Beatles legend Paul McCartney has spoken about the most embarrassing early moments recording music with the band.
Paul McCartney addressed this on a recent episode from his podcast series: Paul McCartney: A Life in Lyrics, where he has also spoken about his favourite Beatles track. See more on that here.
While it was McCartney who was in charge of guitar solos of the most memorable tracks from the Fab Four, including Back In The U.S.S.R, Drive My Car, Taxman and Helter Skelter to name a few, he was not overly confident about playing, especially during initial performances.
“I’m not cut out for this”
Speaking about his initial worries at playing guitar on these tracks for the Beatles, Paul McCartney had this to say.
“We had this gig and it was like, the first thing I ever played, and I was lead guitar player”, he explained on his podcast.
McCartney continued, “John [Lennon] was rhythm, and I had a solo and I totally froze. [I] could not move my fingers. … It was like, just so embarrassing. My lead guitar playing career melted at that moment and I said, ‘Well, I’m not doing this again. I’m not cut out for this. I’m no good”.
Despite these doubts over his ability, Paul McCartney had clearly made an impression on bandmate John Lennon who eventually invited him to join his band.
“Mind you, when I first met John, he didn’t play guitar,” McCartney added. “I had to show him guitar chords because he’d been taught by his mum [Julia], and she only knew banjo chords”.
“you’re telling it your secrets”
Elsewhere, Paul McCartney even detailed the close bond he has with his guitars, so much so that he even claims that he talks to them directly.
“We always used to say that when you sit down with your guitar to write a song, you’re telling it your secrets – which then become a song for the world,” he stated.
“But at that moment, when you’re alone, the guitar is your confidante. You cradle it. When you go up to a piano, though, it’s almost as if you’re pushing the piano away. They’re different actions completely”.
Last week, Paul McCartney also praised Beyoncé for her cover of 1968 Beatles hit Blackbird. More on this here.
