Fab: An Intimate Life of Paul McCartney (32 page)

A fussy young man with little experience of show business, Brian Epstein was running the family record shop in Liverpool when he became the Beatles’ manager.

In 1962 the Beatles, with their new drummer Ringo Starr, began recording with George Martin at EMI in London. Paul learned to trust the producer, whom he remained close to into his solo career.

In the early days the Beatles were part of mainstream light entertainment, obliged to act the fool on TV and on stage. Here they are dressed up for the first of two runs of Beatles Christmas shows, London, December 1963.

The Beatles’ first visit to the United States was a sensation. Here they are on the
Ed Sullivan Show
, February 1964.

The Beatles’ first feature film,
A Hard Day’s Night
(1964), was their best, with all the band members acquitting themselves reasonably well on screen. Here McCartney is seen with actor Wilfrid Brambell, who played his grandfather.

Paul met the teenage actress Jane Asher in 1963. By 1965, when this picture was taken, he was lodging with her wealthy and sophisticated family in London’s Wimpole Street.

The Beatles at Shea Stadium, New York, on 15 August 1965. The band was playing the first ever stadium rock concert to an audience of 55,600 people.

Paul and Jane Asher had an open relationship, with Paul seeing other women, including Maggie McGivern, who worked as a nanny for Marianne Faithfull. Paul is seen here in 1966 with Maggie as he accepts a light from mutual friend Barry Miles.

Another attractive young woman linked with Paul was Marijke Koger of the hippie art group the Fool, which created the genie mural for the Apple shop.

Paul is seen here with his father Jim outside the star’s new London home, 7 Cavendish Avenue, a short walk from EMI’s Abbey Road studios.

Paul and Linda Eastman gaze into each other’s eyes at a press reception for
Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
at Brian Epstein’s London home, May 1967.

The Beatles’ concert on the roof of the Apple building on 30 January 1969 was their last public performance. Apple executive Peter Brown is seen (with beard) between Paul and John.

Paul married Linda Eastman at Marylebone Register Office, London, on 12 March 1969, just before the Beatles recorded their last LP. It was to be a very successful marriage.