Bio: Paul McCartney
Self-taught musician Paul McCartney rose to fame as bassist and joint lead vocalist for The Beatles.
Born in Liverpool on 18th June 1942, McCartney lost his mother at age eleven which later became a point of connection with John Lennon whose own mother died when he was 17.
Lennon and McCartney went on to form what is generally considered the most successful songwriting partnership in history.
McCartney’s father was a professional trumpet player and pianist. He purchased a nickel-plated trumpet for Paul’s 14th birthday which was soon traded for a Framus Zenith acoustic guitar. The young McCartney found it difficult to play right-handed so reversed the order of the strings to enable him to play left-handed.
In the summer of 1957, McCartney joined John Lennon’s band, The Quarrymen, as rhythm guitarist. George Harrison came on board in 1958 and the band switched their name to The Beatles in August 1960.
When Stuart Sutcliffe left in 1961, McCartney reluctantly inherited the bass player role.
In January 1962, Brian Epstein became The Beatles manager and, that August, Ringo Starr replaced Pete Best as drummer.
Two months later, the band had their first hit (Love Me Do) and by 1963, “Beatlemania” was in full swing. The band’s third single, From Me to You, came out in April 1963 and started an almost unbroken string of 17 British number one singles.
In February 1964, The Beatles left the UK for an American tour. The level of media exposure was unprecedented and, during the week of April 4th 1964, The Beatles held twelve positions on the Billboard Hot 100 including the entire top five.
Prior to departing for a world tour in June 1964, McCartney placed an order for his first high end motor car: an Aston Martin DB5. The DB5 (chassis 1653/R) was specified in Sierra Blue with a black interior and among the options was a Philips Auto-Mignon record player.
The DB5 was registered BYY 379B and delivered to McCartney’s accountants, Bryce, Hamer & Isherwood.
George Harrison was so impressed with the Aston Martin that he went out and ordered his own.
In 1965, Brian Epstein decided to purchase a fleet of four special Mini Coopers for McCartney, Lennon, Harrison and Starr. Each Cooper S was individually modified.
McCartney’s (KA2S4732224) was converted to a unique Radford DeVille. Registered GGJ 382C, the car was painted Aston Martin California Sage and fitted with DB5 tail lights. McCartney requested a black leather interior, full-length sunroof, recessed fog lights, electric windows, a walnut dash, Smiths instruments and custom wheels.
Between 1965 and 1966, The Beatles toured Europe, the UK, the Far East and the USA. They released critically acclaimed albums like Help!, Rubber Soul and Revolver but, after their famous concert at Candlestick Park in San Francisco on August 29th 1966, the band quit touring altogether.
Freed from the burden of touring (and now making music on their own Apple Records label), The Beatles embraced an increasingly experimental approach as they started work on Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band in November 1966.
Earlier in 1966, Paul had added an Aston Martin DB6 to his small cache of high end cars. Ordered direct from the factory in Goodwood Green with a black interior, McCartney requested a reel-to-reel tape recorder fitted in the dashboard.
Registered LLO 840D, the DB6 (chassis 2581/R) was famously where McCartney wrote Hey Jude.
In June 1968, McCartney had driven out to visit Cynthia Lennon and her son, Julian. The month before, John Lennon had separated from Cynthia due to his ongoing affair with Japanese artist, Yoko Ono. Cynthia Lennon recalled of McCartney's surprise visit: "I was touched by his obvious concern for our welfare. On the journey down he composed ‘Hey Jude’ in the car. I will never forget Paul's gesture of care and concern in coming to see us." The song’s original title was Hey Jules and it was intended to comfort Julian from the stress of his parents’ separation.
Earlier in 1968 (February), Paul had purchased his first Italian exotic; a rare right-hand drive Lamborghini 400 GT 2+2. Painted red with a beige pigskin interior, this car (chassis 01141) was registered SLF 406F.
Following Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, The Beatles released five more albums before they split in 1970. All four members went on to make music as solo artists and McCartney formed the band Wings in 1971. He later recorded with Stevie Wonder and Michael Jackson, among many others.
In 1975, McCartney purchased a three year old Lamborghini Espada Series 2 (chassis 8676). Bought as a family car, the red on red four seater was registered JLL 834K. However, soon after acquisition, McCartney had to have the car rebuilt as his wife, Linda, left the handbrake off and it rolled into a lake.
The Espada was quickly sold after which McCartney generally stuck to more conservative machinery.
Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: Linda McCartney & EMI Music Publishing - https://www.universalmusic.com/label/emi/
