Sir Paul McCartney: A life in pictures

Sir Paul McCartney: A life in pictures


From The Daily Mail

Last updated at 10:30 PM on 16th April 2010

1949: Paul McCartney was born in Liverpool on 18 June 1942, and his brother, Michael arrived four years later. His father, Jim, was a cotton salesman and his mother, Mary, a nurse.

'I had a very nice family,' says Paul.

'Dad had trouble paying the bills occasionally, but it was never, "Go and pick blackberries, son, we're a bit short this week."'

Idyllic childhood: Paul McCartney was born in Liverpool on 18 June 1942, and his brother, Michael (far right) arrived four years later. His mother Mary, sadly died of cancer in 1956

Bright spark: Paul won a inter-school contest for his essay on the monarchy and his prize included a book token. After passing his 11-plus, he moved to the Liverpool Institute

1953: Paul won a inter-school contest for his essay on the monarchy and his prize included a book token. 'I chose a book on modern art - lots of pictures by artists I hadn't heard of.' After passing his 11-plus, he moved to the Liverpool Institute.

Sadly, Paul's mother died of cancer in 1956 and he says, 'music saved me - it could cure any blues'.

1961: Having met John Lennon, Paul was playing clubs in Hamburg with George Harrison, Lennon, Stu Sutcliffe and Pete Best on drums, but then Stu left the band in Germany.While playing at the Cavern in Liverpool they were discovered by Brian Epstein, who became their manager and fired Pete - he was replaced by Ringo Starr.It was the final line-up to success.

Fab four: A huge success in their home country, TheBeatles became the first UK act to conquer the US

High life: Paul met the British actress Jane Asher in 1963, and they became engaged. In 1968, The Beatles went to stay at Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's retreat in Bangor, Wales, the leader of the Transcendental Meditation religious movement, notable for influencing the band

1965: A huge success in their home country, The Fab Four became the first UK act to conquer the US and, in 1965, Paul and the three other Beatles were made Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for their contribution to Britain's exports.

1966: Paul met the British actress Jane Asher in 1963, and they became engaged. 'We had a good relationship,' says Paul. 'Even with touring there were enough occasions to keep a reasonable relationship going. But, even so, the women at that time got sidelined.'

Family man: n 1969, McCartney married US photographer Linda Eastman. They had four children, Linda's daughter, Heather (who Paul adopted), Mary, Stella, and James, and remained married until Linda's death in 1998
New start: when Paul set up Wings in 1971, wife Linda sang and played keyboard in the band

1968: Maharishi Mahesh Yogi was the leader of the Transcendental Meditation religious movement, notable for influencing The Beatles.
Duet: Michael Jackson stayed with the McCartney family while the two singers were recording the single Say Say Say together, which was included on Paul's 1983

In 1968, the band went to stay at his retreat in Bangor, Wales. Ringo lasted ten days, Paul and Jane a further month. Paul said: 'You cannot keep on taking drugs forever.

We were looking for something more natural. This is it.'

1972: In 1969, McCartney married US photographer Linda Eastman, the woman who gave him 'the strength and courage to work again' after the breakup of The Beatles in 1970.

They had four children: Linda's daughter, Heather (who Paul adopted), Mary, Stella (all pictured), and James, and remained married until Linda's death in 1998.
1970's: During their 29-year marriage, Paul wrote dozens of love songs to Linda and they rarely spent a night apart.
And, when he set up Wings in 1971, she sang and played keyboard in the band. 'Even though we have our ups and downs, we really do like being together.' When Wings split in 1981, Paul said. 'I got bored with the whole idea of being in a group.'

1983: Michael Jackson stayed with the McCartney family while the two singers were recording the single Say Say Say together, which was included on Paul's 1983 album, Pipes Of Peace. They teamed up again for The Girl Is Mine on the US star's Thriller album.
1993: Following in a long line of celebrities, Paul and Linda gueststarredin an episode of The Simpsons. When Lisa Simpson decides to stop eating meat, she's ridiculed, but is helped by the famous veggie couple.

1997: A year before Linda died, she and Paul attended Stella's first catwalk show as head designer of Chloe; in Paris. 'Stella is a very smart, very brave girl,' said Paul. 'I must say I wondered how long she would last. I thought she might have to cave in, but she never did.'

2003: In 1999, Paul met Heather Mills at a charity event. In 2001 they got engaged while in the Lake District and they wed the next year at a remote castle in Ireland. Their daughter, Beatrice, was born in 2003. The couple divorced in 2008.

2005: 'The really positive thing that came out of my marriage to Heather is our beautiful daughter, Beatrice,' says Paul. 'Late fatherhood is great fun for me.
I love it. Beatrice is a delicious little girl. She's great. I'm close to all my children.'
2009: Paul met Nancy Shevell, 50, a wealthy New Yorker, in 2007, and has been dating her ever since.
She and her ex-husband were good friends with Paul and Linda, and they became even closer when, a year after Linda's diagnosis, Nancy was diagnosed with breast cancer, too