Interview for Record Beat • Tuesday, March 15, 1966

Interview

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“We’ve always been terrified with each new release, and we’re the same now. We like it, but people might hate it.”

Paul McCartney, not usually the spokesman for the Beatles (because everyone naturally gravitates to John), has opened up for the first time in this frank and amazing interview.

Almost entirely uninterrupted by the other three who were present at the time, Paul reassessed the importance of being a Beatle.

He discussed their image, Beatle knockers and their career. He was tactful but put his points across, one after the other. Not as blatant as John Lennon, as dry-humored as Ringo or natural as George, Paul has a level head and a lot of depth.

Like everyone else, The Beatles are human. They reserve the right to their own opinions and their own life. Their success must be shared, and so must some of their feelings. John Lennon has been known to become angry with crowds who rush up to the group, taking pictures and asking for autographs.

And anyone who incurs Lennon’s displeasures gets the message loudly, clearly and sometimes crudely. Charm and gentle persuasion are not his greatest attributes.

As John becomes more aggressive, Paul becomes more impressive in the field of public relations.

This is one of the most interesting aspects of the Beatles as they roll from success to success. John is accepted as the outspoken one, George the dry and funny one whom everyone finds natural and unaffected, Ringo the swinging comedian whose jolt into the limelight surprised everybody, including the other three.

Paul has not changed much. Today, he possesses more breezy confidence and always finds time for hangers-on and interruptions.

McCartney, too, has become probably more press-conscious than the others.

Not in the sense that he courts personal publicity. But when he is asked questions he considers them with deeper thought.

Over a dinner of artichokes and salami, white wine; veal and rice, and pears, he brooded over questions designed to bring us up-to-date on Beatle thinking.

We were joined after half an hour by the remaining trio, but McCartney retained his hold over the interview.

He answered questions reflectively, intelligently, and without consulting the others.

Do you think you have any responsibility to your fans in your personal behaviour? Do young fans look up to you and act on things you say?

“(Long pause)  No. It would probably be a nicer answer if I said yes, we HAVE a responsibility to fans. But I can’t be noble for the sake of it. The answer’s No. I don’t believe we have any responsibility, frankly, and it takes a bit of saying. It’s insulting the intelligence of a lot of young people to say we have.

“We used to get requests from people, asking us if we’d go to a meeting and tell loads of people they shouldn’t drink. What do they take us for? We’d get laughed at if we said youth shouldn’t drink. It’d be bloody impertinent. I haven’t the right to interfere with anybody else’s life.”

“Do you think just because a Beatle said: “Don’t go beating people up,” the crime figures would go down? They wouldn’t. And it’s a cheek to expect us to do it. And I’d feel a right nit saying: “Thou Shalt Not Drink.””

IMAGE

Is the Beatles’ image changing and if so how?

Yes, I think it is. At least, I do feel it is switching a bit now. Let’s get one thing clear, though: it’s other people looking at us that create the image. We can’t create it. We can just notice it, and sort of say: “Ah well…” I think it is good that it is changing, as well.

You ask how is it changing? I’d hesitate to use the word “maturing.” That word has certain connotations. People who are mature are respectable, ordinary, and I think dull. They use the word mature when what they mean is that people are in a rut. I hope we’re not mature.

My feeling about our changing image is this: everybody goes through certain stages of growing up. For us, this is one of them. People are simply realising that we’re growing up.

What will be your reaction if the next Beatle single does not go straight to Number One in the charts?

It would be a terrible drag and then I’ll really pay attention to the knockers who say the Beatles are slipping! I mean, think of those horrible quotes we’d have to give people-“Proves there’s room for everybody,” we’d say, if it goes in the chart at number 15!

Seriously, if it doesn’t get to the top first go, I’d say damn and blast it, because as you know I never swear (smiles broadly) I might say flipping heck!

Come off it. Truthfully, I’d feel very depressed and I’d be in a disappointed mood.

HOPE 

Do you expect it to reach the top immediately?

It’s not a question of expecting but hoping.

It’s always hope rather than expectancy. Once you start expecting success you get blase. We’ll never get to the stage of releasing rubbish because we know people will buy it. Disaster.

We’ve always been terrified with each new release and we’re the same now. We like it, but people might hate it – and that’s their right. This business of singles has always been a real worry for us, and I mean this, because every time we’ve tried for something different.

The worst attitude anybody in the chart can have is: “The last one did okay so this one will.” And I say is: let us pray.”

Has the time now arrived when the Beatle knockers are moving in?

One thing on this subject has always struck me as stupid. You get people who say things like: “A bit of criticism is always good for you. Being taken down a peg and getting advice never hurt anyone.” It’s a load of rubbish. I’ve never met anyone yet who liked being criticised, even when the criticism was meant as advice.

Let’s face it: our knockers aren’t interested in helping us, or giving us advice. They’re simply malicious. Another thing I hate is where somebody tells you his opinion after the event. You know the sort “Well, if you want my honest opinion, I didn’t like it in the first place.” We’ve had a lot of that and we hate it. It’s cowardly.

We’ve always been worried about knockers. Isn’t everyone? If somebody walked up to another person in the street and said: “That’s a lousy jacket you’re wearing,” he’d be a knocker. And the bloke wearing the jacket would hate it. We don’t like Clever Henry’s.

FED UP

What are your feelings about the so-called intrusion into Beatles’ privacy – wives, girlfriends being photographed and interviewed?

Mainly, yes, we all resent it a bit. It depends on my mood. If I’m away on holiday and photographers start chasing, I get fed up. But if the photographer’s okay and asks if ’d pose for a picture or something, and he’s reasonable about it, I’m not annoyed.

After all, you’ve got to face the fact the press is after you, haven’t you? It’s when people start sneaking pictures and wrecking a private holiday that I get temperamental.

What do you think of John’s plans to become an independent record producer? He says this will probably be in partnership with you.

I don’t mind the idea, as long as he lets me set up the mikes for him. Just to keep my hand in, like. Seriously, I’d love it. It’d be a challenge.

Is there anything you dislike about show business?

Shaving! Right, I’ll answer that properly. Those daft people who go backstage after an opening night and say “Darling, you were super!” Women in show business who swear like the troopers to make everybody know they are in show business. Showbiz women who act like men. I hate this type. All the “Oh Darling” types. Horrible.

Also people who talk around calling each other “Love”. Not the “luv” that shop assistants in the North mean, but the showbiz “Love.” This Type is often the floor manager on a TV show. It is so affected.

They think these affectations make them individual. Actually, they are following every known rule in the book, and falling into every possible showbiz trap that makes the UNindividual. To me, this is one of the drags of show business.

(John: That’s it, Paul. Have a bash! Have a go!)

PANIC

How conscious are you of personal images within the group and do you discuss this?

I used to panic about images, because I’m very easily influenced-impressionable, truthfully. I used to worry about whether we should smoke on photographs. Then I realised it would be daft not to.

I used to panic about being seen anywhere with Jane (Asher) because I used to have this old-fashioned idea that recording people were never seen out with girlfriends. Now, I don’t care much.

No, these things don’t matter to me or any of us, because we don’t really believe in images. We never talk about them, except to “send up” the word “image”.

How would you define a Beatle hanger on?

There are various kinds of hangers on, we find. Some hang on because they can all their friends they’ve met the Beatles. Big deal. Some hang on because it’s their job to do so.

The very worst kind of hanger-on is the one you discover was hanger-on three weeks after he’s left your company.

Do you think the success and achievements of the Beatles will ever be surpassed?

Yes, I think they might easily be. Nobody thought Elvis’s successes could ever be surpassed, but I think we might have surpassed one or two of his, haven’t we?

Would you ever live permanently outside Britain?

No. Definitely not. Out of everywhere I’ve been I like England best.

(George: Leave England? Never. Best country in the world to live in.)

How would you like to be remembered, as Beatles, when you are old?

Paul: With a smile.

John. I won’t be interested in being remembered. No, I’d like to be remembered as the one with the twinkle in his eye!

Ringo: I’d like to be remembered as Mrs. Starkey’s little boy!

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Last updated on August 24, 2023