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On this episode of NPR Fresh Air, Terry Gross interviews Paul McCartney. He reflects on the challenge of following the Beatles, the formation of Wings, and the liberation of becoming “another band” with Sgt. Pepper. He also discusses the Get Back documentary and his two-volume collection, The Lyrics.

00:00 Two new projects: The Lyrics and the Get Back documentary

06:42 A favorite song that reminds him of Cole Porter

09:54 Writing with John — easier with a sounding board

12:40 Changing identity liberated the band creatively

14:27 Sgt. Pepper: a concept album with a chaotic crescendo

21:29 The Get Back documentary dispels the breakup rumors

27:20 Starting a new band after the Beatles ended

“Writing with John was a lot easier — you’ve actually got a sounding board.”

“I had this idea to just change our identity… now anything goes.”

“I knew what he liked in a woman, and he liked strong women.”

“How could anything I do be as good as the Beatles? You can’t — but you carry on.”

Paul McCartney reflects on the Beatles — and what came next

In this week’s Fresh Air, Terry Gross sat down with Paul McCartney. He opened up about the challenge of following the Beatles and his decision to embrace a new identity. A few highlights:

Coming to terms with post-Beatles uncertainty — he didn’t think anything he did could match the band, and made peace with that.

The liberation of Sgt. Pepper — becoming “another band” so that anything could go.

It wasn’t easy to figure out what to do after the Beatles. I didn’t think anything I did could be as good. But I talked it over — and that’s how Wings came to be. 🧵

I decided to start from the bottom and work my way up again. As the Beatles we had parameters and expectations; changing our identity with Sgt. Pepper let us break free.

The Get Back documentary finally dispels the breakup rumors. It’s just four guys working out songs, having a lot of fun.

1. How did McCartney feel about the possibility of topping the Beatles?

2. What was the decision-making process behind forming a new band?

3. How did adopting a new identity free the band creatively?

4. What does the Get Back documentary reveal about the breakup?