney also teasingly tried out classical singing, namely singing various renditions of "Besame Mucho" with the Beatles. He continued experimenting with various musical and vocal styles throughout his post-Beatles career.{{cite web|title=Paul McCartney on The Fireman|work=Clash|url=http://www.clashmusic.com/feature/paul-mccartney-the-fireman|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160216055134/http://www.clashmusic.com/feature/paul-mccartney-the-fireman|archive-date=16 February 2016}}{{cite web|title=Paul McCartney – McCartney II|publisher=The Essential|url=http://theessential.com.au/features/overlooked-hotel/paul-mccartney-mccartney-ii-1980|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306041316/http://theessential.com.au/features/overlooked-hotel/paul-mccartney-mccartney-ii-1980|archive-date=6 March 2016|access-date=13 February 2016}}{{cite web|title=Press to Play|publisher=MaccaFan.net|url=http://www.maccafan.net/Albums/PressToPlay/Press_uk.htm|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305062009/http://www.maccafan.net/Albums/PressToPlay/Press_uk.htm|archive-date=5 March 2016}}{{text-source inline|date=September 2019}} "Monkberry Moon Delight" was described by Pitchfork{{'}}s Jayson Greene as "an absolutely unhinged vocal take, Paul gulping and sobbing right next to your inner ear", adding that "it could be a latter-day Tom Waits performance".{{cite web|title=Paul McCartney/Linda McCartney – Ram|work=Pitchfork|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/16651-ram/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160216050844/http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/16651-ram/|archive-date=16 February 2016}}

File:Paul McCartney in The White House.jpg of the White House, 2010]]

McCartney played piano on several Beatles songs, including "She's a Woman", "For No One", "A Day in the Life", "Hello, Goodbye", "Lady Madonna", "Hey Jude", "Martha My Dear", "Let It Be" and "The Long and Winding Road".{{harvnb|MacDonald|2005|pp=178–180}}: "She's a Woman", {{harvnb|MacDonald|2005|pp=205–206}}: "For No One", {{harvnb|MacDonald|2005|pp=227–232}}: "A Day in the Life", {{harvnb|MacDonald|2005|pp=272–273}}: "Hello, Goodbye", {{harvnb|MacDonald|2005|pp=275–276}}: "Lady Madonna", {{harvnb|MacDonald|2005|pp=302–304}}: "Hey Jude", {{harvnb|MacDonald|2005|p=322}}: "Martha My Dear", {{harvnb|MacDonald|2005|pp=337–338}}: "Let It Be", {{harvnb|MacDonald|2005|pp=339–341}}: "The Long and Winding Road". MacDonald considered the piano part in "Lady Madonna" as reminiscent of Fats Domino, and "Let It Be" as having a gospel rhythm.{{harvnb|MacDonald|2005|pp=275–276}}: "Lady Madonna", {{harvnb|MacDonald|2005|pp=337–338}}: "Let It Be". MacDonald called McCartney's Mellotron intro on "Strawberry Fields Forever" an integral feature of the song's character.{{sfn|MacDonald|2005|p=219}} McCartney played a Moog synthesiser on the Beatles song "Maxwell's Silver Hammer" and the Wings track "Loup (1st Indian on the Moon)".{{harvnb|MacDonald|2005|p=357}}: "Maxwell's Silver Hammer"; {{harvnb|Benitez|2010|p=46}}: "Loup (1st Indian on the Moon)". Ingham described the Wings songs "With a Little Luck" and "London Town" as being "full of the most sensitive pop synthesizer touches".{{harvnb|Ingham|2009|p=117}}: "the most sensitive pop synthesizer touches"; {{harvnb|Blaney|2007|p=123}}: McCartney playing keyboards on "London Town".

McCartney played drums on the Beatles' songs "Back in the U.S.S.R.", "Dear Prudence", "Martha My Dear", "Wild Honey Pie" and "The Ballad of John and Yoko".{{harvnb|MacDonald|2005|p=309}}: "Wild Honey Pie", {{harvnb|MacDonald|2005|pp=309–310}}: "Back in the USSR", {{harvnb|MacDonald|2005|pp=310–311}}: "Dear Prudence", {{harvnb|MacDonald|2005|p=322}}: "Martha My Dear", {{harvnb|MacDonald|2005|pp=345–347}}: "The Ballad of John and Yoko". He also played all the drum parts on his albums McCartney, McCartney II and McCartney III, as well as on Wings' Band on the Run, and most of the drums on his solo LP Chaos and Creation in the Backyard.{{harvnb|Benitez|2010|p=19}}: McCartney, {{harvnb|Benitez|2010|p=52}}: Band on the Run, {{harvnb|Benitez|2010|p=99}}: McCartney II; {{harvnb|Molenda|2005|pp=68–70}}: he played most of the instrumentation himself. His other drumming contributions include Paul Jones' rendition of "And the Sun Will Shine" (1968),{{cite web |url=http://beatleshelp.net/collabo/jones.html |title=Paul Jones – And The Sun Will Shine – The Dog Presides |publisher=beatleshelp.net |access-date=23 December 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141223115001/http://beatleshelp.net/collabo/jones.html |archive-date=23 December 2014 }} Steve Miller Band's 1969 tracks "Celebration Song" and "My Dark Hour",{{cite book|last=Lewisohn |first=Mark |title=The Beatles: All These Years: Volume I: Tune In |year=2013|publisher=Crown Archetype|location=New York|isbn=978-1-4000-8305-3|page=309}}{{cite book|last=Castleman|first=Harry|title=All Together Now – The First Complete Beatles Discography 1961–1975|year=1977|publisher=Ballantine Books|location=New York|isbn=978-0-345-25680-5|edition=Second|author2=Podrazik, Walter J.|page=[https://archive.org/details/alltogethernowfi0000cast/page/78 78]|chapter=1969 – "But If Paul's Alive, How Did He Die?|chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/alltogethernowfi0000cast/page/78}} and "Sunday Rain" from the Foo Fighters' 2017 album Concrete and Gold.{{cite web|last1=Kim|first1=Michelle|title=Paul McCartney Plays Drums On Foo Fighters' New Album|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/paul-mccartney-plays-drums-on-foo-fighters-new-album/|website=Pitchfork|date=2 August 2017|publisher=Pitchfork Media|access-date=1 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170803050920/https://pitchfork.com/news/paul-mccartney-plays-drums-on-foo-fighters-new-album/|archive-date=3 August 2017}}

In the mid-1960s, when visiting artist friend John Dunbar's flat in London, McCartney brought tapes he had compiled at then-girlfriend Jane Asher's home. They included mixes of various songs, musical pieces and comments made by McCartney that Dick James made into a demo for him.{{sfn|Miles|1997|pp=217–218}} Heavily influenced by American avant-garde musician John Cage, McCartney made tape loops by recording voices, guitars and bongos on a Brenell tape recorder and splicing the various loops. He referred to the finished product as "electronic symphonies".{{sfn|Miles|1997|pp=219–220}} He reversed the tapes, sped them up, and slowed them down to create the desired effects, some of which the Beatles later used on the songs "Tomorrow Never Knows" and "The Fool on the Hill".{{Harvnb|MacDonald|2005|pp=185–193}}: Tape loops used on "Tomorrow Never Knows"; {{Harvnb|Everett|1999|pp=138–139}}: Tape loops used on "The Fool on the Hill".

While at school during the 1950s, McCartney thrived at art assignments, often earning top accolades for his visual work. However, his lack of discipline negatively affected his academic grades, preventing him from earning admission to art college.{{sfn|Carlin|2009|pp=44–45}} During the 1960s, he delved into the visual arts, explored experimental cinema, and regularly attended film, theatrical and classical music performances. His first contact with the London avant-garde scene was through artist John Dunbar, who introduced McCartney to art dealer Robert Fraser.{{sfn|Harry|2002|p=307}} At Fraser's flat he first learned about art appreciation and met Andy Warhol, Claes Oldenburg, Peter Blake, and Richard Hamilton.{{sfn|Miles|1997|p=243}} McCartney later purchased works by Magritte, whose painting of an apple had inspired the Apple Records logo.{{sfn|Miles|1997|pp=256–267}} McCartney became involved in the renovation and publicising of the Indica Gallery in Mason's Yard, London, which Barry Miles had co-founded and where Lennon first met Yoko Ono. Miles also co-founded International Times, an underground paper that McCartney helped to start with direct financial support and by providing interviews to attract advertiser income. Miles later wrote McCartney's official biography, Many Years from Now (1997).{{harvnb|Harry|2000a|pp=549–550}}: Indica Gallery renovation and Lennon meeting Ono; {{harvnb|Harry|2002|pp=549–550}}: Miles as McCartney's official biographer; {{harvnb|Miles|1997|pp=232, 237–238}}: Barry Miles and IT.

McCartney became interested in painting after watching artist Willem de Kooning work in de Kooning's Long Island studio.{{sfn|Spitz|2005|p=84}} McCartney took up painting in 1983, and he first exhibited his work in Siegen, Germany, in 1999. The 70-painting show featured portraits of Lennon, Andy Warhol, and David Bowie.{{sfn|Miles|1997|p=266}} Though initially reluctant to display his paintings publicly, McCartney chose the gallery because events organiser Wolfgang Suttner showed genuine interest in McCartney's art.{{sfn|Sounes|2010|p=453}} In September 2000, the first UK exhibition of McCartney's paintings opened, featuring 500 canvases at the Arnolfini Gallery in Bristol, England.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/946175.stm|title=McCartney art makes UK debut|work=BBC News|date=29 September 2000|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030314052114/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/946175.stm|archive-date=14 March 2003}} In October 2000, McCartney's art debuted in his hometown of Liverpool. McCartney said, "I've been offered an exhibition of my paintings at the Walker Art Gallery ... where John and I used to spend many a pleasant afternoon. So I'm really excited about it. I didn't tell anybody I painted for 15 years but now I'm out of the closet".{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/981721.stm |title=McCartney and Yoko art exhibitions, 20 October 2000 |work=BBC News |date=20 October 2000 |access-date=3 May 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120507141459/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/981721.stm |archive-date=7 May 2012 }}; {{cite web|url=http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/walker/exhibitions/mccartney/home.asp|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031223111720/http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/walker/exhibitions/mccartney/home.asp|archive-date=23 December 2003|title=Walker Gallery Exhibition: 24 May – 4 August 2002|publisher=liverpoolmuseums.org.uk|access-date=3 May 2012}} McCartney is lead patron of the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts, a school in the building formerly occupied by the Liverpool Institute for Boys.{{sfn|Harry|2002|pp=517–526}}

When McCartney was a child, his mother read him poems and encouraged him to read books. His father invited Paul and his brother Michael to solve crosswords with him, to increase their "word power", as McCartney said.{{harvnb|Miles|1997|p=12}}: "word power" (primary source); {{harvnb|Spitz|2005|p=82}}: "word power" (secondary source). In 2001, McCartney published Blackbird Singing, a volume of poems and lyrics to his songs for which he gave readings in Liverpool and New York City.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2001/mar/17/poetry.music |title=Roll over, Andrew Motion |date=14 October 2006 |work=The Guardian |access-date=13 July 2009 |first=Michael |last=Horovitz |location=London |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130930145236/http://www.theguardian.com/books/2001/mar/17/poetry.music |archive-date=30 September 2013 }} In the foreword of the book, he explains: "When I was a teenager ... I had an overwhelming desire to have a poem published in the school magazine. I wrote something deep and meaningful—which was promptly rejected—and I suppose I have been trying to get my own back ever since".{{sfn|McCartney|2001|p=13}} His first children's book was published by Faber & Faber in 2005, High in the Clouds: An Urban Furry Tail, a collaboration with writer Philip Ardagh and animator Geoff Dunbar. Featuring a squirrel whose woodland home is razed by developers, it had been scripted and sketched by McCartney and Dunbar over several years, as an animated film. The Observer labelled it an "anti-capitalist children's book".{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2005/dec/18/booksforchildrenandteenagers.features|title=It took him years to write ...|last=Merritt|first=Stephanie|newspaper=The Observer|date=17 December 2005|access-date=3 May 2012|location=London|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130930144819/http://www.theguardian.com/books/2005/dec/18/booksforchildrenandteenagers.features|archive-date=30 September 2013}} In 2018, he wrote the children's book Hey Grandude! together with illustrator Kathryn Durst, which was published by Random House Books in September 2019. The book is about a grandpa and his three grandchildren with a magic compass on an adventure.{{cite web |title=Hey Grandude! |url=https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/589164/hey-grandude-by-paul-mccartney-illustrated-by-kathryn-durst/ |website=Random House Books |access-date=27 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190927083000/https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/589164/hey-grandude-by-paul-mccartney-illustrated-by-kathryn-durst/ |archive-date=27 September 2019 |url-status=live }} A follow-up, titled Grandude's Green Submarine, was released in September 2021.{{cite book |title=Grandude's Green Submarine | isbn = 9780241472965 | last=McCartney | first= Paul | others= Illustrated by Kathryn Durst | date= 2021 |publisher =Penguin Books }}

{{quote box|quote= I think there's an urge in us to stop the terrible fleetingness of time. Music. Paintings ... Try and capture one bloody moment please.{{sfn|Ingham|2009|p=219}} |source= — McCartney|width=25%|align=right|style=padding:8px;}}

In 1981, McCartney asked Geoff Dunbar to direct a short animated film called Rupert and the Frog Song; McCartney was the writer and producer, and he also added some of the character voices.{{sfn|Harry|2002|p=767}} His song "We All Stand Together" from the film's soundtrack reached No. 3 in the UK Singles Chart. In 1992, he worked with Dunbar on an animated film about the work of French artist Honoré Daumier, which won them a BAFTA award.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3520421.stm |title=McCartney releases frog follow-up |date=29 February 2004 |work=BBC News |access-date=3 May 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120507054824/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3520421.stm |archive-date=7 May 2012 }} In 2004, they worked together on the animated short film Tropic Island Hum.{{sfn|Harry|2002|p=862}} The accompanying single, "Tropic Island Hum"/"We All Stand Together", reached number 21 in the UK.{{sfn|Blaney|2007|p=266}}

McCartney also produced and hosted The Real Buddy Holly Story, a 1985 documentary featuring interviews with Keith Richards, Phil and Don Everly, the Holly family, and others.{{cite video |year=2004 |title=The Real Buddy Holly Story |medium=DVD |publisher=White Star (copyright MPL Communications and BBC TV) |asin=B0002VGTBQ}} In 1995, he made a guest appearance on the Simpsons episode "Lisa the Vegetarian" and directed a short documentary about the Grateful Dead.{{sfn|Harry|2002|pp=386–387: the Grateful Dead documentary, 789: "Lisa the Vegetarian", 862}}

Since the Rich List began in 1989, McCartney has been the UK's wealthiest musician, with an estimated fortune of £730 million in 2015.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-32425664|title=Sir Paul McCartney tops 2015 musicians' rich list|work=BBC News|date=23 April 2015|access-date=25 April 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150424145742/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-32425664|archive-date=24 April 2015}} In addition to an interest in Apple Corps and MPL Communications, an umbrella company for his business interests, he owns a significant music publishing catalogue, with access to over 25,000 copyrights, including the publishing rights to the musicals Guys and Dolls, A Chorus Line, Annie and Grease.For MPL's ownership of over 25,000 songs see: {{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/1745647.stm |title=Sir Paul is 'pop billionaire' |work=BBC News |access-date=13 July 2009 |date=6 January 2002 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090707014944/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/1745647.stm |archive-date=7 July 2009 }}; {{harvnb|Harry|2002|pp=630–632}}: MPL's ownership of Guys and Dolls, A Chorus Line, and Grease; {{harvnb|Sounes|2010|p=348}}: MPL's ownership of Annie. He earned £40 million in 2003, the highest income that year within media professions in the UK.{{cite news |title=McCartney tops media rich list |work=BBC News |date=30 October 2003 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3227171.stm |access-date=3 January 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081201074619/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3227171.stm |archive-date=1 December 2008 }} This rose to £48.5 million by 2005.{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/05/18/nmacca18.xml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080224205952/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=%2Fnews%2F2006%2F05%2F18%2Fnmacca18.xml |archive-date=24 February 2008 |title=48 million in 2005 |work=The Telegraph |date=18 May 2006 |access-date=22 May 2010 |location=London |url-status=dead }} McCartney's 18-date On the Run Tour grossed £37 million in 2012.{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/entertainment-us-britain-music-rich-idUSBRE93A0NC20130411|last=Casciato|first=Paul|title=McCartney tops UK music rich list, Adele richest youngster|work=Reuters|date=11 April 2013|access-date=4 June 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130604024905/http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/04/11/entertainment-us-britain-music-rich-idUSBRE93A0NC20130411|archive-date=4 June 2013}}

McCartney signed his first recording contract, as a member of the Beatles, with Parlophone Records, an EMI subsidiary, in June 1962. In the United States, the Beatles recordings were distributed by EMI subsidiary Capitol Records. The Beatles re-signed with EMI for another nine years in 1967. After forming their own record label, Apple Records, in 1968, the Beatles' recordings would be released through Apple although the masters were still owned by EMI.{{sfn|Lewisohn|1992|pp=350–351}} Following the break-up of the Beatles, McCartney's music continued to be released by Apple Records under the Beatles' 1967 recording contract with EMI which ran until 1976. Following the formal dissolution of the Beatles' partnership in 1975, McCartney re-signed with EMI worldwide and Capitol in the US, Canada and Japan, acquiring ownership of his solo catalogue from EMI as part of the deal. In 1979, McCartney signed with Columbia Records in the US and Canada—reportedly receiving the industry's most lucrative recording contract to date, while remaining with EMI for distribution throughout the rest of the world.{{sfn|McGee|2003|pp=125–126}} As part of the deal, CBS offered McCartney ownership of Frank Music, publisher of the catalogue of American songwriter Frank Loesser. McCartney's album sales were below CBS' expectations and reportedly the company lost at least $9 million on the contract.Dannen, Fredric, Hit Men: Power Brokers and Fast Money Inside the Music Business, Vintage Books, London, 1991, ({{ISBN|0099813106}}), pp. 126–127 McCartney returned to Capitol in the US in 1985, remaining with EMI until 2006.{{harvnb|Blaney|2007|pp=287–297}}: McCartney's discography, with release label detail; {{harvnb|Roberts|2005|pp=311–312}}: McCartney discography with release label detail. In 2007, McCartney signed with Hear Music, becoming the label's first artist.For McCartney's current record label see: {{cite web|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/kisses-on-the-bottom-20120207|title=Paul McCartney: Kisses on the Bottom|last=Hermis|first=Will|date=7 February 2012|work=Rolling Stone: Reviews|access-date=25 June 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120618034838/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/kisses-on-the-bottom-20120207|archive-date=18 June 2012}}; For his joining Hear as their first artist see: {{cite news |title=McCartney joins Starbucks label |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6476843.stm |date=22 March 2007 |access-date=25 June 2012 |work=BBC News |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120629032242/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6476843.stm |archive-date=29 June 2012 }} He returned to Capitol for 2018's Egypt Station.

In 1963, Dick James established Northern Songs to publish the songs of Lennon–McCartney.{{sfn|Spitz|2005|p=365}} McCartney initially owned 20% of Northern Songs, which became 15% after a public stock offering in 1965. In 1969, James sold a controlling interest in Northern Songs to Lew Grade's Associated Television (ATV) after which McCartney and John Lennon sold their remaining shares although they remained under contract to ATV until 1973. In 1972, McCartney re-signed with ATV for seven years in a joint publishing agreement between ATV and McCartney Music. Since 1979, MPL Communications has published McCartney's songs.

McCartney and Yoko Ono attempted to purchase the Northern Songs catalogue in 1981, but Grade declined their offer. Soon afterward, ATV Music's parent company, Associated Communications Corp., was acquired in a takeover by businessman Robert Holmes à Court, who later sold ATV Music to Michael Jackson in 1985. McCartney has criticised Jackson's purchase and handling of Northern Songs over the years. In 1995, Jackson merged his catalogue with Sony for a reported £59,052,000 ($95 million), establishing Sony/ATV Music Publishing, in which he retained half-ownership.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/13/business/media/13music.html |title=Michael Jackson Bailout Said to Be Close |first1=Jeff |last1=Leeds |first2=Andrew Ross |last2=Sorkin |work=The New York Times |date=13 April 2006 |access-date=26 June 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110918161053/http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/13/business/media/13music.html?ex=1302580800&en=45bff2f7a4da68fe&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss |archive-date=18 September 2011 }} Northern Songs was formally dissolved in 1995, and absorbed into the Sony/ATV catalogue.{{harvnb|Harry|2002|pp=456–459}}: McCartney was unhappy about Jackson's purchase and handling of Northern Songs; {{harvnb|Southall|Perry|2006|p=203}}: Northern Songs dissolved and absorbed into Sony/ATV. McCartney receives writers' royalties which together are {{frac|33|1|3}} per cent of total commercial proceeds in the US, and which vary elsewhere between 50 and 55 per cent.{{sfn|Southall|Perry|2006|p=195}} Two of the Beatles' earliest songs—"Love Me Do" and "P.S. I Love You"—were published by an EMI subsidiary, Ardmore & Beechwood, before signing with James. McCartney acquired their publishing rights from Ardmore in 1978, and they are the only two Beatles songs owned by MPL Communications.{{harvnb|Harry|2002|p=536}}: The only Beatles songs owned by MPL Communications; {{harvnb|Southall|Perry|2006|pp=192–193}}: McCartney acquired the publishing rights for "Love Me Do" and "P.S. I Love You".

McCartney first used drugs in the Beatles' Hamburg days when they often used Preludin to maintain their energy while performing for long periods.{{sfn|Miles|1997|pp=66–67}} Bob Dylan introduced them to cannabis in a New York hotel room in 1964; McCartney recalls getting "very high" and "giggling uncontrollably".{{sfn|Miles|1997|pp=186–189}} His use of the drug soon became habitual, and according to Miles, McCartney wrote the lyrics "another kind of mind" in "Got to Get You into My Life" specifically as a reference to cannabis.{{harvnb|Brown|Gaines|2002|p=182}}: Habitual marijuana use by McCartney and the Beatles; {{harvnb|Miles|1997|p=190}}: Marijuana references in Beatles songs. During the filming of Help!, McCartney occasionally smoked a joint in the car on the way to the studio, and often forgot his lines.{{sfn|Miles|1997|pp=67–68}} Director Richard Lester overheard two physically attractive women trying to persuade McCartney to use heroin, but he refused.{{sfn|Miles|1997|pp=67–68}} Introduced to cocaine by Robert Fraser, McCartney used the drug regularly during the recording of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, and for about a year in total but stopped because of his dislike of the unpleasant melancholy he felt afterwards.{{harvnb|Miles|1997|p=247}}: Cocaine use during Sgt. Pepper recording sessions; {{harvnb|Miles|1997|pp=384–385}}: McCartney used the drug for about a year then stopped.

Initially reluctant to try LSD, McCartney eventually did so in late 1966, and took his second "acid trip" in March 1967 with Lennon after a Sgt. Pepper studio session.{{harvnb|Miles|1997|pp=379–380}}: First LSD "trip", {{harvnb|Miles|1997|p=382}}: Second LSD "trip". He later became the first Beatle to discuss the drug publicly, declaring: "It opened my eyes ... [and] made me a better, more honest, more tolerant member of society."{{sfn|Brown|Gaines|2002|p=228}} McCartney made his attitude about cannabis public in 1967, when he, along with the other Beatles and Epstein, added his name to a July advertisement in The Times, which called for its legalisation, the release of those imprisoned for possession, and research into marijuana's medical uses.{{sfn|Miles|1997|pp=386–387}} In 1972, a Swedish court fined McCartney £1,000 for cannabis possession. Soon after, Scottish police found marijuana plants growing on his farm, leading to his 1973 conviction for illegal cultivation and a £100 fine at Campbeltown Sheriff Court.{{sfn|Badman|1999|p=110}}

As a result of his drug convictions, the US government repeatedly denied him a visa until December 1973.{{harvnb|Harry|2002|pp=300–307}}: Drugs. Arrested again for marijuana possession in 1975 in Los Angeles, Linda took the blame, and the court soon dismissed the charges. In January 1980, when Wings flew to Tokyo for a tour of Japan, customs officials found approximately {{convert|8|oz|g}} of cannabis in his luggage. Years later, McCartney said, "I don't know what possessed me to just stick this bloody great bag of grass in my suitcase. Thinking back on it, it almost makes me shudder."Performing Songwriter, [https://performingsongwriter.com/paul-mccartney-tokyo-jail/ Paul McCartney: 9 Days in a Tokyo Jail] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220303202233/https://performingsongwriter.com/paul-mccartney-tokyo-jail/ |date=3 March 2022 }}, Lydia Hutchinson, 16 January 2011. They arrested McCartney and brought him to a local jail while the Japanese government decided what to do. After ten days, they released and deported him without charge.{{sfn|Harry|2002|pp=459–461}}

In 1984, while McCartney was on holiday in Barbados, authorities arrested him for possession of marijuana and fined him $200.{{sfn|Harry|2002|pp=300–307}} Upon his return to England, he stated that cannabis was less harmful than the legal substances alcohol, tobacco and glue, and that he had done no harm to anyone.{{sfn|Harry|2002|p=306}} In 1997, he spoke out in support of decriminalisation of cannabis: "People are smoking pot anyway and to make them criminals is wrong."{{sfn|Harry|2002|p=307}} McCartney quit cannabis in 2015, citing a desire to set a good example for his grandchildren.{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/paul-mccartney-quit-cannabis-because-he-didnt-want-to-set-a-bad-example-to-his-grandchildren-10286647.html|title=Paul McCartney reveals what made him finally stop smoking cannabis|date=30 May 2015|website=The Independent|access-date=10 June 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160624105150/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/paul-mccartney-quit-cannabis-because-he-didnt-want-to-set-a-bad-example-to-his-grandchildren-10286647.html|archive-date=24 June 2016}}

File:Paul McCartney and Putin 3.jpg with McCartney and his then-wife Heather Mills in Moscow in 2003]]

Since 1975, McCartney has been a vegetarian.{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01q7gvn|title=Food in the life of Sir Paul McCartney|author=Food Programme|date=27 January 2013|website=BBC Radio 4|access-date=27 June 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170107085239/http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01q7gvn|archive-date=7 January 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://open.live.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/5/redir/version/2.0/mediaset/audio-nondrm-download/proto/http/vpid/p02q3154.mp3|title=FoodProgramme-20130127-FoodInTheLifeOfSirPaulMccartney.mp3|publisher=BBC|access-date=4 July 2018}} He and his wife Linda were vegetarians for most of their 29-year marriage. They decided to stop consuming meat after Paul saw lambs in a field as they were eating a meal of lamb. Soon after, the couple became outspoken animal rights activists.{{sfn|Harry|2002|pp=880–882}} In his first interview after Linda's death, he promised to continue working for animal rights, and in 1999, he spent £3,000,000 to ensure Linda McCartney Foods remained free of genetically engineered ingredients.For McCartney's pledge to continue Linda's animal rights work see: {{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/145974.stm |title=McCartney vows to keep animal rights torch alight |work=BBC News |date=5 August 1998 |access-date=29 January 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080106052029/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/145974.stm |archive-date=6 January 2008 }}; For McCartney ensuring that Linda McCartney Foods remained GMO free, see: {{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/365947.stm |title=GM-free ingredients |work=BBC News |date=10 June 1999 |access-date=3 January 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090930091201/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/365947.stm |archive-date=30 September 2009 }} In 1995, he narrated the documentary Devour the Earth, written by Tony Wardle.{{cite web|url=http://www.worldpreservationfoundation.org/ecotrailers.php?id=11|title=Devour the Earth|publisher=World Preservation Foundation|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130107023436/http://www.worldpreservationfoundation.org/ecotrailers.php?id=11#.UEi_DSI4cy1|archive-date=7 January 2013}} McCartney is a supporter of the animal rights organisation People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. He has appeared in the group's campaigns, and in 2009, McCartney narrated a video for them titled "Glass Walls", which was harshly critical of slaughterhouses, the meat industry, and their effect on animal welfare.{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/6750881/Paul-McCartney-narrates-Peta-video-on-slaughterhouses.html |title=Video: Paul McCartney narrates Peta video on slaughterhouses |work=The Telegraph |date=7 December 2009 |access-date=26 May 2013 |location=London |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130922040243/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/6750881/Paul-McCartney-narrates-Peta-video-on-slaughterhouses.html |archive-date=22 September 2013 }}{{cite web |url=https://www.paulmccartney.com/news/xmas-update-paul-supports-new-pro-vegetarian-peta-uk-campaign-celebrate-life |title=Xmas Update: Paul Supports New Pro-Vegetarian PETA UK Campaign: 'Celebrate Life' |work=PaulMcCartney.com |orig-date=Original date 20 November 2012 |date=19 December 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240303191130/https://www.paulmccartney.com/news/xmas-update-paul-supports-new-pro-vegetarian-peta-uk-campaign-celebrate-life |archive-date=3 March 2024}}{{cite web|url=http://www.ecorazzi.com/2009/12/07/paul-mccartney-narrates-new-powerful-factory-farming-video/|title=Paul McCartney Narrates "If Slaughterhouses Had Glass Walls.."|last=Michael|first=Destries|date=7 December 2009|work=Ecorazzi|access-date=8 December 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121122145840/http://www.ecorazzi.com/2009/12/07/paul-mccartney-narrates-new-powerful-factory-farming-video/|archive-date=22 November 2012}} McCartney has also supported campaigns headed by the Humane Society of the United States, Humane Society International, World Animal Protection, and the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation.{{cite web|url=http://www.tigertime.info/|title=Tiger Time|publisher=David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121213111259/http://www.tigertime.info/|archive-date=13 December 2012}}{{cite web|url=http://www.humanesociety.org/news/press_releases/2012/07/sir_paul_mccartney_supports_be_cruelty_free_campaign_070912.html|title=Sir Paul McCartney Supports HSI and The HSUS' Be Cruelty-Free Campaign|publisher=Humane Society of the United States|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121101195022/http://www.humanesociety.org/news/press_releases/2012/07/sir_paul_mccartney_supports_be_cruelty_free_campaign_070912.html|archive-date=1 November 2012}}

Following McCartney's marriage to Mills, he joined her in a campaign against land mines, becoming a patron of Adopt-A-Minefield.For McCartney becoming a patron of Adopt-A-Minefield see: {{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/1287128.stm |title=McCartney calls for landmine ban |work=BBC News |date=20 April 2001 |access-date=3 January 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090930091209/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/1287128.stm |archive-date=30 September 2009 }} In a 2003 meeting at the Kremlin with Vladimir Putin, ahead of a concert in Red Square, McCartney and Mills urged Russia to join the anti-landmine campaign.{{cite web|url=http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/28696|title=President Vladimir Putin received a legendary singer and former Beatle, Paul McCartney, and his wife, Heather Mills|date=24 May 2003|publisher=en.kremlin.ru|access-date=21 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180915100927/http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/28696|archive-date=15 September 2018|url-status=live}} In 2006, the McCartneys travelled to Prince Edward Island to raise international awareness of seal hunting. The couple debated with Danny Williams, Newfoundland's then Premier, on Larry King Live, stating that fishermen should stop hunting seals and start seal-watching businesses instead.{{cite news |url=http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0603/03/lkl.01.html |title=Interview transcript, McCartney and Heather, Larry King Live, Seal cull |publisher=CNN |date=3 March 2006 |access-date=22 May 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100511102657/http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0603/03/lkl.01.html |archive-date=11 May 2010 }} McCartney also supports the Make Poverty History campaign.{{cite web|url=http://www.looktothestars.org/charity/make-poverty-history|title=Make Poverty History: Celebrity Supporters & Events|publisher=Look to the Stars|access-date=19 January 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130105041015/http://www.looktothestars.org/charity/make-poverty-history|archive-date=5 January 2013}}

McCartney has participated in several charity recordings and performances, including the Concerts for the People of Kampuchea, Ferry Aid, Band Aid, Live Aid, Live 8, and the 1989 recording of "Ferry Cross the Mersey".{{harvnb|Harry|2002|pp=270}}: Concerts for the People of Kampuchea, 327–328: "Ferry Cross the Mersey", 514–515: Live Aid; {{harvnb|Roberts|2005|pp=49}}: Band Aid & Band Aid 20, 187: Ferry Aid. In 2004, he donated a song to an album to aid the "US Campaign for Burma", in support of Burmese Nobel Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi. In 2008, he donated a song to Aid Still Required's CD, organised as an effort to raise funds to assist with the recovery from the devastation caused in Southeast Asia by the 2004 tsunami.For the "US Campaign for Burma" see: {{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4110628.stm |title=US campaign for Burma protest |work=BBC News |date=20 June 2005 |access-date=5 May 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120508144914/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4110628.stm |archive-date=8 May 2012 }}; For the Aid Still Required CD see: {{cite web|url=http://aidstillrequired.org/music|title=Aid Still Required|publisher=Aid Still Required|access-date=3 May 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120529054402/http://aidstillrequired.org/music|archive-date=29 May 2012}}

In 2009, McCartney wrote to Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama, asking him why he was not a vegetarian. As McCartney explained, "He wrote back very kindly, saying, 'my doctors tell me that I must eat meat'. And I wrote back again, saying, you know, I don't think that's right ... I think he's now being told ... that he can get his protein somewhere else ... It just doesn't seem right—the Dalai Lama, on the one hand, saying, 'Hey guys, don't harm sentient beings ... Oh, and by the way, I'm having a steak.{{'"}}{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2010/jul/18/paul-mccartney-vegetarianism|title=Interview: Paul McCartney|last=Ellen|first=Barbara|date=17 July 2010|work=The Guardian|access-date=11 May 2012|location=London|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130915150250/http://www.theguardian.com/music/2010/jul/18/paul-mccartney-vegetarianism|archive-date=15 September 2013}} In 2012, McCartney joined the anti-fracking campaign Artists Against Fracking.{{cite web | url=http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/08/29/yoko-ono-and-sean-lennon-organize-artists-against-fracking/ | title=Yoko Ono and Sean Lennon Organize Artists Against Fracking | work=The New York Times | date=29 August 2012 | access-date=17 May 2016 | first=Mireya | last=Navarro | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402191400/http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/08/29/yoko-ono-and-sean-lennon-organize-artists-against-fracking/?_r=1 | archive-date=2 April 2015 | url-status=live }}

Save the Arctic is a campaign to protect the Arctic and an international outcry and a renewed focus concern on oil development in the Arctic, attracting the support of more than five million people. This includes McCartney, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and 11 Nobel Peace Prize winners.{{cite web|url=https://www.transcend.org/tms/2014/06/greenpeace-blocks-two-major-oil-rigs-to-save-the-arctic/|title=Greenpeace Blocks Two Major Oil Rigs to 'Save the Arctic'|work=TRANSCEND Media Service|access-date=27 September 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160122020745/https://www.transcend.org/tms/2014/06/greenpeace-blocks-two-major-oil-rigs-to-save-the-arctic/|archive-date=22 January 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://ecowatch.com/2013/10/18/hundreds-protests-36-countries-demand-release-arctic-30/|title=Hundreds of Protests in 36 Countries Demand Release of Arctic 30|work=EcoWatch|access-date=27 September 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141104210959/http://ecowatch.com/2013/10/18/hundreds-protests-36-countries-demand-release-arctic-30/|archive-date=4 November 2014|date=18 October 2013}} In 2015, following British prime minister David Cameron's decision to give members of parliament a free vote on amending the law against fox hunting, McCartney was quoted: "The people of Britain are behind this Tory government on many things but the vast majority of us will be against them if hunting is reintroduced. It is cruel and unnecessary and will lose them support from ordinary people and animal lovers like myself."{{cite news | url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/a-bunch-of-lying-bastards--brian-may-and-paul-mccartney-hit-out-at-david-camerons-cruel-and-unnecessary--bid-to-bring-back-fox-hunting-10380869.html | title='A bunch of lying b*****ds' – Brian May and Paul McCartney hit out at David Cameron's 'cruel and unnecessary' bid to bring back fox hunting | work=The Independent | location=London | first=Matt | last=Dathan | date=10 July 2015 | access-date=12 July 2015 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150712202052/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/a-bunch-of-lying-bastards--brian-may-and-paul-mccartney-hit-out-at-david-camerons-cruel-and-unnecessary--bid-to-bring-back-fox-hunting-10380869.html | archive-date=12 July 2015 }} After the 2016 Orlando shooting, McCartney expressed his solidarity for the victims during a concert in Berlin.{{cite news |first=Jennifer |last=Ruby |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/showbiz/celebrity-news/sir-paul-mccartney-drapes-rainbow-flag-around-him-during-emotional-tribute-to-orlando-shooting-victims-a3272041.html |title=Sir Paul McCartney drapes rainbow flag around him during emotional tribute to Orlando shooting victims |place=London |newspaper=Evening Standard |date=15 June 2016 |access-date=24 July 2022 |archive-date=24 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220724043308/https://www.standard.co.uk/showbiz/celebrity-news/sir-paul-mccartney-drapes-rainbow-flag-around-him-during-emotional-tribute-to-orlando-shooting-victims-a3272041.html |url-status=live }}

During the COVID-19 pandemic, McCartney called for Chinese wet markets (which sell live animals, including wild ones) to be banned. He expressed concern over both the health impacts of the practice as well as its cruelty to animals.{{Cite news|last=Beaumont-Thomas|first=Ben|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/apr/14/paul-mccartney-calls-for-medieval-chinese-markets-to-be-banned-over-coronavirus|title=Paul McCartney calls for 'medieval' Chinese markets to be banned over coronavirus|date=15 April 2020|work=The Guardian|access-date=15 April 2020|archive-date=15 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200415004213/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/apr/14/paul-mccartney-calls-for-medieval-chinese-markets-to-be-banned-over-coronavirus|url-status=live}} In 2020 McCartney commented on ecocide, stating that he "recently heard about this campaign to make ecocide a crime at the International Criminal Court. The idea is clearly catching on... and not before time if we are to prevent further devastation of the planet."{{Cite web |title=Supporters of Ecocide Law |url=https://www.stopecocide.earth/supporters |access-date=21 June 2023 |website=Stop Ecocide International |language=en-US |archive-date=6 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230606045438/https://www.stopecocide.earth/supporters |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=Green Energy and Sacrifice Zones: Ecocide? |url=https://www.wfm-igp.org/blog/green-energy-and-sacrifice-zones-ecocide/ |access-date=21 June 2023 |website=WFM/IGP |language=en |archive-date=9 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230609194700/https://www.wfm-igp.org/blog/green-energy-and-sacrifice-zones-ecocide/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |date=28 February 2023 |title=The Case For Criminalizing Ecocide |url=https://www.globalissues.org/news/2023/02/28/33173 |access-date=21 June 2023 |website=globalissues.org |language=en-gb |archive-date=21 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230621122639/https://www.globalissues.org/news/2023/02/28/33173 |url-status=live }} McCartney is one of the 100 contributors to the book Dear NHS: 100 Stories to Say Thank You, of which all proceeds go to NHS Charities Together and The Lullaby Trust.{{cite news |last= Moore |first= Sam |date= 17 April 2020 |title= Paul McCartney and Ricky Gervais among 100 contributors to 'Dear NHS' charity book |url= https://www.nme.com/news/music/paul-mccartney-ricky-gervais-among-100-contributors-to-dear-nhs-100-stories-to-say-thank-you-charity-book-2648805 |work= NME |access-date= 26 August 2021 |archive-date= 26 August 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210826192441/https://www.nme.com/news/music/paul-mccartney-ricky-gervais-among-100-contributors-to-dear-nhs-100-stories-to-say-thank-you-charity-book-2648805 |url-status= live }}

In 2024, McCartney continued his connection to The Tree Register by sponsoring the first ever Tree Register Yearbook.{{Cite book |title=Tree Register Yearbook 2023–24 |year=2024 |location=Hertfordshire, England |publication-date=2024 |pages=3,8}}

McCartney has publicly professed support for Everton F.C. and has also shown favour for Liverpool F.C.For McCartney's support of Everton, see: {{cite web|url=http://www.evertonfc.com/news/archive/macca-s-a-blue.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090310040634/http://www.evertonfc.com/news/archive/macca-s-a-blue.html|archive-date=10 March 2009 |title=Macca's a blue |work=Everton Football Club |access-date=8 March 2010}}; For McCartney's support of Liverpool, see: {{cite web|url=http://stage.hn.haymarketnetwork.com/editorial/features/didthebeatleshidetheirfootballingloveaway.aspx|title=Did The Beatles Hide Their Footballing Love Away? |publisher=Haymarket Media Group|access-date=6 May 2012|date=15 July 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120308204005/http://stage.hn.haymarketnetwork.com/editorial/features/did-the-beatles-hide-their-footballing-love-away.aspx|archive-date=8 March 2012|url-status=dead}} In 2008, he ended speculation about his allegiance when he said: "Here's the deal: my father was born in Everton, my family are officially Evertonians, so if it comes down to a derby match or an FA Cup final between the two, I would have to support Everton. But after a concert at Wembley Arena I got a bit of a friendship with Kenny Dalglish, who had been to the gig and I thought 'You know what? I am just going to support them both because it's all Liverpool.{{' "}}{{cite web|last=Prentice |first=David |url=http://www.evertonbanter.co.uk/2008/07/sir-paul-mccartneys-everton-se.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080821130909/http://www.evertonbanter.co.uk/2008/07/sir-paul-mccartneys-everton-se.html |archive-date=21 August 2008 |work=Everton Banter |title=Sir Paul McCartney's Everton 'secret' was no surprise |date= 5 July 2008 | access-date=10 May 2012}}

{{Main|Personal relationships of Paul McCartney}}

McCartney's first serious girlfriend in Liverpool was Dorothy "Dot" Rhone, whom he met at the Casbah club in 1959.{{sfn|Spitz|2005|p=163}} According to Spitz, Rhone felt that McCartney had a compulsion to control situations. He often chose clothes and makeup for her, encouraging her to grow her blonde hair to simulate Brigitte Bardot's hairstyle,{{sfn|Miles|1997|p=69}} and at least once insisting she have her hair restyled, to disappointing effect.{{harvnb|Miles|1997|p=69}}: Encouraging Rhone to grow her hair long like Bardot; {{harvnb|Spitz|2005|p=171}}: Rhone had her hair re-styled to disappointing effect. When McCartney first went to Hamburg with the Beatles, he wrote to Rhone regularly, and she accompanied Cynthia Lennon to Hamburg when they played there again in 1962.{{sfn|Spitz|2005|pp=239–240}} The couple had a two-and-a-half-year relationship, and were due to marry until Rhone's miscarriage. According to Spitz, McCartney, now "free of obligation", ended the engagement.{{sfn|Spitz|2005|p=348}}

McCartney first met British actress Jane Asher on 18 April 1963 when a photographer asked them to pose at a Beatles performance at the Royal Albert Hall in London.{{sfn|Miles|1997|pp=101–102}} The two began a relationship, and in November of that year he took up residence with Asher at her parents' home at 57 Wimpole Street in Marylebone, central London.{{sfn|Spitz|2005|p=439}} They lived there for more than two years before moving to McCartney's own home in St John's Wood in March 1966.{{harvnb|Miles|1997|pp=104–107}}: Living at the Asher home, 254: McCartney's move to his home in St. John's Wood. He wrote several songs while living with the Ashers, including "Yesterday", "And I Love Her", "You Won't See Me" and "I'm Looking Through You", the latter three having been inspired by their romance.{{sfn|Miles|1997|p=108}} They had a five-year relationship and planned to marry, but Asher broke off the engagement after she discovered that McCartney had become involved with Francie Schwartz,{{harvnb|Harry|2002|pp=27–32}}: Jane Asher, {{harvnb|Harry|2002|pp=777–778}}: Francie Schwartz. an American screenwriter who moved to London at age 23, thinking she could sell a script to the Beatles. Schwartz met McCartney and he invited her to move into his London house, where events ensued that possibly broke up his relationship with Asher.{{cite web|url=http://www.mccartney.com/?page_id=6676|title=Francie Schwartz|website=McCartney Times|date=10 December 2016|access-date=25 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190329044806/http://www.mccartney.com/?page_id=6676|archive-date=29 March 2019|url-status=live}}

File:Paul and Linda McCartney Wings Over America 1976 (cropped).jpg

Linda Eastman was a music fan who once commented, "all my teen years were spent with an ear to the radio."{{sfn|Harry|2002|p=585}} At times, she skipped school to see artists such as Fabian, Bobby Darin and Chuck Berry.{{sfn|Harry|2002|p=585}} She became a popular photographer with several rock groups, including the Jimi Hendrix Experience, the Grateful Dead, the Doors and the Beatles, whom she first met at Shea Stadium in 1966. She commented, "It was John who interested me at the start. He was my Beatle hero. But when I met him the fascination faded fast, and I found it was Paul I liked."{{sfn|Harry|2002|p=587}} The pair first became properly acquainted on 15 May 1967 at a Georgie Fame concert at The Bag O'Nails club, during her UK assignment to photograph rock musicians in London.{{sfn|Miles|1997|p=432}} As Paul remembers, "The night Linda and I met, I spotted her across a crowded club, and although I would normally have been nervous chatting her up, I realised I had to ... Pushiness worked for me that night!"{{harvnb|Harry|2002|p=45}}: Paul and Linda's first meeting, {{harvnb|Harry|2002|p=587}}: "Pushiness worked for me that night!"; {{harvnb|Miles|1997|pp=432–434}}: Linda's UK assignment to photograph rock musicians in London.

Linda said this about their meeting: "I was quite shameless really. I was with somebody else [that night] ... and I saw Paul at the other side of the room. He looked so beautiful that I made up my mind I would have to pick him up."{{sfn|Harry|2002|p=587}} The pair married in March 1969. About their relationship, Paul said, "We had a lot of fun together ... just the nature of how we aren't, our favourite thing really is to just hang, to have fun. And Linda's very big on just following the moment."{{sfn|Miles|1997|pp=514–515}} He added, "We were crazy. We had a big argument the night before we got married, and it was nearly called off ... [it's] miraculous that we made it. But we did."{{sfn|Miles|1997|p=525}}

After the break-up of the Beatles, the two collaborated musically and formed Wings in 1971.{{sfn|Harry|2002|pp=904–910}} They faced derision from some fans and critics, who questioned her inclusion. She was nervous about performing with Paul, who explained, "she conquered those nerves, got on with it and was really gutsy."{{sfn|Lewisohn|2002|p=45}} Paul defended her musical ability: "I taught Linda the basics of the keyboard ... She took a couple of lessons and learned some bluesy things ... she did very well and made it look easier than it was ... The critics would say, 'She's not really playing' or 'Look at her—she's playing with one finger.' But what they didn't know is that sometimes she was playing a thing called a Minimoog, which could only be played with one finger. It was monophonic."{{sfn|Lewisohn|2002|p=45}} He went on to say, "We thought we were in it for the fun ... it was just something we wanted to do, so if we got it wrong—big deal. We didn't have to justify ourselves."{{sfn|Lewisohn|2002|p=45}} Former Wings guitarist McCullough said of collaborating with Linda, "trying to get things together with a learner in the group didn't work as far as I was concerned."{{sfn|Blaney|2007|p=84}}

They had four children—Linda's daughter Heather (legally adopted by Paul), Mary, Stella, and James—and remained married until Linda's death from breast cancer at age 56 in 1998.{{sfn|Harry|2002|pp=585–601}} After Linda died, Paul said, "I got a counsellor because I knew that I would need some help. He was great, particularly in helping me get rid of my guilt [about wishing I'd been] perfect all the time ... a real bugger. But then I thought, hang on a minute. We're just human. That was the beautiful thing about our marriage. We were just a boyfriend and girlfriend having babies."{{sfn|Harry|2002|pp=600–601}}

In 2002, McCartney married Heather Mills, a former model and anti-landmine campaigner.{{sfn|Harry|2002|pp=568–578}} In 2003, the couple had a child, Beatrice Milly, named in honour of Mills's late mother and one of McCartney's aunts.{{sfn|Sounes|2010|p=523}} They separated in April 2006 and divorced acrimoniously in May 2008.{{cite web | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/1948085/Sir-Paul-McCartney-and-Heather-Mills-finalise-divorce.html | title=Sir Paul McCartney and Heather Mills finalise divorce | date=12 May 2008 | work=The Telegraph | access-date=9 October 2023 | archive-date=20 October 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231020054848/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/1948085/Sir-Paul-McCartney-and-Heather-Mills-finalise-divorce.html | url-status=live }} In 2004, he commented on media animosity toward his partners: "[the British public] didn't like me giving up on Jane Asher ... I married [Linda], a New York divorcee with a child, and at the time they didn't like that".{{cite news | url = https://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/06/11/1086749891275.html | title = McCartney's lament: I can't buy your love | newspaper = The Sydney Morning Herald | date = 12 June 2004 | url-status=live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120508142554/http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/06/11/1086749891275.html | archive-date = 8 May 2012 }}

McCartney married New Yorker Nancy Shevell in a civil ceremony at Marylebone Town Hall, London, on 9 October 2011. The wedding was a modest event attended by a group of about 30 relatives and friends.{{cite news |date=9 October 2011 |title=Sir Paul McCartney marries US heiress Nancy Shevell |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-15230730 |access-date=20 February 2024|work=BBC News |language=en-GB}} The couple had been together since November 2007.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/07/nyregion/07beatle.html|title=Former Beatle Linked to Member of M.T.A. Unit|work=The New York Times|date=7 November 2007|first=Sewell|last=Chan|access-date=5 May 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110614183635/http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/07/nyregion/07beatle.html|archive-date=14 June 2011}} Shevell is vice-president of a family-owned transportation conglomerate which owns New England Motor Freight.{{cite web|url=http://www.nemf.com/nancy.html|title=Nancy Shevell – Vice President – Administration|publisher=New England Motor Freight|access-date=17 October 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111011140941/http://www.nemf.com/nancy.html|archive-date=11 October 2011}} She is a former member of the board of the New York area's Metropolitan Transportation Authority.{{cite news|last1=Donohue|first1=Pete|last2=Connor|first2=Tracy|title=Mrs. Paul McCartney quits MTA board|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/ticket-ride-mrs-paul-mccartney-quits-mta-board-serving-decade-article-1.1011578|work=Daily News|location=New York|date=25 January 2012|access-date=15 September 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116075843/http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/ticket-ride-mrs-paul-mccartney-quits-mta-board-serving-decade-article-1.1011578|archive-date=16 January 2013}} Shevell is about 18 years younger than McCartney.{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/meet-paul-mccartneys-wife-nancy-shevell/story?id=14704676|title=Meet Paul McCartney's Third Wife|website=ABC News|access-date=25 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150908235900/http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/meet-paul-mccartneys-wife-nancy-shevell/story?id=14704676|archive-date=8 September 2015|url-status=live}} They had known each other for about 20 years prior to marrying, having met because both had homes in the Hamptons.

{{About|social and other general interactions|creative collaborations|Collaborations between ex-Beatles|section=yes}}

File:Lennon-McCartney.JPG in 1964]]

Though McCartney had a strained relationship with Lennon post-Beatles, they briefly became close again in early 1974, and played music together on one occasion.{{harvnb|Badman|1999|pp=122–123}}; {{harvnb|Doggett|2009|pp=218–219}}; {{harvnb|Sandford|2006|pp=227–229}} In later years, the two grew apart.{{sfn|Miles|1997|p=587}} McCartney often phoned Lennon, but was apprehensive about the reception he would receive. During one call, Lennon told him, "You're all pizza and fairytales!"{{sfn|Miles|1997|p=588}} In an effort to avoid talking only about business, they often spoke of cats, babies, or baking bread.{{sfn|Miles|1997|p=590}}

On 24 April 1976, McCartney and Lennon were watching an episode of Saturday Night Live at Lennon's home in the Dakota when Lorne Michaels made a $3,000 cash offer for the Beatles to reunite. While they seriously considered going to the SNL studio a few blocks away, they decided it was too late. This was their last time together.{{harvnb|Harry|2002|pp=504–505}}: On 24 April 1976, the two were watching Saturday Night Live, last time Lennon and McCartney spent time together; {{harvnb|Miles|1997|p=592}}: Lennon: "We nearly got a cab, but we were actually too tired". VH1 fictionalised this event in the 2000 television film Two of Us.{{sfn|Harry|2002|pp=869–870}} McCartney's last telephone call to Lennon, days before Lennon and Ono released Double Fantasy, was friendly: "[It is] a consoling factor for me, because I do feel it was sad that we never actually sat down and straightened our differences out. But fortunately for me, the last phone conversation I ever had with him was really great, and we didn't have any kind of blow-up", he said.{{cite journal|last=Goodman|first=Joan|title=Playboy Interview: Paul and Linda McCartney|journal=Playboy|volume=31, no. 12|issue=December 1984|page=82}}

{{quote box|quote= John is kinda like a constant ... always there in my being ... in my soul, so I always think of him.{{harvnb|Graff|2000|p=40}}: "John is kinda like a constant ... always there in my being,{{harvnb|Graff|2000|p=96}}: "in my soul, so I always think of him". |source= — McCartney, Guitar World, January 2000 |width=20%|align=right|style=padding:8px;}}

On 9 December 1980, McCartney followed the news that Lennon had been murdered the previous night; Lennon's death created a media frenzy around the surviving members of the band.{{sfn|Carlin|2009|pp=255–257}} McCartney was leaving an Oxford Street recording studio that evening when he was surrounded by reporters who asked him for his reaction; he responded: "It's a drag". The press quickly criticised him for what appeared to be a superficial response.{{sfn|Harry|2002|p=505}} He later explained, "When John was killed somebody stuck a microphone at me and said: 'What do you think about it?' I said, 'It's a dra-a-ag' and meant it with every inch of melancholy I could muster. When you put that in print it says, 'McCartney in London today when asked for a comment on his dead friend said, "It's a drag".' It seemed a very flippant comment to make."{{sfn|Harry|2002|p=505}} He described his first exchange with Ono after the murder, and his last conversation with Lennon:

{{blockquote|I talked to Yoko the day after he was killed, and the first thing she said was, "John was really fond of you." The last telephone conversation I had with him we were still the best of mates. He was always a very warm guy, John. His bluff was all on the surface. He used to take his glasses down, those granny glasses, and say, "it's only me." They were like a wall you know? A shield. Those are the moments I treasure.{{sfn|Harry|2002|p=505}}

}}

In 1983, McCartney said: "I would not have been as typically human and standoffish as I was if I knew John was going to die. I would have made more of an effort to try and get behind his 'mask' and have a better relationship with him."{{sfn|Harry|2002|p=505}} He said that he went home that night, watched the news on television with his children and cried most of the evening. In 1997, he said that Lennon's death made the remaining ex-Beatles nervous that they might also be murdered.{{sfn|Miles|1997|p=594}} He told Mojo magazine in 2002 that Lennon was his greatest hero.{{sfn|Harry|2002|p=506}} In 1981, McCartney sang backup on Harrison's tribute to Lennon, "All Those Years Ago", which featured Starr on drums.{{sfn|Harry|2002|p=20}} McCartney released "Here Today" in 1982, a song Everett described as "a haunting tribute" to McCartney's friendship with Lennon.{{sfn|Everett|1999|p=10}}

File:Paul McCartney & George Harrison 1964.jpg

Discussing his relationship with McCartney, Harrison said: "Paul would always help along when you'd done his ten songs—then when he got 'round to doing one of my songs, he would help. It was silly. It was very selfish, actually ... There were a lot of tracks, though, where I played bass ... because what Paul would do—if he'd written a song, he'd learn all the parts for Paul and then come in the studio and say (sometimes he was very difficult): 'Do this'. He'd never give you the opportunity to come out with something."{{cite journal|last=Glazer|first=Mitchell|title=Growing Up at 33⅓: The George Harrison Interview|journal=Crawdaddy|issue=February 1977|pages=35–36}}

After Harrison's death in November 2001, McCartney said he was "a lovely guy and a very brave man who had a wonderful sense of humour". He went on to say: "We grew up together and we just had so many beautiful times together—that's what I am going to remember. I'll always love him, he's my baby brother."{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1363989/Ill-always-love-him-hes-my-baby-brother-says-tearful-McCartney.html|title=I'll always love him, he's my baby brother, says tearful McCartney|work=The Telegraph|last1=Poole|first1=Oliver|last2=Davies|first2=Hugh|date=1 December 2001|access-date=4 May 2012|location=London|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120507033014/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1363989/Ill-always-love-him-hes-my-baby-brother-says-tearful-McCartney.html|archive-date=7 May 2012}} On the first anniversary of his death, McCartney played Harrison's "Something" on a ukulele at the Concert for George; he would perform this rendition of the song on many subsequent solo tours.{{sfn|Doggett|2009|pp=332–333}} He also performed "For You Blue" and "All Things Must Pass", and played the piano on Eric Clapton's rendition of "While My Guitar Gently Weeps".{{sfn|Harry|2003|pp=138–139}}

During a recording session for The Beatles in 1968, the two got into an argument over McCartney's critique of Starr's drum part for "Back in the U.S.S.R.", which contributed to Starr temporarily leaving the band.{{harvnb|Harry|2002|p=816}}; {{harvnb|Miles|1997|p=495}}: "Paul ticked Ringo off over a fluffed tom-tom fill. They had already argued about how the drum part should be played ... and Paul's criticisms finally brought matters to a head"; {{harvnb|MacDonald|2005|p=310}}: "The ill-feeling ... finally erupted ... after an argument with McCartney over the drum part". Starr later commented on working with McCartney: "Paul is the greatest bass player in the world. But he is also very determined ... [to] get his own way ... [thus] musical disagreements inevitably arose from time to time."{{sfn|Harry|2002|p=816}}

File:Beatles ad 1965 just the beatles crop (cropped).jpgMcCartney and Starr collaborated on several post-Beatles projects, starting in 1973 when McCartney contributed instrumentation and backing vocals for "Six O'Clock", a song McCartney wrote for Starr's album Ringo.{{cite web|url=http://www.nj.com/entertainment/music/index.ssf/2010/12/song_of_the_day_six_oclock_rin.html|title=Song of the Day: "Six O'clock", Ringo Starr|work=The Star-Ledger|date=16 December 2010|access-date=27 September 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129163356/http://www.nj.com/entertainment/music/index.ssf/2010/12/song_of_the_day_six_oclock_rin.html|archive-date=29 November 2014}} McCartney played a kazoo solo on "You're Sixteen" from the same album.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZhDx0XKwzPkC&pg=PA187|title=The Complete How to Kazoo|access-date=27 September 2014|isbn=978-0-7611-4221-8|year=2006|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160122020745/https://books.google.com/books?id=ZhDx0XKwzPkC&pg=PA187|archive-date=22 January 2016|last1=Stewart|first1=Barbara|publisher=Workman }} Starr appeared as a fictional version of himself in McCartney's 1984 film Give My Regards to Broad Street, and played drums on most tracks of the soundtrack album, which includes re-recordings of several McCartney-penned Beatles songs. Starr played drums and sang backing vocals on "Beautiful Night" from McCartney's 1997 album Flaming Pie. The pair collaborated again in 1998, on Starr's Vertical Man, which featured McCartney's backing vocals on three songs, and instrumentation on one.{{sfn|Blaney|2007|pp=279–281}}

In 2009, the pair performed "With a Little Help from My Friends" at a benefit concert for the David Lynch Foundation.{{cite news|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/music/news/2009-04-05-paul-ringo_N.htm|title=McCartney, Starr reunite for Lynch Foundation benefit|date=6 April 2009|last=Gardner|first=Elysa|work=USA Today|access-date=1 July 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130120192506/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/music/news/2009-04-05-paul-ringo_N.htm|archive-date=20 January 2013|url-status=live}} They collaborated on Starr's album Y Not in 2010. McCartney played bass on "Peace Dream", and sang a duet with Starr on "Walk with You".{{cite magazine |title=Ringo Starr Recruits Paul McCartney for New Album "Y Not" |last=Kreps |first=Daniel |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=19 November 2009 |access-date=1 July 2012 |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/ringo-starr-recruits-paul-mccartney-for-new-album-y-not-20091119 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116163421/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/ringo-starr-recruits-paul-mccartney-for-new-album-y-not-20091119 |archive-date=16 January 2013 }} On 7 July 2010, Starr was performing at Radio City Music Hall in New York with his All-Starr Band in a concert celebrating his seventieth birthday. After the encores, McCartney made a surprise appearance, performing the Beatles' song "Birthday" with Starr's band.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/paul-mccartney-surprises-fans-at-ringo-birthday-gig-20100707|title=Paul McCartney Surprises Fans at Ringo Birthday Gig|last=Greene|first=Andy|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=7 July 2012|access-date=2 August 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120624053041/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/paul-mccartney-surprises-fans-at-ringo-birthday-gig-20100707|archive-date=24 June 2012}} On 26 January 2014, McCartney and Starr performed "Queenie Eye" from McCartney's new album New at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards.{{Cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/22/paul-mccartney-ringo-starr-grammys-performance_n_4646615.html|title=Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr Grammys Performances: Beatles Reunite For 'Queenie Eye'|date=22 January 2014|work=HuffPost|access-date=27 September 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141105014705/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/22/paul-mccartney-ringo-starr-grammys-performance_n_4646615.html|archive-date=5 November 2014}} McCartney inducted Starr into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in April 2015, and played bass on his 2017 album Give More Love. On 16 December 2018, Starr and Ronnie Wood joined McCartney onstage to perform "Get Back" at his concert at London's O2 Arena. Starr also made an appearance on the final day of McCartney's Freshen Up tour in July 2019, performing "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)" and "Helter Skelter".[https://www.cnn.com/2019/07/14/entertainment/paul-mccartney-ringo-starr-los-angeles-trnd/index.html Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr reunited to perform Beatles classics at Dodger Stadium] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190718210723/https://www.cnn.com/2019/07/14/entertainment/paul-mccartney-ringo-starr-los-angeles-trnd/index.html |date=18 July 2019 }}, CNN.com 14 July 2019. Retrieved 26 July 2019 Wood and Starr joined McCartney again at the O2 Arena in London on 19 December 2024, performing the same three songs as in 2018 and 2019 respectively. McCartney performed "Get Back" with his original Höfner 500/1 bass that had been stolen in 1972 and recently recovered.{{cite web |last1=Weller |first1=Phil |title="Here to make its first stage appearance in 50 years is my original bass." Paul McCartney's iconic Höfner bass returns to the stage after being lost for over 50 years as he brings the Got Back tour to a star-studded close |url=https://www.guitarplayer.com/guitarists/paul-mccartney-plays-original-hofner-bass-live-for-the-first-time-in-50-years?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=socialflow&utm_medium=social&utm_content=guitar-player |website=Guitar Player |access-date=9 January 2025 |date=27 December 2024}}

McCartney was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988 as a member of the Beatles and again as a solo artist in 1999. In 1979, the Guinness Book of World Records recognised McCartney as the "most honored composer and performer in music", with 60 gold discs (43 with the Beatles, 17 with Wings) and, as a member of the Beatles, sales of over 100 million singles and 100 million albums, and as the "most successful song writer", he wrote jointly or solo 43 songs which sold one million or more records between 1962 and 1978.{{cite book |last=McWhirter |first=Norris |date=1980 |title=Guinness Book of World Records |location=London |publisher=Sterling Publishing |pages=235, 250, 251 |isbn=978-0-8069-0168-8}} In 2009, Guinness World Records again recognised McCartney as the "most successful songwriter" having written or co-written 188 charted records in the United Kingdom, of which 91 reached the top 10 and 33 made it to number one.{{cite book |last=Glenday |first=Craig |date=2009 |title=Guinness World Records 2009 |url=https://archive.org/details/guinnessworldrec0000unse/page/290 |location=London |publisher=Bantam Books |page=[https://archive.org/details/guinnessworldrec0000unse/page/290 290] |isbn=978-0-553-59256-6}}

File:P060210SA-0312.jpg

McCartney has written, or co-written, 32 number-one singles on the Billboard Hot 100: twenty with the Beatles; seven solo or with Wings; one as a co-writer of "A World Without Love", a number-one single for Peter and Gordon; one as a co-writer on Elton John's cover of "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds"; one as a co-writer on Stars on 45's "Medley"; one as a co-writer with Michael Jackson on "Say Say Say"; and one as writer on "Ebony and Ivory" performed with Stevie Wonder.For McCartney's number-one singles with the Beatles and Wings see: {{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1044523/hot-100-anniversary-most-no-1s-by-artist|title=Most No. 1s By Artist (All-Time)|magazine=Billboard|date=6 August 2008|access-date=20 March 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222231708/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1044523/hot-100-anniversary-most-no-1s-by-artist|archive-date=22 February 2014}}; {{harvnb|Bronson|1992|p=150}}: "A World Without Love" performed by Peter and Gordon, {{harvnb|Bronson|1992|p=388}}: "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" performed by Elton John; {{harvnb|Bronson|1992|p=554}}: "Medley" by Stars on 45; {{harvnb|Bronson|1992|p=555}}: "Ebony and Ivory" with Stevie Wonder;{{harvnb|Bronson|1992|p=581}}: "Say Say Say" with Michael Jackson, {{harvnb|Bronson|1992|p=808}}: McCartney's thirty-two Billboard Hot 100 number-ones. {{as of|2009}}, he has 15.5 million RIAA-certified units in the United States as a solo artist, plus another 10 million with Wings.{{cite news |title=Top Selling Artists |publisher=Recording Industry Association of America |url=https://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinum.php?content_selector=top-selling-artists |access-date=7 July 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120719114528/http://riaa.com/goldandplatinum.php?content_selector=top-selling-artists |archive-date=19 July 2012}}

Credited with more number ones in the UK than any other artist, McCartney has participated in twenty-four chart topping singles: seventeen with the Beatles, one solo, and one each with Wings, Stevie Wonder, Ferry Aid, Band Aid, Band Aid 20 and "The Christians et al."{{harvnb|Roberts|2005|p=49}}: Band Aid & Band Aid; {{harvnb|Roberts|2005|pp=20, 54–55}}: the Beatles; {{harvnb|Roberts|2005|p=187}}: Ferry Aid; {{harvnb|Roberts|2005|pp=311–312}}: Solo, Wings, Stevie Wonder and "The Christians et al."{{refn|group=nb|{{as of|2012}}, Elvis Presley has achieved the most UK number-ones as a solo artist with eighteen.{{sfn|Roberts|2005|pp=398–400}}}} He is the only artist to reach the UK number one as a soloist ("Pipes of Peace"), duo ("Ebony and Ivory" with Wonder), trio ("Mull of Kintyre", Wings), quartet ("She Loves You", the Beatles), quintet ("Get Back", the Beatles with Billy Preston) and as part of a musical ensemble for charity (Ferry Aid).{{sfn|Roberts|2005|pp=311–312}}

"Yesterday" is one of the most covered songs in history, with more than 2,200 recorded versions, and, according to the BBC, "the track is the only one by a UK writer to have been aired more than seven million times on American TV and radio and is third in the all-time list ... [and] is the most played song by a British writer [last] century in the US".For 2,200 recorded versions see: {{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/334373.stm |title=Sir Paul is Your Millennium's greatest composer |date=3 May 1999 |work=BBC News |access-date=3 May 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120507140641/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/334373.stm |archive-date=7 May 2012}}; {{cite web |work=Guinness World Records |title=Most Recorded Song |url=http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/content_pages/record.asp?recordid=50867 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060910071729/http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/content_pages/record.asp?recordid=50867 |archive-date=10 September 2006 |access-date=9 June 2012}}; {{harvnb|MacDonald|2005|p=157}}: "the most 'covered' song in history"; For "Yesterday" airing more than seven million times on American TV and radio see: {{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/569537.stm |title=McCartney's Yesterday earns US accolade |work=BBC News |date=17 December 1999 |access-date=3 May 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120321032821/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/569537.stm |archive-date=21 March 2012 }} His 1968 Beatles composition "Hey Jude" achieved the highest sales in the UK that year and topped the US charts for nine weeks, which is longer than any other Beatles single. It was also the longest single released by the band and, at seven minutes eleven seconds, was at that time the longest number one.{{sfn|Bronson|1992|p=247}} "Hey Jude" is the best-selling Beatles single, achieving sales of over five million copies soon after its release.{{sfn|Sounes|2010|p=223}}{{refn|group=nb|"Hey Jude" was covered by several prominent artists, including Elvis Presley, Bing Crosby, Count Basie and Wilson Pickett.{{sfn|Harry|2000a|pp=516–518}}}}

In July 2005, McCartney's performance of "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" with U2 at Live 8 became the fastest-released single in history. Available within forty-five minutes of its recording, hours later it had achieved number one on the UK Official Download Chart.{{sfn|Blaney|2007|pp=268–269}}

In December 2020, the release of his album McCartney III and its subsequent charting at number 2 on the US Billboard 200 earned McCartney the feat of being the first artist to have a new album in the top two chart positions in each of the last six decades.{{cite magazine |last1=Caulfield |first1=Keith |title=Taylor Swift's 'Evermore' Spends Second Week at No. 1 on Billboard 200 |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/chart-beat/9504766/taylor-swift-evermore-tops-billboard-200-albums-chart-second-week |magazine=Billboard |access-date=30 December 2020 |archive-date=11 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210111155947/https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/chart-beat/9504766/taylor-swift-evermore-tops-billboard-200-albums-chart-second-week |url-status=live }}

{{Main|List of awards and nominations received by Paul McCartney}}

{{See also|List of awards and nominations received by The Beatles}}

File:Mccartney gershwin.png from US President Barack Obama]]

• 19-time Grammy Award winner:{{cite web |url=https://www.grammy.com/artists/paul-mccartney/4678 |title=Paul McCartney |access-date=4 February 2025 |publisher=National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences}}
• Ten as a member of the Beatles
• Six as a solo artist
• Two as a member of Wings
• One as part of a joint collaboration
• Two-time inductee – Rock and Roll Hall of Fame:
• Class of 1988 as a member of the Beatles
• Class of 1999 as a solo artist
• 1965: Member of the Order of the British Empire{{sfn|London Gazette|1965|pp=5487–5489}}{{sfn|Spitz|2005|p=556}}

File:Offizierskreuz.jpg]]

• 1971: Academy Award winner (as a member of the Beatles)
• 1988: Honorary Doctor of the University degree from University of Sussex{{cite web |url=https://www.sussex.ac.uk/webteam/gateway/file.php?name=list-of-honorary-graduates.pdf&site=76 |title=University of Sussex Honorary Degrees Committee List of Honorary Graduates |last=Anon |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160119063525/https://www.sussex.ac.uk/webteam/gateway/file.php?name=list-of-honorary-graduates.pdf&site=76 |archive-date=19 January 2016 }}
• 1997: Knighted by Queen Elizabeth II for services to music{{sfn|Badman|1999|p=563}}
• 2000: Fellowship into the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors{{sfn|Harry|2002|pp=38, 242}}
• 2008: BRIT Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music
• 2008: Honorary Doctor of Music degree from Yale UniversityFor the Brit Award, see: {{cite web |url=https://www.nme.com/news/brit-awards-2008/34542 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080302115908/http://www.nme.com/news/brit-awards-2008/34542 |archive-date=2 March 2008 |title=Sir Paul McCartney picks up special Brit award in London |work=NME |date=20 February 2008 |access-date=3 May 2012 }}; For the honorary degree from Yale, see: {{cite news |url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/music/2008-05-26-3778562167_x.htm |title=Yale gives Paul McCartney honorary music degree |work=USA Today |date=26 May 2008 |access-date=3 May 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121102154520/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/music/2008-05-26-3778562167_x.htm |archive-date=2 November 2012 |url-status=live }}
• 2010: Gershwin Prize for his contributions to popular music{{cite news |last= Pareles |first= Jon |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/03/arts/music/03mccartney.html |title= McCartney Is Honored at White House |work= The New York Times |date= 2 June 2010 |access-date= 4 May 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130514081942/http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/03/arts/music/03mccartney.html?src=mv |archive-date= 14 May 2013 }}
• 2010: Kennedy Center Honors{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/06/us/06honors.html|title=Glittering Tributes for Winners of Kennedy Center Honors|last1=Becker|first1=Bernie|last2=Southall|first2=Ashley|work=The New York Times|date=5 December 2010|access-date=7 July 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150103223955/http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/06/us/06honors.html|archive-date=3 January 2015}}
• 2012: Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame{{cite news |last=Sinha |first=Piya |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-paulmccartney-star-idUSTRE81902K20120210 |title=Paul McCartney finally gets Walk of Fame star |work=Reuters |date=9 February 2012 |access-date=9 February 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120210133500/http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/10/us-paulmccartney-star-idUSTRE81902K20120210 |archive-date=10 February 2012 }}
• 2012: {{lang|fr|Légion d'Honneur}} for his services to music{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/paul-mccartney-awarded-french-legion-of-honor/|title=Paul McCartney awarded French Legion of Honor|date=8 September 2012|publisher=SBS News|access-date=25 October 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121028153134/http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-207_162-57508880/paul-mccartney-awarded-french-legion-of-honor|archive-date=28 October 2012}}
• 2012: MusiCares Person of the Year
• 2015: 4148 McCartney, asteroid named after him by the International Astronomical Union's Minor Planet Center{{cite web |url=http://www.minorplanetcenter.net/iau/special/rocknroll/0004148.html |title=Minor planet number 4148 has been named in honor of former Beatle Paul McCartney |publisher=IAU Minor Planet Center |access-date=9 March 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110520034914/http://www.minorplanetcenter.net/iau/special/rocknroll/0004148.html |archive-date=20 May 2011 |url-status=live }}
• 2017: Appointed Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour (CH) in the 2017 Birthday Honours for services to music{{London Gazette|issue=61962|supp=y|page=B25|date=17 June 2017}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-merseyside-40306551|title=Queens Birthday Honours: McCartney a Companion of Honour|date=16 June 2017|access-date=27 June 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170702065547/http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-merseyside-40306551|archive-date=2 July 2017|newspaper=BBC News}}

{{Infobox COA wide

|image = Paul_McCartney_Coat_of_Arms.svg

|notes = Granted by the College of Arms, 18 June 2001{{cite web|url=http://www.college-of-arms.gov.uk/McCartney.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030208014011/http://www.college-of-arms.gov.uk/McCartney.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=8 February 2003 |title=The arms of Sir Paul McCartney, Kt., M.B.E. |publisher=College of Arms |access-date=16 October 2019}}

|escutcheon = Or between two Flaunches fracted fesswise two roundels Sable over all six guitar strings palewise throughout counterchanged.

|crest = On a wreath of the colours a Liver Bird calling Sable supporting with the dexter claws a guitar Or stringed Sable.

|orders = Suspended below the Shield, the insignia of the Order of the Companions of Honour (CH), Knight Bachelor, and a member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE).

|motto = ECCE COR MEUM (Behold My Heart)}}

{{Main|Paul McCartney discography}}

{{See also|The Beatles albums discography|The Beatles singles discography|Wings discography|List of songs recorded by Paul McCartney}}

{{col-float}}

Solo

• McCartney (1970)
• Ram (1971) {{small|(with Linda McCartney)}}
• McCartney II (1980)
• Tug of War (1982)
• Pipes of Peace (1983)
• Give My Regards to Broad Street (1984)
• Press to Play (1986)
• CHOBA B CCCP (1988)
• Flowers in the Dirt (1989)
• Off the Ground (1993)
• Flaming Pie (1997)
• Run Devil Run (1999)
• Driving Rain (2001)
• Chaos and Creation in the Backyard (2005)
• Memory Almost Full (2007)
• Kisses on the Bottom (2012)
• New (2013)
• Egypt Station (2018)
• McCartney III (2020)

{{col-float-break}}

Wings

• Wild Life (1971)
• Red Rose Speedway (1973)
• Band on the Run (1973)
• Venus and Mars (1975)
• Wings at the Speed of Sound (1976)
• London Town (1978)
• Back to the Egg (1979)
• One Hand Clapping (2024) {{small|(live-in-studio album)}}

{{col-float-break}}

Classical

• Paul McCartney's Liverpool Oratorio (1991) {{small|(with Carl Davis)}}
• Standing Stone (1997)
• Working Classical (1999)
• Ecce Cor Meum (2006)
• Ocean's Kingdom (2011) {{small|(dance score with Peter Martins)}}

{{col-float-break}}

The Fireman (McCartney and Youth)

• Strawberries Oceans Ships Forest (1993)
• Rushes (1998)
• Electric Arguments (2008)

{{col-float-break}}

Other

• The Family Way (1967) {{small|(soundtrack)}}
• Thrillington (1977) {{small|(Ram instrumental)}}
• Liverpool Sound Collage (2000) {{small|(with Super Furry Animals & The Beatles archival sound)}}
• Twin Freaks (2005) {{small|(remix album with DJ Freelance Hellraiser)}}
• McCartney III Imagined (2021) {{small|(remix album)}}

{{col-float-end}}

{{Main|Paul McCartney discography#Videography}}

{{See also|The Beatles in film|The Beatles videos}}

{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"

|-

! scope="col"|Year

! scope="col"|Title

! scope="col"|Role

! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes

|-

| style="text-align:center;"| 1964

! scope="row"| {{sort|Hard Day's Night|A Hard Day's Night}}

| Himself

|

|-

| style="text-align:center;"| 1965

! scope="row"| Help!

| Himself

|

|-

| style="text-align:center;"| 1967

! scope="row"| Magical Mystery Tour

| Himself / Major McCartney / Red-Nosed Magician (uncredited)

| Director (writer and producer uncredited)

|-

| style="text-align:center;"| 1968

! scope="row"| Yellow Submarine

| Himself (uncredited)

| Animated, based upon a song by Beatles

|-

| style="text-align:center;"|1970

! scope="row"| Let It Be

| Himself

| Documentary

|-

| style="text-align:center;"|1977

! scope="row"| The Day the Music Died

| Himself

| Documentary

|-

| rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;" |1980

! scope="row"| Concert for Kampuchea

| Himself

| Documentary

|-

! scope="row"| Rockshow

| Himself

| Documentary

|-

| rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;" | 1982

! scope="row"| {{sort|Cooler|The Cooler}}{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rKkEoxX0AI|title=Ringo Starr – The Cooler|last=Andreybz|date=17 November 2006|access-date=8 April 2018|via=YouTube|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190131233617/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rKkEoxX0AI|archive-date=31 January 2019|url-status=live}}

| Cowboy

| Short, executive producer

|-

! scope="row"| The Compleat Beatles

| Himself

| Documentary

|-

| style="text-align:center;"|1984

! scope="row"| Give My Regards to Broad Street

| Himself

| Screenplay, producer, actor

|-

| style="text-align:center;"|1985

! scope="row"| Rupert and the Frog Song

| Rupert / Edward / Bill / Boy Frog (voice)

| Animated short, writer, executive producer

|-

| rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;" |1987

! scope="row"| Eat the Rich

| Banquet Rich

| Cameo

|-

! scope="row"| The Real Buddy Holly Story

| Himself

| Documentary, producer

|-

| style="text-align:center;"|1990

! scope="row"| The Beatles: The First U.S. Visit

| Himself

| Documentary

|-

| style="text-align:center;"|1991

! scope="row"| Get Back

| Himself

| Documentary

|-

| style="text-align:center;"|1992

! scope="row"| Daumier's Law

|

| Animated short, music, writer, executive producer

|-

| style="text-align:center;"|1997

! scope="row"| Tropic Island Hum

| Wirral / Froggo / Bison / Various (voice)

| Animated short, writer, executive producer

|-

| style="text-align:center;"|2000

! scope="row"| Shadow Cycle

|

| Animated short, writer

|-

| style="text-align:center;"|2001

! scope="row"| Tuesday{{cite web|url=http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b872a9a37|title=Tuesday (2001)|website=bfi.org.uk|publisher=British Film Institute|access-date=8 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180408211506/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b872a9a37|archive-date=8 April 2018|url-status=dead}}

| Himself (voice)

| Animated short, executive producer

|-

| rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;" |2003

! scope="row"| Mayor of the Sunset Strip

| Himself

| Documentary

|-

! scope="row"| Concert for George

| Himself

| Documentary

|-

| rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;" |2008

! scope="row"| Tribute This!

| Himself

| Documentary

|-

! scope="row"| All Together Now

| Himself

| Documentary

|-

| rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;" |2009

! scope="row"| Brüno

| Himself

| Cameo

|-

! scope="row"| Al's Brain in 3-D

| Man on the Street

| Short

|-

| rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;" |2010

! scope="row"| David Wants to Fly

| Himself

| Documentary

|-

! scope="row"| The Last Play at Shea

| Himself

| Documentary

|-

| rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;" |2011

! scope="row"| The Love We Make

| Himself

| Documentary

|-

! scope="row"| George Harrison: Living in the Material World

| Himself

| Documentary

|-

| rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;" |2013

! scope="row"| Sound City

| Himself

| Documentary

|-

! scope="row"| 12-12-12

| Himself

| Documentary, producer

|-

| rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;" |2014

! scope="row"| Finding Fela

| Himself

| Documentary

|-

! scope="row"| Glen Campbell: I'll Be Me

| Himself

| Documentary

|-

| style="text-align:center;"|2016

! scope="row"| The Beatles: Eight Days a Week

| Himself

| Documentary

|-

| style="text-align:center;"|2017

! scope="row"| Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales

| Uncle Jack

| Cameo

|-

| rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;" |2018

! scope="row"| Quincy

| Himself

| Documentary

|-

! scope="row"| The Bruce McMouse Show

| Himself

| Unreleased Wings concert film with animation produced from 1972 to 1977, theatrical release 2019{{cite web|url=https://www.brucemcmouse.com|title=Paul McCartney and Wings in The Bruce McMouse Show|work=PaulMcCartney.com|date=10 January 2019|access-date=18 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190119174306/https://www.brucemcmouse.com/|archive-date=19 January 2019|url-status=dead}}

|-

| style="text-align:center;"|2022

! scope="row"| If These Walls Could Sing

|Himself

| Documentary directed by Mary McCartney{{Cite web|url=https://www.abbeyroad.com/news/if-these-walls-could-sing-premieres-at-abbey-road-3283|title= If These Walls Could Sing Premieres At Abbey Road|website=AbbeyRoad.com}}

|-

| style="text-align:center;"|2024

! scope="row"| Stevie Van Zandt: Disciple

|Himself

|Documentary

|}

{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"

|-

! scope="col"|Year

! scope="col"|Title

! scope="col"|Role

! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes

|-

| style="text-align:center;"|1963–64

! scope="row"| Ready Steady Go!

| Himself

| Music programme, 3 episodes

|-

| rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;" |1964

! scope="row"| Around the Beatles

| Himself

| Concert special

|-

! scope="row"| What's Happening! The Beatles in the U.S.

| Himself

| Documentary

|-

| style="text-align:center;"|1964–65

! scope="row"| The Ed Sullivan Show

| Himself

| Variety show, 4 episodes

|-

| style="text-align:center;"|1965

! scope="row"| The Music of Lennon & McCartney

| Himself

| Variety tribute special

|-

| rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;" |1966

! scope="row"| The Beatles at Shea Stadium

| Himself

| Concert special

|-

! scope="row"| The Beatles in Japan

| Himself

| Concert special

|-

| style="text-align:center;"|1973

! scope="row"| James Paul McCartney

| Himself

| TV special

|-

| style="text-align:center;"|1975

! scope="row"| A Salute to the Beatles: Once upon a Time

| Himself

| Documentary

|-

| style="text-align:center;"|1977

! scope="row"| All You Need Is Love: The Story of Popular Music

| Himself

| Documentary mini-series

|-

| style="text-align:center;"|1985

! scope="row"| Live Aid

| Himself

| Benefit concert special

|-

| style="text-align:center;"|1987

! scope="row"| It Was Twenty Years Ago Today

| Himself

| Documentary

|-

| style="text-align:center;"|1988

! scope="row"| The Power of Music

| Himself, narrator

| Documentary

|-

| rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;" |1995

! scope="row"| {{sort|Simpsons|The Simpsons}}

| Himself (voice)

| Episode: "Lisa the Vegetarian"

|-

! scope="row"| The Beatles Anthology

| Himself

| Documentary mini-series

|-

| style="text-align:center;"|1997

! scope="row"| Music for Montserrat

| Himself

| Benefit concert special

|-

| rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;" |2001

! scope="row"| Wingspan

| Himself

| Documentary

|-

! scope="row"| The Concert for New York City

| Himself

| Benefit concert special

|-

| rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;" |2005

! scope="row"| Live 8

| Himself

| Benefit concert special

|-

! scope="row"| Saturday Night Live

| Paul Simon

| Episode: "Alec Baldwin/Christina Aguilera"

|-

| style="text-align:center;"|2012

! scope="row"| 30 Rock

| Himself

| Episode: "Live from Studio 6H" (East Coast airing only)

|-

| style="text-align:center;"|2015

! scope="row"| BoJack Horseman

| Himself (voice)

| Episode: "After the Party"

|-

| rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;" |2021

! scope="row"| McCartney 3,2,1

| Himself

| Documentary mini-series

|-

! scope="row"| The Beatles: Get Back

| Himself

| Documentary mini-series

|}

{{Main|List of Paul McCartney concert tours}}

{{See also|List of the Beatles' live performances}}

Wings tours{{harvnb|Harry|2002|pp=845–851}}: Wings tours details; {{harvnb|Lewisohn|2002|pp=170–171}}: Wings tours dates.

{{col div}}

• Wings University Tour (1972)
• Wings Over Europe Tour (1972)
• Wings 1973 UK Tour (1973)
• Wings Over the World tour (1975–1976)
• Wings UK Tour 1979 (1979)

{{col div end}}

Solo tours{{cite web |url=https://www.paulmccartney.com/live/all |title=Tour archives |work=PaulMcCartney.com |access-date=7 December 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240904143228/https://www.paulmccartney.com/live/all |archive-date=4 September 2024}}

{{col div}}

• The Paul McCartney World Tour (1989–1990)
• Unplugged Tour 1991 (1991)
• The New World Tour (1993)
• Driving World Tour (2002)
• Back in the World Tour (2003)
• '04 Summer Tour (2004)
• The 'US' Tour (2005)
• Secret Tour 2007 (2007)
• Summer Live '09 (2009)
• Good Evening Europe Tour (2009)
• Up and Coming Tour (2010–2011)
• On the Run (2011–2012)
• Out There (2013–2015)
• One on One (2016–2017)
• 2018 Secret Gigs (2018)
• Freshen Up (2018–2019)
• Got Back (2022–2024)

{{col div end}}

• Grammy Award records – Most Grammys won by a male artist
• List of animal rights advocates
• List of British Grammy winners and nominees
• List of highest-grossing live music artists
• Paul is dead – urban legend/conspiracy theory that Paul McCartney is dead
• List of celebrities by net worth
• List of largest music deals
• Outline of the Beatles
• The Beatles timeline

{{Reflist|group=nb}}

{{Reflist|25em}}

{{Refbegin|25em}}

• {{cite book|last1=Babiuk|first1=Andy|title=Beatles Gear: All the Fab Four's Instruments, from Stage to Studio|year=2002 |publisher=Backbeat Books|edition=Revised|isbn=978-0-87930-731-8|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Eo743Uh2UOEC }}
• {{cite book|last1=Bacon|first1=Tony|last2=Morgan|first2=Gareth|year=2006|title=Paul McCartney – Bass Master – Playing the Great Beatles Basslines |publisher=Backbeat Books|edition=1st|isbn=978-0-87930-884-1|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=V-BG7p7xPTQC }}
• {{cite book|last=Badman |first=Keith |year=1999 |edition= 2001|title=The Beatles After the Breakup 1970–2000: A Day-by-Day Diary|publisher=Omnibus |isbn=978-0-7119-8307-6}}
• {{cite book|last=Benitez |first=Vincent Perez|year=2010|title=The Words and Music of Paul McCartney: The Solo Years|publisher=Praeger |isbn=978-0-313-34969-0 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bYxJWNiLO94C }}
• Benitez, Vincent P. (2019). "'That Was Me' in 'Vintage Clothes': Intertextuality and the White Album Songs of Paul McCartney." In The Beatles through a Glass Onion: Reconsidering the White Album, ed. Mark Osteen, 213–29. Tracking Pop Series. Ann Arbor, MI: The University of Michigan Press. {{ISBN|978-0-472-07408-2}}.
• {{cite book|last=Blaney|first=John|year=2007|title=Lennon and McCartney: Together Alone|publisher=Jawbone Press|edition=1st|isbn=978-1-906002-02-2}}
• {{cite book|last=Bronson|first=Fred|year=1992|title=The Billboard Book of Number One Hits|edition= 3rd revised|publisher=Billboard Books|isbn=978-0-8230-8298-8|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PgGqNrqfrsoC }}
• {{cite book|last1=Brown |first1=Peter |year=2002 |author-link=Peter Brown (music industry) |last2=Gaines |first2=Steven |author-link2=Steven Gaines |title=The Love You Make: An Insider's Story of The Beatles |publisher=New American Library |isbn=978-0-451-20735-7 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tVht7mPxbeAC}}
• {{cite journal|last=Buk|first=Askold|title=Strum Together|year=1996|journal=Guitar World: Acoustic|issue=17}}
• {{cite book|last=Carlin|first=Peter Ames|title=Paul McCartney: A Life|year=2009|publisher=Touchstone|isbn=978-1-4165-6209-2|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=W8R4LS2LYxYC }}
• {{cite book|last=Doggett|first=Peter|year=2009|title=You Never Give Me Your Money: The Beatles After the Breakup|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=luOMJFxe-bYC|edition= 1st US hardcover|publisher=Harper|isbn=978-0-06-177446-1 }}
• {{cite book|last1=Emerick |first1=Geoff |year=2006 |author-link=Geoff Emerick |last2=Massey |first2=Howard |title=Here, There and Everywhere: My Life Recording the Music of The Beatles |publisher=Gotham |isbn=978-1-59240-269-4 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WOk8TP8o018C}}
• {{cite book|last=Everett |first=Walter |year=1999 |title=The Beatles as Musicians: Revolver through the Anthology|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eTkHAldi4bEC&pg=PP1 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-512941-0 }}
• {{cite book|editor1-last=George-Warren|editor1-first=Holly|year=2001|title=The Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll|url=https://archive.org/details/rollingstoneency00holl|url-access=registration|edition= 2005 revised and updated|publisher=Fireside|isbn=978-0-7432-9201-6}}
• {{cite book|last=Gould|first=Jonathan|title=Can't Buy Me Love: The Beatles, Britain and America|year=2007|publisher=Three Rivers Press|edition=First Paperback|isbn=978-0-307-35338-2|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gTAjZ235qfsC }}
• {{cite journal|last=Graff|first=Gary|title=Yesterday & Today|journal=Guitar World|volume=20| issue = 1|date=January 2000}}
• {{cite book|editor-last=Glenday|editor-first=Craig |title=Guinness World Records 2009 |year=2008 |publisher=Guinness World Records |isbn=978-1-904994-37-4|url=https://archive.org/details/guinnessworldrec00crai_0}}
• {{cite book|last=Harry|first=Bill |year=2000a|author-link=Bill Harry |title=The Beatles Encyclopedia: Revised and Updated|publisher=Virgin |isbn=978-0-7535-0481-9 }}
• {{cite book|last=Harry|first=Bill |year=2003|title=The George Harrison Encyclopedia |publisher=Virgin |isbn=978-0-7535-0822-0}}
• {{cite book|last=Harry|first=Bill |year=2000b|title=The John Lennon Encyclopedia |publisher=Virgin |isbn=978-0-7535-0404-8}}
• {{cite book|last=Harry|first=Bill|title=The Paul McCartney Encyclopedia|year=2002|publisher=Virgin|isbn=978-0-7535-0716-2}}
• {{cite book|last=Ingham |first=Chris |year=2009|edition=3rd|title=The Rough Guide to The Beatles |publisher=Rough Guides |isbn=978-1-84836-525-4 }}
• {{cite journal|last=Jisi|first=Chris|title=He Can Work It Out|journal=Bass Player|volume=16| issue = 10|date=October 2005}}
• {{cite book|last=Kastan|first=David Scott|year=2006|title=Oxford Encyclopedia of British Literature|volume=1|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-516921-8|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DlMUSz-hiuEC}}
• {{cite book|editor-last=Levy|editor-first=Joe |year=2005|edition=First Paperback|title=Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time|publisher=Wenner Books|isbn=978-1-932958-61-4}}
• {{cite book|last=Lewisohn |first=Mark |author-link=Mark Lewisohn|year=1992 |edition= 2010|title= The Complete Beatles Chronicle:The Definitive Day-By-Day Guide to the Beatles' Entire Career |publisher=Chicago Review Press |isbn= 978-1-56976-534-0 }}
• {{cite book|editor-last=Lewisohn|editor-first=Mark |title=Wingspan: Paul McCartney's Band on the Run|publisher=Little, Brown|year=2002|isbn=978-0-316-86032-1}}
• {{cite news|work=The London Gazette (supplement) |title=Most Excellent Order of the British Empire |date=4 June 1965 |url=http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/43667/supplements/5488 |access-date=11 May 2010 |ref=CITEREFLondon Gazette1965 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090111234623/http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/43667/supplements/5488 |archive-date=11 January 2009 }}
• {{cite book|last=MacDonald |first=Ian |year=2005 |author-link=Ian MacDonald |title=Revolution in the Head: The Beatles' Records and the Sixties |edition= 3rd (2007) |publisher=Chicago Review Press |isbn=978-1-55652-733-3 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YJUWJhIbkccC }}
• {{cite book|last1=McCartney|first1=Paul|editor-last=Mitchell|editor-first=Adrian|year=2001|publisher=W. W. Norton and Company Inc.|title=Blackbird singing: Poems and Lyrics 1965–1999|isbn=978-0-393-02049-6|url=https://archive.org/details/blackbirdsinging00mcca}}
• {{cite book|last=McGee|first=Garry|title=Band on the Run: A History of Paul McCartney and Wings|year=2003|publisher=Taylor Trade|isbn=978-0-87833-304-2|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UG0IAQAAMAAJ}}
• {{cite book|last=Miles|first=Barry|author-link=Barry Miles|title=Paul McCartney: Many Years From Now|year=1997|publisher=Henry Holt & Company|edition=1st Hardcover|isbn=978-0-8050-5248-0|url=https://archive.org/details/paulmccartneyman00mile_0 |url-access=registration}}
• {{cite book|last=Miles |first=Barry |year=1998 |edition=2009|title=The Beatles: A Diary—An Intimate Day by Day History|publisher=JG Press |isbn=978-1-57215-010-2 }}
• {{cite book|last=Miles|first=Barry|year=2001|title=The Beatles Diary Volume 1: The Beatles Years|publisher=Omnibus|isbn=978-0-7119-8308-3|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=trRB-lo4qR8C }}
• {{cite journal|last=Molenda|first=Michael|title=Here, There, and Everywhere|journal=Guitar Player|volume=39| issue = 11|date=November 2005}}
• {{cite journal|last=Mulhern|first=Tom|title=Paul McCartney|date= July 1990|journal=Guitar Player|volume=24, No.7|issue=246 }}
• {{cite book|last=Norman|first=Philip|author-link=Philip Norman (author)|title=Shout!|year=1981|publisher=MJF Books}}
• {{cite book|editor-last=Roberts|editor-first=David |title=British Hit Singles & Albums |publisher=Guinness World Records Limited |edition=18 |year=2005 |isbn=978-1-904994-00-8 }}
• {{cite book |last=Sandford |first=Christopher |year=2006 |title=McCartney |publisher=Carroll & Graf |isbn=978-0-7867-1614-2 |url=https://archive.org/details/mccartney00sand }}
• {{cite book|last1=Sheff|first1=David|author-link=David Sheff|editor-last=Golson|editor-first=G. Barry|year=1981|title=The Playboy Interviews with John Lennon & Yoko Ono|publisher=Playboy Press|isbn=978-0-87223-705-6|url=https://archive.org/details/playboyinterview00lenn_0}}
• {{cite book|last=Sounes|first=Howard|title=Fab: An Intimate Life of Paul McCartney |year=2010|publisher=Da Capo Press|isbn=978-0-306-81783-0|url=https://archive.org/details/fabintimatelifeo0000soun |url-access=registration}}
• {{cite book|last1=Southall |first1=Brian |first2= Rupert|last2= Perry |year=2006|title=Northern Songs: The True Story of the Beatles Song Publishing Empire|publisher=Omnibus|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=HWSRvGfa3-sC|isbn=978-1-84609-237-4 }}
• {{cite book|last=Spitz|first=Bob|author-link=Bob Spitz|title=The Beatles: The Biography|url=https://archive.org/details/beatlesbiography00spit|url-access=registration|year=2005|publisher=Little, Brown and Company|isbn=978-0-316-80352-6}}
• {{cite book|author=The Beatles|author-link=The Beatles|title=The Beatles Anthology|year=2000|publisher=Chronicle Books|isbn=978-0-8118-3636-4 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HWuQu8EMDKcC}}
• {{cite book|last1=Wenner|first1=Jann|author-link=Jann Wenner|editor-last=George-Warren|editor-first=Holly|year=2000|publisher=Verso|title=Lennon Remembers|isbn=978-1-85984-600-1 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ymjy06WZnd4C }}
• {{cite book|last= Womack |first= Kenneth |author-link=Kenneth Womack|year= 2007 | title = Long and Winding Roads: The Evolving Artistry of the Beatles|publisher= Continuum |isbn= 978-0-8264-1746-6 }}

{{Refend}}

{{Refbegin}}

• {{cite book |last=Barrow |first=Tony |year=2005 |title=John, Paul, George, Ringo & Me: The Real Beatles Story |publisher=Thunder's Mouth |isbn=978-1-56025-882-7 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BNnzcGw8JQsC }}{{Dead link|date=March 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
• {{cite book|last=Barrow|first=Tony|year=2004|title=Paul McCartney|publisher=Carlton Publishing|isbn=978-1-84442-822-9 }}
• Benitez, Vincent P. (2012). "Ram (1971)" and "Band on the Run (1973)." In The Album: A Guide to Pop Music's Most Provocative, Influential, and Important Creations, ed. James E. Perone, 147–56; 275–85. Westport, CT: Praeger Publishers. [http://www.abc-clio.com/product.aspx?id=2147513079 The Album]{{Dead link|date=August 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
• {{cite book|last=Davies|first=Hunter|author-link=Hunter Davies|title=The Beatles: The Authorized Biography|year=2009|publisher=W. W. Norton & Company|edition=3rd revised|isbn=978-0-393-33874-4 }}
• {{cite book|last=Gambaccini|first=Paul|author-link=Paul Gambaccini|title=Paul McCartney: In His Own Words|year=1993|publisher=Omnibus Press|isbn=978-0-86001-239-9|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FikUAQAAIAAJ}}
• {{cite book|last=Gambaccini|first=Paul|title=The McCartney Interviews: After the Break-Up|year=1996|publisher=Omnibus Press|edition=2|isbn=978-0-7119-5494-6|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xKPEyk1WXFUC}}
• {{cite book|last=Gracen|first=Jorie B.|title=Paul McCartney: I Saw Him Standing There|year=2000|publisher=Watson-Guptill Publications|isbn=978-0-8230-8372-5|url=https://archive.org/details/paulmccartneyisa00grac}}
• {{cite book|last1=Kirchherr |first1=Astrid |last2=Voormann|first2=Klaus|title=Hamburg Days |location=Guildford, Surrey |publisher=Genesis Publications |year=1999 |isbn=978-0-904351-73-6}}
• {{cite book|last=Martin|first=George|author-link=George Martin|year=1979|title=All You Need Is Ears|publisher=St. Martin's Press|location=New York|isbn=978-0-312-11482-4|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4Yoio9MewhcC}}
• {{cite book|last1=Martin |first1=George |last2=Pearson |first2=William |title=Summer of Love: The Making of Sgt. Pepper |publisher=Macmillan |year=1994 |isbn=978-0-333-60398-7}}
• McCartney, Linda (with Paul, Mary, and Stella McCartney). Linda McCartney's Family Kitchen: Over 90 Plant-Based Recipes to Save the Planet and Nourish the Soul. (Voracious/Little, Brown, and Co., 2021) {{ISBN|978-0-316-49798-5}}
• {{cite book|last=Peel|first=Ian|title=The Unknown Paul McCartney: McCartney and the avant-garde|year=2002|publisher=Reynolds & Hearn|isbn=978-1-903111-36-9|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uS4UAQAAIAAJ}}
• {{cite book|last=Raymer|first=Miles|title=How to Analyze the Music of Paul McCartney|year=2010|publisher=ABDO Publishing Company|isbn=978-1-61613-531-7|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=23jlYDQOz2sC}}

{{Refend}}

{{sister project links|d=Q2599|n=no|b=no|v=no|voy=no|m=no|mw=no|s=no|wikt=no|species=no}}

• {{Official website}}
• {{AllMusic|artist/paul-mccartney-mn0000029884}}
• {{discogs artist}}
• {{IMDb name|id=0005200|name=Paul McCartney}}
• [http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p009ml01 Paul McCartney] interview on BBC Radio 4 Desert Island Discs, 26 December 1984
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsQ0oaK_y5U Linda McCartney's Family Kitchen – In Conversation with Paul, Mary and Stella] (Paul McCartney's official YouTube channel) – Interview, 6 October 2021.

{{Paul McCartney}}

{{Paul McCartney singles}}

{{Navboxes

|title = Awards for Paul McCartney

|list =

{{Academy Award Best Original Score}}

{{American Music Award of Merit}}

{{Brit British Male}}

{{Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Song}}

{{Gershwin Prize}}

{{Grammy Award for Song of the Year}}

{{Grammy Award for Best Music Film}}

{{Grammy Award for Best Rock Song}}

{{Grammy Award for Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media}}

{{Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award}}

{{Kennedy Center Honorees 2010s}}

{{MusiCares Person of the Year}}

{{Polar Music Prize}}

{{1988 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame}}

{{1999 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame}}

{{Wolf Prize in Arts}}

}}

{{The Beatles}}

{{Wings}}

{{Paul McCartney family}}

{{People in veganism and vegetarianism}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:McCartney, Paul}}

Category:Paul McCartney

Category:1942 births

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Category:20th-century English guitarists

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Category:21st-century English bass guitarists

Category:21st-century English male singers

Category:21st-century English singer-songwriters

Category:20th-century English pianists

Category:21st-century English pianists

Category:Academics of the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts

Category:Anti-fracking movement

Category:Apple Records artists

Category:Beat musicians

Category:Best Original Music Score Academy Award winners

Category:Brit Award winners

Category:British ballet composers

Category:English male pianists

Category:Capitol Records artists

Category:Columbia Records artists

Category:Composers awarded knighthoods

Category:Decca Records artists

Category:EMI Classics and Virgin Classics artists

Category:English animal rights activists

Category:English billionaires

Category:English electronic musicians

Category:English film producers

Category:English film score composers

Category:English male classical composers

Category:English male film score composers

Category:English male singer-songwriters

Category:English multi-instrumentalists

Category:English people convicted of drug offences

Category:English people imprisoned abroad

Category:English people of Irish descent

Category:English philanthropists

Category:English pop guitarists

Category:English pop pianists

Category:English pop rock singers

Category:English male pop singers

Category:English prisoners and detainees

Category:English record producers

Category:English rock bass guitarists

Category:English rock guitarists

Category:English rock keyboardists

Category:English pop keyboardists

Category:English rock pianists

Category:English male rock singers

Category:English tenors

Category:English vegetarianism activists

Category:Fellows of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences

Category:British fingerstyle guitarists

Category:Gershwin Prize recipients

Category:Grammy Award winners

Category:Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award winners

Category:Honorary members of the Royal Academy of Music

Category:Ivor Novello Award winners

Category:Kennedy Center honorees

Category:Knights Bachelor

Category:English male bass guitarists

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Category:Members of the Order of the British Empire

Category:Members of the Order of the Companions of Honour

Category:Mercury Records artists

Category:MTV Europe Music Award winners

Category:Musicians awarded knighthoods

Category:Musicians from Liverpool

Category:NME Awards winners

Category:Oratorio composers

Category:Parlophone artists

Category:Paul McCartney and Wings members

Category:Paul McCartney Band members

Category:People educated at Liverpool Institute High School for Boys

Category:People from Allerton

Category:People from Peasmarsh

Category:People from Speke

Category:People from St John's Wood

Category:People from Walton, Liverpool

Category:Plant-based diet advocates

Category:People associated with the Vegetarian Society

Category:Polydor Records artists

Category:Primetime Emmy Award winners

Category:British people imprisoned in Japan

Category:British recipients of the Legion of Honour

Category:Recipients of the Order of the Sun of Peru

Category:Singers awarded knighthoods

Category:Singers from Liverpool

Category:Singers with a four-octave vocal range

Category:Swan Records artists

Category:The Beatles members

Category:The Quarrymen members

Category:Vee-Jay Records artists

Category:Wolf Prize in Arts laureates