Let me tell you a story about a pivotal moment in the life of one of the most iconic musicians of our time, Paul McCartney. Picture this: it’s late 1969, and the Beatles, the band that defined an era, were on the brink of breaking up. John Lennon had already walked away, and the news was being kept under wraps. Paul, feeling the weight of the world on his shoulders, packed up his family and retreated to a remote Scottish farmhouse. According to biographer Allan Kozinn, who spoke to Closer, Paul was in a pretty rough place. "He didn’t want to get out of bed, and when he did, he was drinking way too much," Kozinn recounted.
Paul was in a deep depression. You see, the Beatles had been his entire adult life, the only job he'd ever known. Suddenly, he found himself overwhelmed with self-doubt. This was the darkest chapter in Paul's life up to that point. "I didn’t know what to do at all," Paul later recalled. "How could anything I do ever measure up to the Beatles?" It was a question that haunted him day and night.
Life in the Scottish Countryside
As Paul spiraled into sadness, it fell to his wife, Linda, to try and bring him back to life. Kozinn, co-author of The McCartney Legacy: Volume 1: 1969-73, shared, "Linda had her hands full. She had two kids, and they were living in a ramshackle farmhouse in the middle of Scotland. Despite all that, she was determined to keep things together." Linda, a photographer and mother to six-year-old Heather from a previous relationship, understood Paul's turmoil but approached the situation with a practical mindset.
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According to Kozinn, Linda confronted Paul, saying, "Wait a minute. You’re one of the greatest songwriters of the 20th century, a fantastic bass player, and you’ve got a voice that people would kill for. So why is this such a problem? Why can’t you just strike out on your own?" But Paul was worried. He feared being blamed for the breakup of the Fab Four. "I kind of believed that narrative for a bit," he admitted later. "Even though I knew it wasn’t true, it still affected me and made me unsure of myself." Linda, however, was relentless in her encouragement. "Paul has an artistic side that isn’t always grounded, and I love that about him," she said. "His mind is truly incredible."
Reviving Confidence and Creativity
Thanks to Linda's unwavering support and Paul's undeniable talent, his confidence slowly began to return. "He came back from that trip to Scotland with one and a half songs to kick off his first solo album," Kozinn explained. However, it wasn’t until he was deep into the album that he penned the legendary track "Maybe I’m Amazed." Named one of the 500 greatest songs of all time by Rolling Stone, it was a heartfelt tribute to Linda. "That was how I felt," Paul said of the song. "Maybe I’m a man, and maybe you’re the only woman who could ever help me."
When the album McCartney was released in 1970 and Paul formed the band Wings, he still relied heavily on Linda's support. "He wanted her to be in his band, even though she wasn’t really a musician," Kozinn noted. "He just wanted her by his side all the time. They were inseparable." Their partnership flourished for nearly three decades until Linda passed away from cancer in 1998. Together, they had two more children and were devoted parents.
A Legacy of Love and Music
Today, at 80 years old, Paul is happily remarried to Nancy Shevell, 67, and continues to thrive. Since 2020, he’s released three albums and remains an active touring musician. "I’ve had an incredible journey," Paul said. "Even the tough times have turned out for the best. I’ve got my family, my farm, and my music. What more could a man ask for?"
