Important Dates and Events in Paul McCartney’s Post-Beatles Career


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1970- Releases McCartney, first solo album where he played every instrument himself.


1971- Releases the album Ram, which has a song about Lennon called “Too Many People.” Forms a new
band called Wings with his wife Linda.


1973-Released the album Band on the Run, the most popular album by Wings. Also wrote the song “Live
and Let Die” for the James Bond movie of the same name.


1976-Wings goes on a very successful tour of America, and releases an album called Wings Over
America.


1976-79- More successful albums and tours; Wings breaks sales records.


1980-Paul is arrested in Japan during a Wings tour for smuggling marijuana and spends a week in
jail. After Lennon’s murder, he is severely shaken and cancels any live performances.


1982-3- Recorded a critically acclaimed album Tug of War, which contains the Lennon tribute “Here
Today” and songs with Stevie Wonder (“Ebony and Ivory”). Also records songs with Michael Jackson
(“The Girl is Mine” and “Say Say Say”); they become good friends until Jackson outbids Paul for
control of the Beatles’ catalog in 1984.


1989-90, 1992-93-Embarks on successful world tours with more live and studio albums.


1991- Starts writing classical music, beginning with the Liverpool Oratorio.


1997-Becomes Sir Paul McCartney, after being knighted by Queen Elizabeth II.


1998-Linda McCartney dies in Arizona from breast cancer.


2002-Marries Heather Mills, a model and animal rights activist. Goes through a nasty divorce in
2008.


2010- Received the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song, the highest honor the US
can give a popular musician. Performed at the White House for President Obama and sang “Michelle”
to Michelle Obama. Marries Nancy Shevell, a New York socialite on Oct. 9, 2011 (on John Lennon’s
birthday!)


Today McCartney is one of the richest musicians in the world, he continues to perform and tour
regularly, and is the most successful songwriter of all time. He owns many song catalogs, including
those by Harold Arlen (The Wizard of Oz) and Buddy Holly. He has 5 children (Heather, stepdaughter
with Linda; Mary, Stella, and James with Linda; Beatrice with Heather Mills).