Paul McCartney has revealed that he still seeks advice from John Lennon 'in his mind' when writing songs, as he feels the spirit of his former Beatles bandmate remains with him. The legendary musician, now 83, released his latest album The Boys of Dungeon Lane today and sat down for an interview with actor Paul Mescal, who is set to portray him in upcoming Beatles films.
A Lifelong Connection Through Songwriting
Reflecting on his enduring relationship with Lennon and the nostalgic themes of the new album, McCartney said: 'Looking back on your life, I ran into this guy called John Lennon, he was kinda fighting life. He had a lot of trouble, his dad had left home, his mum had got run over, he had a lot of trouble in there. So he was putting up a shield and he was very witty, and when it came to songwriting that relationship stayed there.'
He added: 'On this record, I might even refer to him in my mind, you know, as if we're still writing together. I'll write something and go, "What's that? Is that any good?"' Mescal then asked if McCartney was effectively talking to Lennon, to which McCartney replied: 'Kind of, you know, sometimes I get away with it. And sometimes you say, "No, it's s***!" You know, his spirit is still in me, and I'm very glad of that. And George too.'
Lennon's Legacy and Liverpool Airport
In a separate interview with Zane Lowe on Apple Music, McCartney expressed his belief that Lennon would have been proud to have Liverpool's airport named after him. 'He would have liked that. We used to go out to the airport. Hang out, look at the airplanes. That was a big thrill in those days. We were often there, so it was just Liverpool Speke airport. In this instance he would have liked it.'
McCartney reflected on Lennon's sensitive nature beneath his bold exterior: 'People who are very bold and up front can often be quite sensitive inside. That's why they're putting their shield up. John, with his life, his father leaving home when he was a kid, his mum died. That was a bond we had together because [my mum died early too].' He recalled Lennon once asking how he would be remembered after death: 'I said, "It's going to be OK, we've done enough stuff by this point to be remembered with a lot of respect and love", so he would have loved the airport being named after him. That would have answered his question.'
Looking to the Future
The singer-songwriter, who duets with Ringo Starr on the new album, also indicated that his thoughts are already turning to making more music, though he is not rushing. 'I'm always at the same place, you know? Heading to the future. I'm always listening to music. At the moment, because I'm putting this album out, I'm not desperate to write. But I know that once the album's out that I'll see a guitar, I am writing stuff, but I don't feel the pressure that I've gotta make another album. This one will do for a while.'
The Boys of Dungeon Lane by Paul McCartney is available now.
