Interview for Record Mirror

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A RUMOUR that Linda McCartney is to quit Wings is emphatically denied by both Linda and Paul this week.

The story, probably emanating from the less-than-adulatory criticism of Linda’s playing the opening concert of the band’s European tour implied that the other members of the group were not too happy with Mrs. McCartney’s keyboard prowess. But Paul said:

“We all like having Linda in the group. She is a great influence on us. She is no Billy Preston, granted, but actually I would not like a very technical keyboard player in the group because they tend to take over. I know most of the criticism says Linda is the weakest member of the group and if you are going to be like that well, she is. She is the only member of the group who isn’t like, professional. But it is too bad. If people don’t like it, then they should not come next time. I couldn’t care less.”

And Linda said:

“Quit the band! I have only just joined. I love playing with Wings. It’s great playing to an audience. I never knew how good it was. Paul used to say he missed playing to live audiences but I never understood it until we started playing and it’s so different.”

Wings played two sell-out concerts at the 2,000-seater Olympia, Paris, on Sunday and got the best reception so far of the tour. (See “Live” this page). Said Paul:

“They told us — Watch our for Paris, the audience will be tough but it was great. We are very happy with the response and the way the band is getting together.”