FEATURE:
Paul McCartney at Eighty
IN THIS PHOTO: Paul McCartney in 1964/PHOTO CREDIT: RA/Lebrecht Music & Arts
Paul McCartney and Me: The Interviews: Martyn Strong
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IN the lead-up to Paul McCartney’s eightieth birthday…
PHOTO CREDIT: Martyn Strong
in June, I am doing a run of features about the great man. Within this, I am conducting interviews with broadcasters, musicians, people in the media, and McCartney fans and asking what his music means to them. Today, musician Martyn Strong discusses what Paul McCartney means to him. Martyn has been following all things Beatles since he was 10 years old, taking up the guitar at 13 just so he could play Beatles songs. He still plays, but he spends most of his time keeping a local radio station on air and hanging out with his wife and two teenage children. Getting to as many gigs as he can afford in a year. In this very personal and interesting interview, Martyn Strong discusses what the magical, iconic and genius Paul McCartney…
MEANS to him.
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Hi Martyn. In the lead-up to Paul McCartney’s eightieth birthday on 18th June, I am interviewing different people about their love of his music and when they first discovered the work of a genius. When did you first discover Paul McCartney’s music? Was it a Beatles, Wings or solo album that lit that fuse?
It was primary school, and a mate asked me what music I was into. I didn’t really have an answer, so when I got home, I rifled through my parents record collection, I discovered this awesome-looking record cover with loads of characters on it. I asked Dad if he’d let me play. I wasn’t allowed, as a 9-year-old, to touch the hi-fi system, and the record blew me away – it was, of course, Sgt. Peppers. We then spent the evening listening to the Beatles albums he had. Then, three or four months later, Paul issued McCartney II and that was it: I was in love with the Beatles and Paul McCartney.
Like me, you must have been engrossed by The Beatles: Get Back on Disney+. How did it change your impression of The Beatles at that time, and specifically Paul McCartney’s role and influence on the rest of the band? Did you have any favourite moments from the three-part documentary?
Yes. I think the Get Back film completely reframes the history of The Beatles; their break-up, their genius, and the love between all four of them. This was a band at the peak of their talents, but they had lost their way a little and were trying to get back (pun intended) to something they had lost, which seemed to be a confidence in themselves. But, like many people who spend a great deal of time together, there were of course tensions and this can be seen. But they were still creating amazing and exciting music.
I think we see Paul’s role was just trying to keep them together as a band, as a gang and as a ‘family’. I think we’d all been told Paul was the over-dominant, over-bearing, dictatorial member getting the rest to play the things he wanted them to play, when in reality he just wanted them to play and make great music. I think the Get Back films really changed our perception of Paul’s role as the one who really tried to keep it all together, rather than being the man to break them up.
Favourite moments. I’ve loads. I loved the footage on the rooftop that was so cool. I loved when Paul says: “It's going to be the most comical thing in 50 years time, they broke up because Yoko sat on an amp”. John saying, just use “cauliflower as a holding word until you get the right word’” to George when writing Something. Paul saying “It’s just us; it’s always been just us, and we’re best when our backs are up against the wall”. And finally, the genius of their songwriting. Seeing Get Back, The Long and Winding Road, Don’t Let Me Down, Two of Us etc. being written was just immense, and I can’t deny there were a few emotional tears shed while watching.
“I’ve always really loved the way McCartney never sticks to one specific way of songwriting”.
You are a songwriter. How has McCartney impacted you in terms of what you write? Has he been a big influence on you in that sense?
Oh yes. The way Paul uses words as sounds to make up a lyric has been a massive influence on me. So things like This One, where he uses “The swan is flying” (the song’s line is “The swan is gliding above the ocean”) has shaped my songwriting. The way he and The Beatles never stick to musical convention but add in a chord or melody that really shouldn’t be there but works so well. I’ve always really loved the way McCartney never sticks to one specific way of songwriting. It’s never just ABACAB type writing, but each song has a new element. Whether that’s a big story-style song like Band on the Run or Beautiful Night to the catchy little pop songs like C Moon or We All Stand Together, he gives songwriters the ability to experiment with styles – meanwhile, always coming up with a great hook.
Is it possible to express and explain what McCartney’s music means to you? How impactful has it been in your life?
Paul’s music has been the soundtrack to my life from the age of 9 to now (51). Each album takes me to a place where I was at that time. Tug of War takes me to back my cousins house, as that’s where we first listened to it. McCartney II to a summer in 1980 in my dad’s Cortina. Flowers in the Dirt to my first dates with my now-wife, and also to the first time I saw McCartney live in 1989. I could go on forever. Paul’s music and the Beatles have been there each step of the way. When I need picking up, it’s there I go to. Even listening to things like Standing Stone and the Liverpool Oratorio take me to places where only Paul and I could ever go to!
If you had to select your favourite Beatles, Wings and McCartney albums (one each), which would they be and why?
I couldn’t really choose a favourite from each, so that’s a really hard question for me, as they all stir emotions in me whenever I listen to them. But, I’ll try…
For The Beatles, I’d probably opt for Rubber Soul, as it’s the first Beatles album I bought with my own money, and an album I spent an entire Christmas playing (annoying my parents). Special mentions for Sgt. Peppers (my introduction), The White Album (The Beatles) and Revolver.
“It’s a truly complete album, and the addition of Elvis Costello (I’d choose Spike as my favourite Costello album) just makes it perfect”.
For Wings, this is tougher, but I would probably opt for London Town. I love the vibe of this album, love the songs and, again, it takes me to a special place both musically, emotionally…and it’s about a city I love! Special mentions for Venus and Mars and Red Rose Speedway. Some excellent songs on these.
Solo McCartney, I’d opt for Flowers in the Dirt. It’s a truly complete album, and the addition of Elvis Costello (I’d choose Spike as my favourite Costello album) just makes it perfect. Plus, special mentions for McCartney II, Flaming Pie and Pipes of Peace.
McCartney is confirmed for Glastonbury as a headliner this year. I feel it will be one of the most uplifting and important gigs ever. What do you think we might expect from his Saturday night slot?
I agree. I think this will be one of the gigs of this century. I think we’ll see tributes to John and George. Perhaps even Ringo joining him on stage. I think he’ll do a greatest hits set-list of Beatles/Wings/McCartney songs, but I’d really like him to do some of the more obscure McCartney stuff for the fans who’ve made the trek to Glastonbury and those of us who couldn’t get tickets but will be watching it. I think there will be a few surprises in store from him.
I am not sure whether there are plans for any Beatles. Wings or solo McCartney reissues this year. I would love to see The Beatles’ Please Please Me get the Giles Martin treatment. How about you?
I agree. I thought the Anthology stuff gave us loads of good material, and I absolutely loved hearing the Esher tapes from The White Album. I think any of the early records given a polish by Giles Martin would be great, although I’d love him to take McCartney and polish that up too.
There was a period when the music of The Beatles and McCartney fell out of favour or was seen as uncool. I guess, when Britpop broke, it regained popularity. Did your relationship with McCartney’s music change during that 1980s and 1990s?
No. I was always out of step. At comprehensive school early-‘80s, I was one of only a few true Beatles fans. While others were listening to Heavy Rock or Goth, I was listening to The Beatles and telling others how they’ve been influenced by The Beatles! When they regained their popularity, I was probably a bit like ‘I told you so’. Always been a fan of The Beatles and Paul McCartney, and I have always argued for him. I even love The Frog Chorus.
“He creates things some of us can only dream of creating”.
On that point, I think McCartney is one of the most enduring, consistent and surprising artists ever. What do you think the secret to his longevity is?
First and foremost, I think McCartney is a musical genius. He creates things some of us can only dream of creating. He’s also not afraid to take risks and experiment, from big numbers like Jet, Live and Let Die to The Frog Chorus and C Moon through to Liverpool Oratorio and Standing Stone, he tries new things. Even McCartney III sees Paul’s love of trying new things out - and to critical acclaim. That, and he is a normal working-class guy from Liverpool, family man…and I always feel if I met him he’d shake my hand and have a chat rather than be all super-starry.
If you could get a single gift for McCartney for his eightieth birthday, what would you get him?
It would just be a big heart with ‘thank you’ written through it. I’d love to say thank you for seeing me through the good times, the hard times and those times when we needed him most he’s been there. So anything with thank you written on it.
Were you to have the chance to interview Paul McCartney, what is the one question you would ask him?
Who is the one person he’d like to have worked with but never got the chance to…who would that be.
Will he release Give My Regards to Broad Street on Blu-Ray. I loved the film. And did he ever play the game released on the ZX Spectrum?
To end, I will round off the interview with a Macca song. It can be anything he has written or contributed to. Which song should I end with?
You Gave Me the Answer. For me, it sums up my relationship with his music. Whatever the question, there is the answer in his music. Thank you, Paul.