How to Save a Thousand Dollars
By Fred Velez
GoodDay Sunshine Summer 1987
On August 22nd of last year (1986), Paul and
Linda were in New York to promote the “Press to Play” album. Even though I 2as working just a few blocks
away from Radio City Music Hall, I was unable to go. However, a friend I know did get in and had
his picture taken with Paul. Later that
evening, while reading the Rolling Stone cover story on McCartney, this friend
called and said, “Fred, how would you like to meet Paul?” Before you could say, “Look for the girl with
the sun in her eyes,” I was gone!
When I arrived at the recording studio Paul was at, there
were about 15 other people waiting by the front entrance, with a long, black
limo parked a short distance away. Some
10 minutes after I arrived, out came Paul, Linda, and their publicist. Paul was charming and polite and graciously
signed as many autographs as possible.
Before leaving my house, I grabbed my Rolling Stone and “Broadstreet”
book. Paul was nice enough to sign them
both. I spoke to Linda for a bit, asking
how the kids were. She was very nice and
friendly and appreciated the mention of her family. She also signed my “Broadstreet” book. Meeting her, I felt that all the unkind
criticism about her was uncalled for. I
found Linda to be very kind and open (even though Paul was obviously getting
the most attention).
When Paul finally got into the limousine and the doors all
closed, everyone there got into their own little packs to compare autographs
and photos while I stared at the darkened windows of the vehicle, just barely
making out Paul’s features. I gave him
the old thumbs-up sign, and Paul then rolled down the window and said,
“Goodnight. Take care, everybody!” Then the limo pulled out, and off went Paul
and Linda into the night.
It wasn’t until I was riding the bus home with my prizes
that it finally dawned on me. My gosh –
I just met Paul McCartney! I had to keep looking at the autographs to make sure
I wasn’t dreaming.
Now to the point of the article and the title. At the same time, I was meeting Paul, my
friend Molly was in England enjoying the GoodDay Sunshine annual U.K. Beatles
tour, of which I was jealous because I didn’t have enough money to attend. I was struck by the cosmic joke that Molly
and other fans were spending a bundle
for this trip, and I was able to take a five-dollar taxi ride to meet Paul here
at home. (I gave Molly the signed
Rolling Stone magazine as a ‘welcome home’ gift, for which she was grateful, to
say the least). I also learned a lesson
from this experience. If you stay home
and save a thousand, you have a one in ten thousand chance of meeting a Beatle!
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