In a recent interview with Prospect Magazine, Sir Paul McCartney has announced that he was the instigator of politics in The Beatles' music and not John Lennon as is widely believed.
During the interview covered by The Sunday Times, McCartney cites meeting with philosopher Bertrand Russell in the mid-60's as the spark that ignited the band's anti-Vietnam war sentiment and support for the peace movement.
While some refute the former Beatle's comments, McCartney claims that the political megaphone has now been passed on to younger pop stars including Bono and Sir Bob Geldof.
N.B. It is The Sunday Times and not HT&E that refers to both Bono and Geldof as "younger pop stars".
Songs like Revolution are seen as Lennon-inspired protest vehicles but Sir Paul now begs to differ causing many biographers and political activists of the time to claim that he is re-writing history.
While Lennon may have wanted to "Give peace a chance" it seems, according to McCartney at least, he was ushered into his activism. Somewhat hard to believe from the man who also claimed that The Beatles were more popular than Jesus.
The full interview will appear in the January issue of Prospect on sale 17/12/08
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