Paul McCartney withdraws from the Beatles Fan Club
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In early August 1971, some days after the first recording sessions of his new band, Paul McCartney wrote a letter to the Beatles Fan Club to announce he was withdrawing from the club.
August 1971
Dear people:
The time has come for me to withdraw from the Beatles Fan Club. As you may know, the band split up over a year and has not played together since. Each of us is getting together his own career, and for this reason, I don’t want to be involved with anything that continues the illusion that there is such a thing as the Beatles.
Those days are over. In the past, you have been great supporters, and the idea of this letter is to let you know how I want it to be in the future, in case you wanted to know. Now I’m not a Beatle any longer and want to get back to where I once belonged – living my own life, having my own family, my privacy, and getting on with my own music.
Thanks for everything…
Paul, Child-Bride Linda, Boy Prodigy Heather and Baby Mary
He doesn’t want the name McCartney linked with the names of the other Beatles. It’s pursuing an illusion; something that no longer exists. He wants the Beatles to become on paper what they are in fact. He wants to be allowed to pursue his career, and he’s trying his utmost to be simply Paul McCartney.
Shelly Turner – Spokesman for Paul McCartney – From Disc And Music Echo – August 7, 1971
It’s true that Paul’s trying to break The Beatles’ name. He just doesn’t want to be associated anymore. For instance, in The Beatles’ book, we list the birthdays of all The Beatles’ children. Paul claims that his family AREN’T Beatle children. I suppose that’s fair enough. I’ve been waiting for someone to say something like this.
Freda Kelly – President of the Official Beatles Fan Club – From Disc And Music Echo – August 7, 1971
McCartney: ‘Don’t call me a Beatle again’
PAUL McCARTNEY – whose new single is out next week – sent a message to fans asking them not to call him a Beatle anymore.
“He doesn’t want the name McCartney linked with the names of the other Beatles,” his spokesman, Shelly Turner. “It’s pursuing an illusion; something that no longer exists. He wants the Beatles to become on paper what they are in fact. He wants to be allowed to pursue his career, and he’s trying his utmost to be simply Paul McCartney.“
This week Paul was contacting the Beatles’ official fan club, run from Liverpool by Freda Kelly, to tell fans: “Thanks for writing, but I’m not a Beatle anymore.”
Freda, secretary for 10 years, told Disc: “It’s true Paul’s trying to break the Beatles’ name up. He just doesn’t want to be associated anymore. For instance, in the Beatles’ Book, we list the birthdays of all the Beatles’ children. Paul claims his family AREN’T Beatle children. I suppose that’s fair enough. I’ve been waiting for someone to say something like this.“
In future, all Paul’s fan mail will be re-directed from Liverpool to his London office. He’s also writing his own newsletters.
Meanwhile, a new single from Paul McCartney in Britain will be “The Back seat Of My car” and “Heart Of The Country,” from the “Ram” album, out on August 13.
In America the single tracks are “Uncle Albert” and “Too Many People”; and elsewhere in the world “Eat At Horne” and “Smile Away.”
Last updated on May 3, 2022