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Nearly five decades after the passing of John Lennon, Paul McCartney has opened up about the complex dynamics of their relationship, reflecting on their shared history as Beatles bandmates.
In a candid conversation with directors Judd Apatow and Morgan Neville following a screening of the new documentary Man on the Run, McCartney addressed the emotional rollercoaster that characterized his connection with Lennon, especially in the wake of the Beatles’ turbulent breakup.
Apatow highlighted a notable aspect of their rivalry, remarking, “You guys had the first musical public beef! You don’t get enough credit that you were the first artists to attack each other in song.
And you started it.” McCartney initially pushed back, suggesting Lennon’s lyrics were the original jab.
Nevertheless, McCartney acknowledged the ups and downs of collaborating with someone as larger-than-life as Lennon. “I loved John and love him to this day and always will,” he said.
“It wouldn’t matter what he said or did, because I’d known him since I was 15. He was like this mad guy I knew, and I really looked up to him.”
He further described the youthful admiration he felt: “When you’re around 13 or 15, and there’s this kind of guy who’s cruel and witty and right on it, you look up to them and think, ‘Wow, he’s really cool.’ I always thought John was very cool, and I still do. But he could be a complete idiot over some things.”
McCartney also shed light on the personal struggles that shaped Lennon’s behavior. Reflecting on Lennon’s difficult childhood-including an estranged father and the tragic loss of his mother in a car accident-McCartney said, “There’s reason for him to be crazy.
He had a lot of anguish, which explains the primal screams and everything. He had a lot of stuff to get out.”
By contrast, McCartney noted his own relatively stable upbringing, though he also experienced loss with the death of his mother at age 14. “Comparatively, I was very lucky. I grew up pretty secure and didn’t have the kind of troubles John had until my mom died,” he added.
This heartfelt reflection offers a poignant glimpse into the complicated friendship and creative partnership between two of music’s most iconic figures.