Il 10 aprile 1970, con un’intervista pubblicata sul Daily Mirror, Paul McCartney annunciava pubblicamente di aver lasciato i Beatles. Si trattava di un colloquio realizzato in occasione dell’uscita del suo disco solista, in cui ammetteva pubblicamente la fine del gruppo. Questa è la prima pagina del giornale e, sotto, l’intervista pubblicata dal bassista del gruppo inglese, che si apprestava a lanciare il suo disco solista. McCartney cita «differenze personali, di business, musicali ma sopratutto il [fatto che] mi diverto di più con la mia famiglia. [Se sia uno stop] temporaneo o permanente? Non lo so davvero». E, alla domanda successiva sulla possibilità che lui e John Lennon ritornino a scrivere canzoni insieme risponde con un secco «no». Ecco il testo integrale dell’intervista in inglese. Esiste, su Wikipedia, un’intera voce dedicata allo scioglimento della band inglese, qui.
Q: “Why did you decide to make a solo album?”
PAUL: “Because I got a Studer four-track recording machine at home – practiced on it (playing all instruments) – liked the results, and decided to make it into an album.”Q: “Were you influenced by John’s adventures with the Plastic Ono Band, and Ringo’s solo LP?”
PAUL: “Sort of, but not really.”
Q: “Are all songs by Paul McCartney alone?”
PAUL: “Yes sir.”
Q: “Will they be so credited: McCartney?”
PAUL: “It’s a bit daft for them to be Lennon/McCartney credited, so ‘McCartney’ it is.”
Q: “Did you enjoy working as a solo?”
PAUL: “Very much. I only had me to ask for a decision, and I agreed with me. Remember Linda’s on it too, so it’s really a double act.”
Q: “What is Linda’s contribution?”
PAUL: “Strictly speaking she harmonizes, but of course it’s more than that because she’s a shoulder to lean on, a second opinion, and a photographer of renown. More than all this, she believes in me – constantly.”
Q: “Where was the album recorded?”
PAUL: “At home, at EMI (no. 2 studio) and at Morgan Studios (WILLESDEN!)”
Q: “What is your home equipment (in some detail)?”
PAUL: “Studer four-track machine. I only had, however, one mike, and as Mr. Pender, Mr. Sweatenham and others only managed to take 6 months or so (slight delay) I worked without VU meters or a mixer, which meant that everything had to be listened to first (for distortion etc…) then recorded. So the answer – Studer, one mike, and nerve.”
Q: “Why did you choose to work in the studios you chose?”
PAUL: “They were available. EMI is technically very good and Morgan is cozy.”
Q: “The album was not known about until it was nearly completed. Was this deliberate?”
PAUL: “Yes, because normally an album is old before it even comes out. (A side) Witness ‘Get Back.'”
Q: “Why?”
PAUL: “I’ve always wanted to buy a Beatles album like people do and be as surprised as they must be. So this was the next best thing. Linda and I are the only two who will be sick of it by the release date. We love it really.”
Q: “Are you able to describe the texture or the feel of the album in a few words?”
PAUL: “Home, family, love.”
Q: “How long did it take to complete?”
PAUL: “From just before (I think) Xmas, until now. ‘The Lovely Linda’ was the first thing I recorded at home, and was originally to test the equipment. That was around Xmas.”
Q: “Assuming all the songs are new to the public, how new are they to you? Are they recent”
PAUL: “One was from 1959 (Hot As Sun). Two are from India – ‘Junk’ and ‘Teddy Boy,’ and the rest are pretty recent. ‘Valentine Day,’ ‘Momma Miss America’ and ‘Oo You’ were ad-libbed on the spot.”
Q: “Which instruments have you played on the album?”
PAUL: “Bass, drums, acoustic guitar, lead guitar, piano and organ-mellotron, toy xylophone, bow and arrow.”
Q: “Have you played all these instruments on earlier recordings?”
PAUL: “Yes, drums being the one that I normally wouldn’t do.”
Q: “Why did you do all the instruments yourself?”
PAUL: “I think I’m pretty good.”
Q: “Will Linda be heard on all future records?”
PAUL: “Could be. We love singing together and have plenty of opportunity for practice.”
Q: “Will Paul and Linda become a John and Yoko?”
PAUL: “No, they will become Paul and Linda.”
Q: “What has recording alone taught you?”
PAUL: “That to make your own decisions about what you do is easy, and playing with yourself is very difficult, but satisfying.”
Q: “Who has done the artwork?”
PAUL: “Linda has taken all the photos, and she and I designed the package.”
Q: “Is it true that neither Allen Klein nor ABKCO have been nor will be in any way involved with the production, manufacturing, distribution or promotion of this new album?”
PAUL: “Not if I can help it.”
Q: “Did you miss the other Beatles and George Martin? Was there a moment when you thought, ‘I wish Ringo were here for this break?'”
PAUL: “No.”
Q: “Assuming this is a very big hit album, will you do another?”
PAUL: “Even if it isn’t, I will continue to do what I want, when I want to.”
Q: “Are you planning a new album or single with the Beatles?”
PAUL: “No.”
Q: “Is this album a rest away from the Beatles or the start of a solo career?”
PAUL: “Time will tell. Being a solo album means it’s ‘the start of a solo career…’ and not being done with the Beatles means it’s just a rest. So it’s both.”
Q: “Is your break with the Beatles temporary or permanent, due to personal differences or musical ones?”
PAUL: “Personal differences, business differences, musical differences, but most of all because I have a better time with my family. Temporary or permanent? I don’t really know.”
Q: “Do you foresee a time when Lennon-McCartney becomes an active songwriting partnership again?”
PAUL: “No.”
Q: “What do you feel about John’s peace effort? The Plastic Ono Band? Giving back the MBE? Yoko’s influence? Yoko?”
PAUL: “I love John, and respect what he does – it doesn’t really give me any pleasure.”
Q: “Were any of the songs on the album originally written with the Beatles in mind?”
PAUL: “The older ones were. ‘Junk’ was intended for ‘Abbey Road,’ but something happened. ‘Teddy Boy’ was for ‘Get Back,’ but something happened.”
Q: “Were you pleased with ‘Abbey Road’? Was it musically restricting?”
PAUL: “It was a good album. (number one for a long time.)”
Q: “What is your relationship with Klein?”
PAUL: “It isn’t. I am not in contact with him, and he does not represent me in ANY way.”
Q: “What is your relationship with Apple?”
PAUL: “It is the office of a company which I part own with the other three Beatles. I don’t go there because I don’t like offices or business, especially when I am on holiday.”
Q: “Have you any plans to set up an independent production company?”
PAUL: “McCartney Productions.”
Q: “What sort of music has influenced you on this album?”
PAUL: “Light and loose.”
Q: “Are you writing more prolifically now? Or less so?”
PAUL: “About the same. I have a queue waiting to be recorded.”
Q: “What are your plans now? A holiday? A musical? A movie? Retirement?”
PAUL: “My only plan is to grow up!”
(da beatlesinterviews.org)