Bill Bernstein (artist) • The Paul McCartney Project

Menu

Big Jim Sullivan

Spread the love! If you like what you are seeing, share it on social networks and let others know about The Paul McCartney Project.

About

From Bill Bernstein on Instagram: Back in my early touring days with the Macs. #beatles @thebeatles @sir.paulmccartney #ealydays #lindamccartney #paulmccartney #ontour #tourphotographer #macca #celebrityportraits #photographerlife

From Bill Bernstein (@billbernstein) • Instagram photos and videos – Paul McCartney. Photo by Bill Bernstein from a photo-session in London a few years back.

From Bill Bernstein (@billbernstein) • Instagram photos and videos – Photograph by Bill Bernstein, London 2006. I was so fortunate to work with Paul over the span of more than 15 years. One time, in the studio we were doing some promotion shots. I knew how much he and John loved Elvis and I asked him if he would do an Elvis move, and sure enough he came up with this beauty. Lots of love to you Paul and happy 80th.

From Bill Bernstein (@billbernstein) • Instagram photos and videos – Happy 80th to the Lovely Linda. Photographed in 1990 for US Magazine by Bill Bernstein.

From Bill Bernstein (@billbernstein) • Instagram photos and videos – Wayback when… I first started touring as McCartney‘s tour photographer in 1989 I became good friends with Paul’s amazing drummer Chris Whitten. One time, when we were up in Massachusetts Chris took me to the place where his drums, Noble and Cooley (est 1854), were made. This was right outside of Boston as I remember. Chris still uses the same N&C drums today that he used with Dire Straits. His McCartney drum set is in the Noble and Cooley Drum Museum. One day, during soundcheck, Chris let me sneak on his drums and I played Honky-Tonk Women with the band (Robbie Mcintosh, Hamish Stuart, Wix Wickens), before Paul showed up! That was really a thrill for me as my other dream was to be a rockstar drummer! Thanks for these great pics Chris.

From Bill Bernstein (@billbernstein) • Instagram photos and videos – Wayback when… I first started touring as McCartney‘s tour photographer in 1989 I became good friends with Paul’s amazing drummer Chris Whitten. One time, when we were up in Massachusetts Chris took me to the place where his drums, Noble and Cooley (est 1854), were made. This was right outside of Boston as I remember. Chris still uses the same N&C drums today that he used with Dire Straits. His McCartney drum set is in the Noble and Cooley Drum Museum. One day, during soundcheck, Chris let me sneak on his drums and I played Honky-Tonk Women with the band (Robbie Mcintosh, Hamish Stuart, Wix Wickens), before Paul showed up! That was really a thrill for me as my other dream was to be a rockstar drummer! Thanks for these great pics Chris.

From Bill Bernstein (@billbernstein) • Instagram photos and videos – TBT- here’s an early, fun “On The Road” shot taken sometime ago of Paul and the band: Abe, Brian, Wix, and Rusty. Photograph by Bill Bernstein

From Bill Bernstein (@billbernstein) • Instagram photos and videos – Photograph by Bill Bernstein

From Bill Bernstein (@billbernstein) • Instagram photos and videos – Photo by Bill Bernstein

From Bill Bernstein (@billbernstein) • Instagram photos and videos – New issue of Life Magazine called “Paul At 75”, on sale now, features one of my photos of Paul and Linda McCartney in a real and special moment from 1990 (reprinted from a few years back).

From Chris Whitten (@chriswhittenmusic) • Instagram photos and videos – In January 1990 we spent two weeks performing at Wembley Arena in London. @david_modell, a young cutting edge photojournalist had been hired to follow us around backstage and during the show. His images, when I saw them, were amazing. His camera of choice looked like a basic tourist camera from the 1960’s. I had never seen anything like it before. I asked him what it was and he replied “Leica M6”.⁣
⁣After Wembley we flew to North America and played a few shows largely on the east side of the USA. This time @billbernstein was our embedded photographer. Lo and behold but he turned up with the same basic looking camera. When I repeatedly quizzed Bill on the camera, he said I should try photography and he could probably find me a more affordable Leica M6 to start out with.⁣
⁣Boo I hear you say. A Leica M6 is a high end, professional camera. But it’s also quite simple to operate, with no menus, no auto focus, no exposure modes. You use the internal light meter, set your shutter speed and aperture, focus and shoot.

Contribute!

Have you spotted an error on the page? Do you want to suggest new content? Or do you simply want to leave a comment ? Please use the form below!