Paul McCartney biography, age, The Beatles, wife, children 2025

Biography of Paul McCartney

Sir Paul McCartney is a legendary British musician, performer, and multi-instrumentalist. He was knighted as a Knight Bachelor and became a Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire in 1965. He's also an artist, writer, animal advocate, and vegetarian. His name has appeared in the Guinness World Records several times.

He's best known as co-founder of the legendary Liverpool band The Beatles. He has won sixteen Grammy Awards and other high honors, including international ones.

Childhood, Youth, Family

James Paul McCartney was born in the summer of 1942 to nurse Mary and cotton salesman James McCartney from Liverpool. After the birth of their first child, his mother switched from working as a nurse in a public maternity hospital to a well-paid private midwifery practice, which allowed the McCartney family to move from rented furnished rooms to their own apartment.

Paul McCartney as a child (pictured with his younger brother)

James earned less than his wife, who had to work around the clock, and this weighed heavily on him, especially after their second son, Peter Michael McCartney, was born in 1944.

Paul McCartney (right) with his parents and brother

Looking back on his family, McCartney described his mother as caring and gentle, yet strict. She held every family member accountable for their actions—an unbreakable rule in the McCartney household.

From an early age, Paul was passionate about jazz, skillfully playing both trumpet and piano. In 1947, when it came time for school, his father insisted the boys attend public school rather than the customary Catholic institution. As an agnostic, he wanted them to gain knowledge rather than religious doctrine. Paul McCartney made his musical debut at Stockton Wood Road School by performing a song about the coronation of Elizabeth II.

Paul studied and won prizes in local music competitions. But in 1956, tragedy struck the family—Mary died of cancer. Devastated by the loss, Paul became withdrawn and increasingly isolated. He'd climb trees and sit for hours on branches, imagining himself as a recruit training for the royal army.

Paul found his salvation in a gift from his father—a trumpet for his 14th birthday. With his father's blessing, Paul traded the trumpet for a guitar, which appealed to him far more, and began learning to play. As a lefty, he restrung it in reverse order. He'd listen to records and master impressions of stars like Elvis Presley. Soon, Paul started composing his first songs. His father encouraged this passion, doing everything possible despite modest earnings to give his children a well-rounded education.

He also brought Paul along on sales trips to help overcome his shyness, and took both sons to concerts, exhibitions, and theater performances. Some productions so impressed the teenager that he decided to become a theater director. However, unfamiliar with the application process, he submitted his paperwork late.

During this time, McCartney met John Lennon, who had already formed his first band, The Quarrymen, in 1957, playing skiffle, a branch of English folk music. McCartney joined the band through a mutual acquaintance, and his unique guitar playing style and vocal skills impressed John.

John Lennon and Paul McCartney in The Quarrymen

Despite their opposite personalities—John, the rebel and troublemaker, and Paul, the model student—they connected through shared life experiences. At 17, Lennon also faced the devastating loss of his mother. Their creative partnership blossomed into friendship, and Paul soon brought his mate George Harrison into the band. Around this time, the group began performing in Liverpool venues and changed their name to The Silver Beatles.

The Beatles. Global Success

While John Lennon was the group's unofficial leader, McCartney's voice always carried serious weight in band decisions. Paul drove a major shake-up in the group—before a Hamburg gig in the early '60s, McCartney pushed for yet another name change. The band then became known as The Beatles.

The Hamburg tours took off, and their following kept growing. Songs like "My Bonnie" and "Long Tall Sally" had crowds going wild. Meanwhile, McCartney penned "Love Me Do" and "How Do You Do It?" for the group—both destined to become massive hits. After returning from Germany in 1961, The Beatles signed a contract with Parlophone Records. Manager Brian Epstein made the tough call to boot drummer Pete Best and bring in Ringo Starr. That was also when Paul officially became the bass guitarist. And with that, the legendary "Fab Four" from Liverpool was born.

The Beatles – She Loves You (1963)

"Beatlemania" exploded after "She Loves You" dominated the UK charts for months in 1963. Their unique image as smart, thoughtful lads captured millions of hearts—especially female ones. McCartney later remembered how the crazy female fan worship actually pulled them away from their creative focus:

The Beatles stood out because they weren't vulgar. We felt like we were in some kind of art club, and that vibe stuck with us even after Hamburg. I remember we played a prank on a saxophonist from another band. When he knocked, I grabbed this Yevtushenko book and started reading out loud, with everyone sitting around pretending to be totally absorbed… The guy just crept in, mumbled an apology, packed up his sax, and snuck back out. We howled. That kind of attitude made us feel like we stood apart from everyone else.

Their debut album "Please Please Me"—packed entirely with McCartney-Lennon compositions—dropped in 1963. From there, the band hit Europe and America, pulling massive crowds wherever they went. At one point, over seventy million TV viewers tuned in to watch The Beatles perform. Paul's song for "A Hard Day's Night" racked up over three million advance orders. McCartney's ballad And I Love Her was wildly successful.

In July 1965, The Beatles dropped both a feature film and album with the same title—"Help!" The crown jewel of these projects was Paul's solo track "Yesterday," which later topped the American charts.

Discord

In 1965, during financial troubles at the Northern Songs label, the Beatles' publishers, all band members invested in real estate in rural Surrey, leaving only McCartney in the capital. Paul became a fixture at jazz clubs, art galleries, and other cultural hotspots around London. He met prominent figures of the London bohemia, John Dunbar and Barry Miles. These connections started reshaping Paul's musical direction.

Thanks to Barry Miles, Paul became interested in experimental jazz and symphonic music, while Dunbar opened Paul's eyes to modern poetry and literature, especially diving deep into psychedelic culture. Paul connected with experimental director Michelangelo Antonioni and London underground scene leader Robert Fraser. At Fraser's house, Paul met with Andy Warhol, Peter Blake, Richard Hamilton, and Allen Ginsberg. Ginsberg's influence on Paul's writing would radically transform the meaning behind the Beatles' songs.

Paul McCartney and Mick Jagger at a recording session (1967)

Paul rented an apartment on Montagu Square, converted it into a studio, and started experimenting with music alongside sound engineer Ian Sommerville. Ian introduced Paul to his former boyfriend William Burroughs, who became a frequent guest at McCartney's apartment-studio. The American Beatnik's ideas fascinated Paul, and he transformed the apartment into an artistic laboratory, where he and Burroughs created sound effects that later formed the foundation of The Beatles' sound in the late sixties.

Most of the sound experiments associated with Lennon were actually created by Paul McCartney in collaboration with Burroughs and Sommerville.

McCartney increasingly distanced himself from the other band members. His growing passion for painting, avant-garde art, symphonic music, and philosophy increasingly pulled him toward a different creative path. Tension erupted within the group when Paul's bandmates opposed his vision for the first time. When choosing a new manager, McCartney was the only member who voted against Allen Klein. The three members eventually sued the crooked manager, but this conflict became a deciding factor as Paul weighed his future with the band.

Before his departure, McCartney crafted three more timeless classics: Back in the USSR, Hey Jude, and Helter Skelter. All of them were included in the legendary "White Album" (1968) by The Beatles, which landed in the Guinness Book of Records as the best-selling album. McCartney's final album with the band was Let it Be, released in 1970.

Paul McCartney on Who Broke Up the Beatles

As before, Paul was the main author of the compositions on the album. In 1971, he took legal action to resolve all copyright issues, and The Beatles—the only band to top the list of fifty greatest world performers, winning an Oscar and countless other awards—officially ceased to exist.

Depression, Drugs, and the Creation of Wings

The breakup with the band that brought McCartney worldwide fame, wealth, and friendship wasn't as painless for him as it might have seemed. Even during the early disagreements, Paul tried to explain to John his understanding and vision of the future existence of The Beatles, but Lennon disliked that McCartney increasingly became the "number one" in their quartet—John saw himself in that position.

Paul began spiraling into depression, in his own words, "largely because of drugs." It's no secret that in the musical and creative world of the sixties, various substances were seen as a way to expand consciousness—a path many artists used to create their works. In the '60s, McCartney was one of the first musicians to openly admit his drug use and often shared controversial views about marijuana and LSD, even suggesting marijuana should be legalized.

McCartney openly declared his addiction to LSD

During his conflicts with the other Beatles members, he turned to cocaine to ease the tension and stress. For a year, the musician used this destructive drug until he realized it was causing him increasingly long and severe bouts of depression. In one interview, McCartney admitted he was almost at the edge of an abyss when a dream about his long-deceased mother, who told him everything would be alright, brought him immense relief—and inspired him to write the famous Let it Be.

When I find myself in times of trouble, Mother Mary comes to me, Speaking words of wisdom, Let it be.

After leaving the band, Paul couldn't handle another wave of depression and retreated to Scotland, where he spent time alone with alcohol and drugs. Fortunately, not for long. His family and music pulled him through. In 1970, McCartney got himself together and released his first solo studio album, naming it after his own surname. The album went double platinum and stayed in the top three on the charts for almost a month.

Paul McCartney after leaving The Beatles

Lennon, with whom he still hadn't reconciled by that time, called Paul's solo music "rubbish." McCartney took his former friend's criticism to heart and decided to create his own band that would, in his ambitious vision, "outshine The Beatles." And so Wings emerged on the scene—a band the musician would work with for almost ten years. During this time, they released several albums, including Wild Life (1971), Red Rose Speedway (1973), and many others. After a European tour with the band in 1977, McCartney officially became the world's highest-paid musician.

Wings & Paul McCartney – Mull of Kintyre

The song Mull of Kintyre, released by Paul in 1977, topped the UK singles chart for nine weeks and sold two and a half million copies. United Nations Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim personally asked McCartney and Wings to hold charity performances in 1979, with proceeds going to support drought-stricken Cambodia.

The Death of Lennon, the Disbandment of Wings, and a Solo Career

By the mid-70s, the relationship between the former friends had settled into a calmer phase. Lennon was one of the first to learn that McCartney's father had died two days before the tour, and he offered his condolences. Paul kept the news from the band to ensure the scheduled performances would go on as planned. The musicians even performed together a few times and shared ideas about collaborating, but during that period, John fell under Yoko Ono's influence, and she actively worked to prevent any restoration of their creative partnership.

Yoko Ono Prevented Lennon and McCartney from Communicating

The former colleagues mainly communicated by phone. Sometimes they argued because Lennon would flare up over some offhand comment from McCartney. A face-to-face meeting kept getting postponed, as did any plans for a duet. In September 1980, they called each other again and talked peacefully. But this conversation would be their last. Paul was working on the composition "Rainclouds" when he learned about John's murder. The loss of his friend shook the musician so deeply that when a journalist asked for his thoughts on Lennon's murder, he could only say, "It's such a drag."

McCartney's Reaction to Lennon's Death

Less than a year after Lennon's death, McCartney decided to disband Wings, the group he had formed. Rumors suggested he feared meeting the same fate as John. To keep from falling into depression again, the musician threw himself into work on the album "Tug of War." He dedicated the song "Here Today" to his friend who died too young—a track included on the album that's been hailed as Paul's best solo work. He also bought several estates for his family and set up a personal music studio in one of the mansions, where he began writing new songs and releasing records.

Paul McCartney – Here Today

While Paul's new albums didn't reach the massive popularity of his earlier work, both fans and critics received them well. In his songs, the musician tackled themes of disarmament and peace, recording duets with other globally beloved artists like Tina Turner, Elton John, and Michael Jackson. With Jackson, McCartney experienced what he would later call a betrayal. Jackson had secretly bought the rights to all The Beatles' songs for nearly fifty million dollars, prompting McCartney to cut all ties with him.

Ever versatile and restless, the musician tried his hand at writing symphonies, recording some pieces with the London Royal Orchestra. But McCartney's finest classical work was the captivating album of music for the ballet "Ocean's Kingdom." Performed by the London Royal Ballet, the production was nothing short of spectacular. Paul also ventured into animation, co-writing the script for the film "High in the Clouds" with his friend Geoff Dunbar. In Britain, Sir Paul McCartney is also regarded as a talented visual artist—he's created more than five hundred paintings from the early eighties to today.

Personal Life of Paul McCartney

Dot Rhone, an artist, became McCartney's "first serious love" in 1959. When he returned from Hamburg to Liverpool, he nearly married her after she claimed she was pregnant with his child. However, Dot later said she'd miscarried, and Paul ended their relationship to focus completely on his music career.

Paul McCartney and Dot Rhone, his first girlfriend

In 1963, Paul fell for young actress Jane Asher, who came from an educated but not particularly wealthy family. Their relationship lasted almost five years, including a seven-month engagement. McCartney credited Jane with introducing him to the arts and sparking his deep interest in classical music. He loved visiting exhibitions and art galleries with the Asher family and meeting gallery owners. The wedding never happened, though, because Paul became infatuated with little-known model Frankie Schwartz and cheated on his fiancée—something Jane couldn't forgive.

Paul McCartney's first wife was Linda Eastman, who he met at a Beatles concert in 1967. Six months after they met, the photographer and musician married and stayed together for life. Paul moved to the countryside with his wife and her daughter Heather from a previous marriage. During their thirty-year marriage, the couple had two daughters, Mary and Stella, and a son, James.

The wedding of Paul McCartney and Linda Eastman

In 1998, McCartney's wife died from cancer. He later dedicated his symphonic album "Ecce Cor Meum" to her and created a film featuring Linda's photographs. He donated the proceeds to cancer treatment.

Children of Paul McCartney and Linda Eastman

A year after Linda's death, McCartney began dating former model Heather Mills. Three years later, they wed at the Leslie estate in Ireland. Despite having daughter Beatrice Milly together, their marriage didn't last. In 2008, their divorce was finalized, with the musician paying his ex-wife nearly twenty-five million pounds.

Paul married for the third time in 2011. His wife is successful American businesswoman Nancy Shevell, who he met during his marriage to Linda Eastman. Shevell had actually tried to talk McCartney out of marrying Mills, warning him about the former model's questionable character. The couple now lives in America, where they own an estate. Paul McCartney currently has eight grandchildren from his older children.

Nancy Shevell, Paul McCartney's current wife

Paul McCartney Now

Despite his advanced age, the music legend, who received the Order of the British Empire from Queen Elizabeth II, continues to captivate fans with his live performances.

In April 2020, Paul McCartney joined the star-studded online concert "One World: Together at Home," performing live from his home alongside fellow music icons Elton John, Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift, and many others. The concert, organized to support frontline healthcare workers battling coronavirus, ran for eight hours.

In December 2020, McCartney dropped his eighteenth solo album "McCartney III." Recorded during coronavirus lockdown, Paul handled all the instrumental parts himself. The album earned rave reviews from critics and hit number one on the UK Albums Chart. In 2021, "McCartney III Imagined," an album of remixes and cover versions of songs from "McCartney III," was released, featuring guest artists.

That same year, Paul co-created and starred in the documentary series "McCartney 3,2,1," diving deep into his musical career and songwriting process with producer Rick Rubin.

In 2022, McCartney embarked on the "Got Back Tour." A standout moment came at Glastonbury Festival, where he made history as the festival's oldest-ever headliner. During the show, he performed a stunning "virtual duet" with a John Lennon hologram on "I've Got a Feeling."

Paul McCartney - I've Got a Feeling (feat. John Lennon) Glastonbury 2022

During the pandemic, Paul dug through his archives and uncovered about a thousand photographs he'd shot with a 35mm camera from late 1963 to early 1964. These photos captured the height of "Beatlemania" sweeping the UK and The Beatles' breakthrough moment in the USA that launched them to global stardom. In 2023, McCartney published 275 of these photographs in the book "1964: Eyes of the Storm."

Teaser for the Photo Book "1964: Eyes of the Storm"

The book includes photographs from six cities: Liverpool, London, Paris, New York, Washington, and Miami. It features previously unpublished portraits of John Lennon, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr, as well as images reflecting the atmosphere of those days.

Photos: Paul McCartney