Macca firmly stated that it was necessary for Linda to be included in Wings.
Macca strongly believed that Linda should be included in Wings, despite her inability to play any musical notes and the negative reception from the public.
- Linda McCartney encountered criticism for being labeled as a ‘fake musician’.
One often disregarded fact is the immense success of The Beatles, their unparalleled musical creativity, and the bitter dissolution of the band, which has been extensively analyzed through countless written words.
Both Paul McCartney and John Lennon experienced the loss of their mothers during their childhood. This profound and unfortunate occurrence had a significant impact on their lives.
In the late 1950s, when they experienced loss, the British culture of maintaining composure and suppressing emotions urged them to stay strong, persevere, and pretend to be happy. Despite their immense sorrow, they felt overwhelmed by grief, struggling to cope with their emotions and finding it difficult to carry on. Unfortunately, there was no available support for children dealing with loss, whether from their own family or from external sources.
It is not surprising that they became deeply immersed in music during their teenage years. This is a common occurrence in the world of rock music. Madonna’s personal experience adds to this pattern. At the age of five, her mother passed away from breast cancer in 1963. Reflecting on her life, Madonna has shared that the lack of communication about her mother’s death, along with feelings of loss, betrayal, and surprise, resulted in a sense of being out of control throughout her childhood. This ultimately influenced her decision to become an artist and have control over every aspect of her life.
Bono, the lead singer of U2, experienced the loss of his mother Iris when he was 14 years old in 1974. Tragically, she collapsed at her father’s burial and passed away four days later. Bono, his father, and his brother chose to avoid the emotional pain by not discussing or thinking about her. However, Bono now realizes that this avoidance may have been even more difficult than facing their grief directly.
Paul had been searching for a motherly figure ever since his mother Mary passed away, and Linda fulfilled that role.
He also mentioned, “Her absence led me to become an artist, and I am grateful to her for that. Initially, I believed my anger was a characteristic of rock’n’roll, but it was actually a manifestation of sorrow.”
Similar to seeking refuge by a fireside during a raging storm, music provides comfort and security. However, this state of solace is temporary, just like the longevity of The Beatles.
Lennon made the initial declaration of his departure from the Beatles on September 20, 1969. Due to complications with financial accounts, tax filings, agreements, and obligations, he was advised to delay making this information public until everything was sorted out.
Paul proceeded to create a solo album named McCartney, which showcased his exceptional composition, Maybe I’m Amazed. The album was released under the band’s Apple label, and an innovative member of the publicity team suggested adding a question-and-answer interview on a sheet, discreetly placed within the album sleeve.
The anonymous interviewer inquired if there were any plans for a new album or single with the Beatles. Paul responded negatively.
They inquired whether this album marked a departure from the Beatles or the beginning of Paul’s solo career. Paul responded by saying that only time will reveal the answer.
“Will your departure from the Beatles be temporary or permanent?” “I am uncertain.” “Can you envision a future where Lennon-McCartney resumes their collaboration in songwriting?” “No.”
There was no ambiguity left. The Beatles had come to an end. The specific date was April 9, 1970.
Both Paul McCartney and John Lennon lost their mothers as children – that stark, tragic coincidence shaped everything
On September 20, 1969, Lennon made the initial declaration of his departure from the Beatles.
The media and fans responded with spiteful and soul-crushing criticism. Paul initially faced vilification for breaking up the world’s beloved group. However, the narrative soon shifted: it seemed impossible that it was his idea. Our Paul, the adorable one, couldn’t have come up with such a plan on his own. He must have been influenced by the person he married, who is now shamelessly joining in. She has never even touched a piano stool before, and now she claims to be “writing songs,” can you believe it? She might even steal the spotlight from him next. Who does she think she is?
Linda McCartney, naturally, was the person in question.
Linda faced an incredibly intense level of hatred. I cannot reword the graffiti message as it contains explicit language. It was written on a wall across from their residence in St John’s Wood, located in north London. Just picture the distress of opening your bedroom curtains in the morning and being confronted with such a sight.
When Paul and Linda created a fresh musical group, a humorous remark circulated: ‘What is the name for a canine with wings? Mrs. McCartney.’
Linda fulfilled the role of a mother figure that Paul had been longing for since his mother Mary passed away. David Ambrose, an executive at the record company, acknowledges this and recognizes that despite facing ridicule, Paul found solace by finding the right partner, creating a small family, and maintaining strong bonds with his loved ones.
Paul was unequivocally the leader, standout, and financier… and Wings would always remain as nothing other than the boss and the boss’s partner.
Those individuals who attempted to harm him because of Linda’s presence in the band failed to understand the true intention. Linda’s role was not primarily as a musician, but rather a representation or consequence. She was there because he relied on her presence.
Without her, he would not have been able to accomplish it. He would have experienced a downfall, as the former member of the Beatles who had achieved great success, but ultimately faced a complete loss. Thanks to Linda, he was able to transition into his remarkable solo career that has continued into his 80s. She played a crucial role in saving him and providing him with the necessary support. She rightfully earned her position in the limelight.
Linda came up with the concept of Wings, but this time, he was the one in control and responsible for the expenses. Paul was the undeniable leader, star, and financial provider… and Wings would always be under his authority, along with his partner, and a rotating team of employees earning £70 per week initially.
The band’s duration would span ten years, surpassing the Beatles by two years. They were once recognized as the largest live group globally. Additionally, their only UK Number 1 hit, Mull Of Kintyre, remains one of the highest-selling singles in music history.
In 1994, he expressed his belief that The Beatles were the greatest band globally. He explained that it was challenging to surpass their success, comparing it to following a divine entity like God, except if one were Buddha. Any work by Wings had to be evaluated in relation to The Beatles, and the comparisons were consistently severe.
The band Wings had a decade-long lifespan, surpassing the Beatles by two years. At one stage, they were recognized as the largest live group globally.
He could be a harsh critic himself. In 2016, he told the BBC’s John Wilson, ‘Wings weren’t a good group [at the start]. People said, ‘Well, Linda can’t play keyboards,’ and it was true. But you know, Lennon couldn’t play guitar when we started. We knew Linda couldn’t play, we didn’t know each other, but we learned.’
He mentioned that along with Wings, he had to take on various responsibilities, including being the band leader and business manager. He stated, “We didn’t have Apple, we didn’t have Epstein, we didn’t have anything. It was me handling everything. That was the most challenging part – it’s not easy. In the Beatles, I had been relieved of all that.”
The rest of the band faced different challenges. Guitarist Hugh McCracken and drummer Denny Seiwell trekked to Scotland’s west coast and the McCartney farm in June 1971 to record the pre-Wings album, Ram, with their wives.
The women must have been disappointed when they arrived at the Argyle Arms Hotel in Campbeltown’s Main Street. The hotel was basic and lacked heating, with old carpets and curtains, shared toilets and bathrooms, and stained upholstery. The cold nights, even in early summer, would have been a surprise.
Seiwell had no previous experience of visiting Britain. ‘You traveled to that peculiar airport in Scotland, and Pan Am arranged for us to be transported to Campbeltown in a van,’ he remembered. ‘It took us five hours to reach there, and then we embarked on a search for the farm, which was located in a remote area.’
Despite the inclusion of the excellent collaboration “Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey,” criticism towards Linda was filled with misogyny.
There was no proper road leading to the McCartney property’s house on the outskirts. We honked the horn and an elderly man emerged. We asked him, “How can we locate Paul’s farm?” His response was difficult to understand, but he proceeded to open a weathered wooden gate. There were numerous boulders scattered all around, causing damage to our car.
At last, we arrived at the farm. The main house had two bedrooms, a kitchen, and there were also kids, horses, and sheep. Linda prepared a delicious dinner that was incredibly satisfying, consisting of simple ingredients. The most remarkable thing we observed was the evident deep affection shared between her and Paul.
Paul’s newfound happiness was attributed to Linda’s unwavering dedication and respect. However, when Ram was released, even with the notable contribution of the impressive collaboration between Linda and Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey, it faced unjust criticism tainted with misogyny. Merely mentioning Linda’s name incited hostility.
She was an imposter in the music industry, a fraud, a counterfeit. How dare she demand that her name be mentioned alongside his, as if she could ever be on the same level as him? Rolling Stone even went as far as condemning Ram with a devastating blow: ‘The lowest point in the decline of sixties rock up until now.’
“I must confess that we left ourselves vulnerable to that type of criticism,” Paul acknowledged to Playboy magazine in 1984. “However, I genuinely and innocently asked Lin if she wanted to participate. I showed her middle C, offered to teach her some chords, and thought we would have a lighthearted time. That was the intention behind it all. But then individuals started exclaiming, ‘Oh my goodness! He has his wife performing on stage… he must be joking!'”
Linda faced an immense amount of criticism and was labeled as a “pretend musician,” a “charlatan,” and a “fake,” receiving an overwhelming amount of negative comments.
I believe she handled the situation exceptionally well. She possesses excellent intuition for the entertainment industry, and when it came to the 1976 tour in the United States, she was managing the audience better than any of us. I take pride in her accomplishments. I truly challenged her by putting her in a difficult situation.
Ram was an album released under Paul McCartney’s name, while its follow-up, Wild Life, was credited to the band Wings. Both albums received negative reviews. Denny Laine, a former guitarist for the Moody Blues, had joined the band, and Henry McCulloch, from Ulster, joined in time to record Paul’s protest song, Give Ireland Back To The Irish, which was banned by the BBC for its political nature. The song Hi, Hi, Hi was also banned by the BBC, this time for its explicit content and possible references to drugs.
McCulloch’s appointment was unconventional. He was known for being outspoken and less flexible compared to the Dennys. It was expected that he and Paul would frequently clash, particularly regarding Linda’s limited skills on the keyboard.
After a low-key tour of university halls, playing unannounced, they leased a double-decker bus for a jaunt around Europe, playing in 25 cities. The metamorphosis from freaky family vanity project to worldwide rock sensation came in 1973, when the producers of the James Bond franchise, Harry Saltzman and Albert ‘Cubby’ Broccoli, invited Paul to write the title song for Roger Moore’s first movie as 007 – Live And Let Die.
Paul’s overwhelming control in the recording studio, which was occasionally described as unbearable, ultimately led to McCullough’s departure. After a disagreement, McCullough left with Denny Seiwell reluctantly following him. Denny Laine, a former guitarist and singer of Moody Blues, continued to be dedicated to the cause, but even he would never achieve the same level of importance.
Ram was officially a solo album, but its successor, Wild Life, was credited to Wings
High Park Farm was still Wings’ spiritual home, and they returned there in 1977 to record Mull Of Kintyre, backed by the Campbeltown Pipe Band. Seven pipers and seven drummers were picked: they practiced for six weeks before the recording, and needed just one take.
Ian McKerral, who is now 61 years old and widely recognized as a bagpipe instructor around the world, participated in the event when he was just 16. Following the event, Ian recalls, “We had a small celebration, both inside the recording studio and outdoors. One of the pipers had a little too much to drink and accidentally fell into a horse trough. It was quite an extraordinary experience, I must say.”
They were paid better than Musician’s Union rates, £750 each. But it could have been far more. ‘We were 16 and 17 years old, and not very interested in money,’ says Ian. ‘The deal they offered us was this: you can have the royalties or you can have a one-off payment. It was decided – not by me – that we would take the money.
‘Someone later worked out how much we would have earned from a record that became such a big global hit. It was about three quarters of a million pounds each! But I have no regrets.’
Two years after the success of Mull Of Kintyre, the situation took a turn for the worse. In January 1980, when the McCartneys arrived at Narita International Airport in Japan for a tour, Paul, carrying their fourth child James, was found to have half a pound of marijuana in his luggage by customs officials.
Following a casual visit to university campuses, where they performed without prior notice, they decided to rent a two-story bus for a spontaneous journey across Europe, entertaining audiences in 25 different cities.
Paul, despite his claims of personal use, was forcefully arrested and taken to the Tokyo Narcotic Detention Centre. He was assigned the identification number Inmate No. 22. On his first night, a representative from the British Council in Tokyo delivered a stern warning that he might be sentenced to a lengthy period of hard labor, possibly lasting seven or eight years.
Linda spent the following nine days writing letters to him and bringing him science fiction books. However, she initially couldn’t see him. It had been the longest period of time they had been apart since their wedding day 11 years ago. Eventually, she was allowed to visit her husband, but they had to sit on opposite sides of a grille and were unable to make physical contact.
Paul maintained a low profile. He engaged in physical activity. He showered alongside fellow inmates without objection, perhaps apprehensive that embracing any special treatment would attract harassment and mistreatment.
There were strange and baseless rumors circulating that John and Yoko were somehow connected to both the arrest and eventual release of Paul.
Paul’s casual announcement that he and Linda would be staying in the Presidential Suite at Tokyo’s Hotel Okura allegedly infuriated them. The Lennons considered it their own and were afraid that the McCartneys would ruin their positive energy there. Some sources claimed that Yoko knew about the drugs hidden there because Paul had left New York, where she and John resided, and that she informed customs officials. Additional insiders argued that Yoko used her influence to help Paul avoid imprisonment.
Rumour also obscures the truth of negotiations surrounding Paul’s release. He says it cost him a payment of more than £1 million. What is certainly true is that Denny Laine, the only constant amid the ever-changing backing musicians of Wings, was furious. He had banked on the tour solving his money problems, and expressed his frustration in a solo song called Japanese Tears.
When asked if he may have been secretly planning to leave the band, Paul later responded: “There could have been some truth to that, as I believe I was ready to move on from Wings. We hadn’t put in much rehearsal time for that tour.”
However, I find it hard to believe that I would go to the extent of getting arrested and imprisoned for nine days just to leave a group. To be honest, there are simpler methods to achieve that. Perhaps it was driven by some underlying psychological factor. Currently, I am going through a peculiar phase.
This statement encapsulates the entirety of the Wings journey. Paul McCartney experienced an unusual phase during this time.
Lesley-Ann Jones’ book “Fly Away Paul” will be published on October 10th, 2023, by Hodder & Stoughton. The copyright belongs to Lesley-Ann Jones.
To order a copy for £22.50 (offer valid to 24/10/2023; Free UK postage and packaging for orders over £25.www.mailshop.co.uk/books or call 020 3176 2937.
