Simply Abu Dhabi IV

is active in campaigns against landmines, seal hunting, and Third World debt. With a long held belief that “only people that had been to art school were allowed to paint” he also developed a love of art and painting which led him to design series of six postage stamps issued by the Isle of Man Post on 1 July 2002. According to BBC News, McCartney seems to be the first major rock star in the world who is also known as a stamp designer! In October 2000, Yoko Ono and McCartney presented art exhibitions in New York and London. McCartney said, “I’ve been offered an exhibition of my paintings at the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool where John and I used to spend many a pleasant afternoon. So I’m really excited about it. I didn’t tell anybody I painted for 15 years but now I’m out of the closet.” Football Crazy In his home town of Liverpool, besides music the other huge passion is football. Although in the days of the ‘Beatles they were advised by Brian Epsten not to comment on football so as not to alienate any fans, Paul is a keen football fan, supporting both Everton and Liverpool football clubs. In a 2008 interview in 2008, McCartney ended speculation about his allegiance saying; “Here’s the deal: my father was born in Everton, my family are officially Evertonians, so if it comes down to a derby match or an FA Cup final between the two, I would have to support Everton. But after a concert at Wembley Arena I got a bit of a friendship with Kenny Dalglish, who had been to the gig and I thought ‘You know what? I am just going to support them both because it’s all Liverpool and I don’t have that Catholic-Protestant thing.’ So I did have to get special dispensation from the Pope to do this but that’s it, too bad. I support them both. They are both great teams, but if it comes to the crunch, I’m Evertonian.” However, the ex-Liverpool player, Albert Stubbins, was the only footballer shown on the Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band cover. Another nod to Paul’s love of football is 1983 video for his “Pipes of Peace” which recreated the 1915 football game played between German and British troops during World War I, at Christmas. A Music Legend Following countless nominations and awards, on 2 June 2010, McCartney was honoured by Barack Obama with the Gershwin Prize for his contributions to popular music in a live show for the White House with performances by Stevie Wonder, Lang Lang and many others. McCartney has been touring since 2001 with guitarists Rusty Anderson and Brian Ray, Paul “Wix” Wickens on keyboards and drummer Abe Laboriel, Jr. The incredible contribution Sir Paul McCartney has made to the musical world can never be played down and this legendary songwriter, performer and 14-time Grammy Winner (amongst other accolades) will be honoured as the 2012 ‘MusiCares Person of the Year’ in its 22nd annual benefit gals to be held in Los Angeles next February, just two days prior to the 54th annual Grammy Awards. This will be a most fitting tribute to a man dedicated not only to music, but who has also achieved a fantastic range of singular creative accomplishments and devoted himself to invaluable charitable work and an extraordinary range of philanthropic activities. NewWife, New Life Paul McCartney had high profile relationships with many women, including the British actress Jane Asher. During their time together he wrote several songs while at the Ashers’, including ‘Yesterday’ and several inspired by Asher, among them ‘And I Love Her’, ‘You Won’t See Me’, and ‘I’m Looking through You’. McCartney and Asher had a five-year relationship, and they planned to marry, but it wasn’t to be and in 1969, McCartney married American photographer Linda Eastman, whom he described as the woman who gave him “the strength and courage to work again” after the break-up of The Beatles. Paul and Linda were both vegetarian and supported the animal rights organisation People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. They had four children – Linda’s daughter Heather (who was adopted by Paul), Mary, Stella and James – and remained married until Linda’s tragic death from breast cancer in 1998. In 2002, McCartney married former model and anti-mine campaigner Heather Mill and their daughter Beatrice was born in 2003. They separated in May 2006 and were divorced in May 2008. His company MPL Communications owns the copyrights to more than 3,000 songs, including all of the songs written by Buddy Holly, along with the publishing rights to such musicals as Guys and Dolls, A Chorus Line, and Grease. Paul’s most recent marriage to New Yorker Nancy Shevell in a civil ceremony at Old Marylebone Town Hall, London – the same venue where he tied the know with first wife Linda – on 9 October 2011 was a ‘low- key affair’ attended by a group of around 30 family and friends. Nancy is a member of the board of the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority as well as vice president of a family-owned transportation conglomerate which owns New England Motor Freight. Paul’s marriage to Nancy, an American Heiress signifies the beginning of yet another exciting chapter in Paul McCartney’s life and his latest tour shows that this former Beatle and international superstar has still ‘got it’! And so unfolds even more adventures in the colourful and varied life of Sir Paul McCartney – one of the UK’s wealthiest people – with a stunning new wife and a fabulous new world tour. This is one former Beatle who certainly still rocks!

RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NjIwNDQ=