Paul McCartney Raw Interview Footage with Roy Leonard (1984)

Here's raw footage of an interview by Roy Leonard with former Beatle Paul McCartney, excerpts from which aired on WGN Channel 9. The discussion was largely about his recently released movie, "Give My Regards to Broad Street."

Includes:

Very short bars and tone (about 1030 Hz), followed by brief snow

Setting up, with explanation by Roy that this was for airing over WGN radio and TV and that other parts would air on a syndicated magazine-type show called Rocker with Paula Yates.

Paul though, is more interested in whether the (apparently) extremely hot camera lights could be brought down a bit, and when it appears unlikely, makes a joke and solicits laughter from the crew.

The discussion starts with a question on the street busking scene in "Give My Regards to Broad Street" and how almost no one recognized him

Next, Roy asks about Paul's efforts over the years to distance himself from his Beatle image and old bandmates (he considered the breakup like a "divorce") and his decision to include Beatles songs in the film. He also talks about re-recording Good Day Sunshine and how it reminded him of good times with John Lennon.

Roy and Paul discuss the influence of Busby Berkeley and Fred Astaire on some of his works and how his dad's tastes were ingrained in Paul

Roy asks about "Shout! The Beatles in Their Generation" bio by Philip Norman and Paul's past conversations with Mick Jagger, and Paul's relationship with his own children

They also discuss:

Julian Lennon's recent single and the quality of his voice vs. John's

the Fab Four's opening for Little Richard and his impressions of the singer in some Beatles songs

how the movie is a bit of "a day in the mind of a rock star" and what "a day in the life of a rock star" is (fairly normal)

whether he'll write his own biography, the misconceptions about him and the Fabs, Peter Brown's book, and how Paul has "burned a couple"

the most frustrating thing about having to be Paul McCartney, and what he'd like to be most remembered for

Roy's last talk with him in 1976 when he was touring with Wings and when he'll tour again

Conversation is interrupted by someone interjecting - "Roy, we're going to have to tag this now because powers greater than myself are [something]..."

Roy gets to ask one more question though, namely why the songs for his film were chosen and whether they represent "the best" of McCartney, and finally whether Paul is worried about what the critics will say of the film

The cameraman "Tom" goes to a wide shot as Roy does his tags

After all is said and done, they get up from their chairs and disengage their mics while making small talk - Roy mentions how much he likes "For No One" and how one of Paul's daughters asked her daddy if it was "a new one"

Excerpts from this interview were aired on local Chicago TV (and syndication) around late-October 1984.

This was from a tape donated to The Museum of Classic Chicago Television as part of Peter Marino Collection.

About The Museum of Classic Chicago Television:

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