9 aprile 1970..."I quit the Beatles"...

9 aprile 1970: Paul McCartney annuncia in un'intervista che avrebbe lasciato i Beatles. E' la fine della band.
Paul aveva dato la notizia prima di John e questo per lui fu come un'usurpazione che non dimenticherà mai.
L'intervista, fu stampata il 9 aprile 1970 come comunicato stampa promozionale per l'uscita del primo album solista di Paul McCartney 'McCartney'. Si sono dette molte cose errate su questa intervista, come ad esempio che Paul avesse scritto lui stesso le domande. 
Paul la spiegò così alla rivista canadese 'Musical Express' nel 1982: "Molte cose sono state  fraintese. Parlai con Peter Brown della Apple e gli chiesi cosa avremmo dovuto fare nei confronti della stampa riguardo al disco. E lui disse:' Ti farò alcune domande e tu dovrai rispondere. Lo useremo come comunicato stampa.' Beh, certo, il modo in cui è uscito sembrava stato appositamente architettato da me."  e questo è stato confermato anche nel libro di Peter Brown 'The Love You Make'.
Nell'intervista comunicato stampa, Paul risponde alle domande sul futuro dei Beatles, le preoccupazioni per la nuova gestione dei Beatles, oltre a domande sulla composizione e sulla registrazione del suo primo album solista.
A Paul fu chiesto se l'uscita dell' LP 'McCartney' era solo un periodo di riposo lontano dai Beatles o l'inizio di una carriera da solista, e lui risponde che è entrambe le cose. Ma alla domanda se ha in progetto un nuovo album o singolo con i Beatles risponde in modo negativo. E alla domanda se ci sarebbe stata un'altra occasione in futuro in cui Lennon e McCartney avrebbero scritto di nuovo insieme lui risponde direttamente e semplicemente, "No".

La rottura con i Beatles era solo temporanea o permanente? Paul risponde di non saperlo. Quando gli viene chiesto il motivo della sua rottura con il gruppo, Paul elenca una serie di motivi: "Divergenze personali ed economiche, ma soprattutto sto meglio con la mia famiglia".
Mentre John Lennon aveva lasciato i Beatles il mese prima in modo "silenzioso", fu con questa l'intervista che la storia della rottura dei Beatles si diffuse istantaneamente in tutto il mondo. Il giorno seguente, il 10 aprile, il «Daily Mirror» metterà in prima pagina la notizia "PAUL IS QUITTING THE BEATLES"..notizia che avrà un effetto-shock sull'opinione pubblica e sui fan del gruppo...
L'album "McCartney" sarebbe uscito nel Regno Unito il 17 aprile 1970, appena nove giorni dopo l'uscita di quello avrebbe chiuso la carriera dei Beatles, "Let it be".
Eccovi l'intera intervista.

Da www.beatlesinterviews.org/db1970.0417.beatles.html

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!"