Interview for paulmccartney.com • Wednesday, August 1, 2018

Interview

The interview below has been reproduced from this page . This interview remains the property of the respective copyright owner, and no implication of ownership by us is intended or should be inferred. Any copyright owner who wants something removed should contact us and we will do so immediately.

From You Gave Me The Answer: Instagram asks… – YouTube, August 1, 2018:

Earlier this month, Paul invited his Instagram followers to ask him questions about the three following themes; recording, Liverpool and performing live… We caught up with Paul just before his Abbey Road performance, backstage at LIPA in Liverpool, and even sneaked into his dressing room at The Cavern to film his answers.

---

Favourite song on your new album “Egypt Station” ?

Paul McCartney: I like all the songs on the new album, but if I had to choose, what I might say is “I don’t know”.

Do you hear the entire song in your head before going into the studio?

Paul McCartney: When you write the song you just get a feeling of how it’s going to sound and then you record it, and it changes, it kind of morphs into the record.

Oldest item you have used to create a sound in a recording?

Paul McCartney: We used to use one of those sort of pipes – it is pretty odd.

And the oddest item used on the new album?

Paul McCartney: It is not really an odd instrument but the harpsichord is used a lot on the new album and it’s kind of an interesting sound.

How did The Beatles perfect your group harmonies?

Paul McCartney: With the Beatles, we started off years ago doing harmonies, and I think, just as we went on, we got better and better. And for something like “Because”, which I think was like the epitome of it, we worked at it, we did it a few times till we got it right.

Why are you not wearing shoes on the Abbey Road cover?

Paul McCartney: Well, the thing was it turned out like today, it was a very hot day and I happened to be wearing sandals, like I am today. So I just kicked them off just because it was so hot, and I went across perfect. There was no special meaning behind it.

Did Liverpool make you the person you are today?

Paul McCartney: Yes, it did! Liverpool and the people of Liverpool and the humour made me who I am today.

Favourite memory of Liverpool?

Paul McCartney: This is really too many to pick one but I’ll pick one right out of the hat, which is me and John meeting at Woolton village fete.

Where did you and the boys hang out in Liverpool?

Paul McCartney: All over. We used to hang out either in John’s [inaudible] or him and me would hang out at my house, pretty much everywhere.

The one smell you associate with Liverpool?

Paul McCartney: the docks. Down by the docks, there is a particular, you know, ferry across the Mersey spell, that’s nice, very evocative.

Say something in a Scouse accent?

Paul McCartney: well, the Scouse accent? I can’t do [too deep scouse to understand]

Tips to combat nerves before a show?

Paul McCartney: Not really, I’m just kind of take it easy, breathe and try to remember that the audience probably likes you.

Which do you prefer playing, the guitar of piano?

Paul McCartney: I like them both for different reasons? Probably if I had to only choose one, I would choose the guitar because I do more songs on them.

Hardest song to play live?

Paul McCartney: The songs where I’ve got to sing and play a complicated bass part at the same time. “Being For The Benefit Of Mr. Kite!” is quite difficult, and for years I wouldn’t do it, but I ended up learning it and now we do it.

Thoughts on phones during concerts?

Paul McCartney: There’s nothing you can do about it is what I think. We did something yesterday where phones weren’t allowed, and the people in the audience, and how great it felt to not have millions of cameras on. So it would be good if we could control that.

Most important concert of your career?

Paul McCartney: Every time I play for the Queen has been important because she’s important, and I think the opening of the Olympic Games was pretty important, so I go for those two, three, four…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cBSBjXj3DI&t=15s

Last updated on April 6, 2021