Timeline
More from year 1980
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Paul McCartney writes his “Japanese Jailbird” memories
February - April 1980
Paul McCartney released from Japan prison
Jan 25, 1980
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Jan 21, 1980
Wings '80 Japan tour cancelled
Jan 17, 1980
Paul McCartney arrested and jailed in Japan
Jan 16, 1980
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About
Arriving in Amsterdam, from Japan, Paul McCartney was interviewed for the Dutch television:
What happened ?
Paul McCartney. I was in jail for 10 days, didn’t you hear it?
Yes indeed… How did you get out?
How I did get out… Walking on foot.
What did the authorities do?
They dropped the charges.
Why?
Don’t ask me, ask them.
Don’t you know?
Yeah, it was because it was not considered… (pausing)… l don’t know. They just told me today that I get out…
Any idea of the consequences on the whole thing?
How do you mean?
Financially…
Yeah, you know…it’s a bit of a drag financially and stuff.
Do you think you’ll ever go back to Japan?
I don’t know.
You want to go?
Maybe… I’m not sure.
You left disappointed fans over there.
True but I’m disappointed too, so that makes two of us.
Isn’t it usual that somebody else carries the drugs for you into the country?
No, do you do that?
No, but that’s what I heard.
You hear a lot of things in the newspapers that aren’t true….and on TV.
How was your treatment in jail?
It was okay, it was not bad but it was a drag being in there.
Last question, what are you going to do now?
Sleep….and go home.
Interview from “The Solo Beatles Film & TV Chronicle 1971-1980“, by Jörg Pieper (with Ian MacCarthy)
During another interview, he declared:
The last 10 days I tried to get our of Japan and try to get home with the wife and kids. As I say, that was the main worry for me, that maybe they’ve been stuck there for years, you know. The British counsel showed up the first night and said “Yeah, maybe eight years”.
Last updated on March 20, 2023
Going further
The Beatles Diary Volume 2: After The Break-Up 1970-2001
"An updated edition of the best-seller. The story of what happened to the band members, their families and friends after the 1970 break-up is brought right up to date. A fascinating and meticulous piece of Beatles scholarship."
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The Beatles - The Dream is Over: Off The Record 2
This edition of the book compiles more outrageous opinions and unrehearsed interviews from the former Beatles and the people who surrounded them. Keith Badman unearths a treasury of Beatles sound bites and points-of-view, taken from the post break up years. Includes insights from Yoko Ono, Linda McCartney, Barbara Bach and many more.
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