Beatlefest in Paris

 

March 28, 1976 -  Mark and Carol Lapidos meet Paul and Linda backstage in Paris 

Star Opens School For Performing Arts (1996)

 

Star Opens School For Performing Arts

By Sarah Kreykes

North County Times

January 31, 1996

    Paul McCartney took his first steps towards fame in cramped and dingy Liverpool clubs. Now, the former Beatle is a major benefactor of a spacious and shiny school for others who have stars in their eyes.

     McCartney returned to his hometown Tuesday to officially open a $23 million performing arts college he helped found at his old high school. 

    The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts will train young people from all over the world, awarding degrees in music, drama, dance, design, and management, the only British college to embrace all aspects of the Performing Arts. 

    The first 200 students began classes earlier this month.

     Looking around the former Liverpool Institute, which was once one of the city's leading boys' schools. An emotional McCartney said, "Attending classes there gave me the idea that you can succeed... conquer the world."

     In creating a college that offers business with ballet, lighting skills, and law, "we hope we have created something different that will produce well-rounded artists," McCartney told the students and 500 guests.

     McCartney, who has given more than $1.5 million to help turn the institute's imposing Gregorian stone buildings into a modern college equipped with the latest sound, lighting, and recording equipment, told reporters he will teach songwriting there. "I will be able to give them one or two little tricks of the trade. The rest is up to them", said McCartney, who has made millions from his songs, but confesses he cannot read music and finds the songwriting process a mystery.

Same Dad -- different daughter

 

September 1970

 

Photos taken by Linda McCartney in September 1970

Linda is the Back to the Eggman

 

I had a good chuckle at the Ebay listing for this photo.  It said that Linda was eating a cookie.   Photo from June 11, 1979.

Going in for the kiss

 

I have spent WAY too much time laughing at this photo.   Paul's expression is great and Ringo is just laughing at him.   

Come Sail away with Paul

 

August 22, 2020 

Traveling with the dogs

 

The family brought Martha along and little Heather brought Snoopy.   

Heather and Paul

 

Backstage in color

 

Miss Canada

 

Our last full day in England

 

This fan encounter was written by Pat D. adn was in the Jan/Feb issue of McCartney Ltd.   The photograph of Paul and Linda was taken on October 3, 1972 -- so two days after the story. 

About 20 to 3 on our last full day in England, Sunday, October 1, 1972, I had one of my urges and that was to go to EMI, so we managed to hop an underground for St. John's Wood.  We finally found ourselves walking over to EMI.  There were some girls we knew so we learned Paul had been due that morning but never showed.  I began looking down the street remembering what I had heard about his car and how you just couldn't miss it.  When I suddenly saw it coming, about a block away.  It knew it was it.  We had been there for just about 5 minutes and now so was he.   They drove in and I went inside the gate a bit.  Some guy went up to Paul as he got out of the car and began talking.  Linda got out and came around to the back of the car and smiled and said hollow then went over to Paul.  She was wearing a long skirt and a long-sleeved sweater, and what later turned out to be the top of Paul's suit.  Paul wore grey pants and a light-colored printed shirt.  I kept snapping pics and Linda would look over at us and smiled and waved.  Then they went in.  Boy was I shaking.  He looked so good just like on the Flip Wilson Show -- on better. 

Around dinner time a lot of people came out.  I guess they were recording in one of the other studios.  They were all staring at Paul's car and touching it.  Once a lady stopped and asked who was recording.  WEndy said "BCLT" (initials for bacon, cheese, lettuce, and tomato) and she asked if they were American or English and if they were any good because she had never heard of them. 

Somehow night and 10:30 came.  By then there were three groups of girls.  We were still inside the gate by our tree and on the left, as they came out, Paul was just bouncing away.  As they passed, Linda said, "goodnight girls."   Paul bounced on.  Then he turned and said, "good evening girls."  When they got to the car, Paul looked back at us as if to see if we were still looking (we were) and Linda stopped behind the car and bent to pick up some leaves and said she liked to "smell the leaves."   AS they were pulling out, Paul kept looking over and making sexy faces.  I am glad British cars are on the side they are, or else we would not be able to see him.  As they were driving off Paul tooted the horn and waved.  Lurvery way to end a trip to England.  Oh by the way, he was wearing the suit coat. 

You can't have one without the other

 

I like the guy that passed Paul and Linda turned around for a double-take.  

Lyric Sheet

High in the clouds with Paul

Taping Session in Seattle

Two kids and a wife

Wings head to Scotland in 1973

Our friends from McCartney Lovers and Friends now follow Wings to Scotland on the 1973 tour.  This was published in Summer 1973 issue of McCartney Lovers and Friends 

We were in Scotland for two days -- the countryside is really beautiful.  It was strange to really see the fog come from the ground.  I was quite disappointed with the city of Edinburgh.  It was really gloomy and the "castle" was a big let down.  The people are very strange and obviously don't like intruders.  there were two concerts that night.  

We saw Paul arrive on the bus, looking particularly gorgeous as he was unshaved.  He had a radio with him and he bent down and looked at us and started dancing off the bus!  He hopped off and got swarmed by the autograph hounds.  Linda gave us a big smile and a hello.  Paul continued to bop on in, and Linda stopped to sign autographs.  He looked back to see where she was and saw her signing and said, "Linda!  Come on!!"  She went in fast.  

That night we had front row seats in the balcony for both shows.  At one point during the "dance" part, this girl started to faint.  So, a guard picked her up and put her on the stage.  She started dragging him over towards Paul instead of going off to the side.  Suddenly she gained consciousness and she grabbed Paul from the back, digging into his chest and making him fall back.  He pushed her off then the guard and Dave picked her up by her hands and legs and dragged her off.    We saw her later talking with friends and the "poor girl" was so excited that she had to sit down and cry all over again.

We saw Paul at the hotel that night.  We were the only ones there, but when the bus arrived, out of the nowhere 20 people arrived and he was swarmed.  There was a show in Glasgow the next day, but our train passes ran out, so we had to get back to London.    We were hesitant about Glasgow anyway because we hear a lot of stories about it being rough.  If they don't like you there, they get you with razor blades!  I was going to ask John (one of the roadies) to give me a ride down to London from Glasgow, but he arrive din their van with the other roadies and some groupies, so I didn't.  (If any of you are wondering about groupies and Mr. Mac-- forget it!  No chance!).   

We got back to London the next day.  One of us went to the show in Glasgow, so I will leave it to her to review it.   

Super Bear

July 11, 1980

Just think -- Barbara was Ringo's new girlfriend at the time of this photo and it was first time she met Paul and Linda.   

Meet, greet and chat with the Beatles