A Beatle at 80
Former Beatle Paul McCartney wrote some of rock's most famous ballads and love songs before he was 25, from "Yesterday" to "Eleanor Rigby." Now, Sir Paul is turning 80 and still producing chart-topping hits. This special edition of LIFE celebrates the legendary vocalist, songwriter, composer, bass player and poet, who has some 60 gold records and sales of more than 100 million singles to his name. From McCartney's boyhood in Liverpool, it was clear he was a talented musician, and this issue traces his evolution from member of an obscure skiffle band to one of the most influential musicians alive as a Beatle, then founder of the group, Wings, and later as a solo artist. In these pages, you will learn about Macca's relationships with bandmates John Lennon, George Harrison, Ringo Starr and the "Fifth Beatle," Brian Epstein, the group's troubled manager, as well as his great romances with Jane Asher, Linda Eastman McCartney and Nancy Shevell, his wife today. With insightful interviews from friends and colleagues and classic images of McCartney and the Beatles from photographers such as Harry Benson, this unique tribute is a must-have for Beatles fans of all ages.
