Sir Paul McCartney, 78, was a part of the prominent British rock band The Beatles, which also consisted of John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. The legendary musician has now opened up about a “hurtful” moment he faced as the singer spoke candidly about his late co-star John.
As members of the Beatles, they rose to insane heights as performers, only to continue their legacy as solo acts when the group parted ways.
John and Paul wrote some of the most iconic songs the band recorded but following their split, tensions had risen between the pair.
The Live and Let Die singer recalled the moment he read a chat with John’s wife Yoko Ono, in which she claimed “Paul did nothing”.
“I remember reading an article, an interview with Yoko, who, OK, she was a big John supporter, I get that, but in this article she goes, ‘Paul did nothing. All he ever did was book studio,'” the Beatles singer commented. “And I’m going, ‘Err? No…'”
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The legendary crooner also addressed John’s song How Do You Sleep taken from his 1971 album Imagine.
The late singer seemingly mocked Paul’s songwriting, singing: “The only thing you done was yesterday, and since you’ve gone you’re just another day.”
The song is claimed to be a scathing response to Paul’s Too Many People, where he appeared to take digs at John with lines such as “too many people preaching practices,” and “you took your lucky break and broke it in two”.
Addressing his former bandmate’s lyrics in the song, Paul admitted it was “hurtful” to hear.
“And those things were pretty hurtful.”
Paul and John met at a local church fete in 1957, where the latter was performing with a skiffle group called the Quarrymen.
The pair went on to form the Beatles with fellow band members George and Ringo.
When the Beatles broke up in 1970 – the band did not formally split until 1974 – all the band members released solo albums.
Despite the tension between John and Paul, it is believed the pair eventually patched things up in a surprise jam session.
The pair started jamming, reportedly also with Stevie Wonder present, and by 1980, John said of Paul: “He’s like a brother. I love him.
“I would do anything for him. I think he would do anything for me.”
Read the full feature in the September issue of British GQ available via digital download and on newsstands Friday.