The band Paul McCartney said meant “nothing” to him
There are many reasons why Paul McCartney is so adored. Alongside being one of the few songwriters to have changed the cultural complexion, his affable nature has made him a national treasure, saving him from any of the intense scrutiny that his old bandmates in The Beatles did, whose characters were much more checkered.
Let’s not get it twisted, though; McCartney, like his fellow bandmates in the Fab Four, was also a rebellious youth who indulged in plenty of hell-raising and drug-fueled escapades. However, he was the only one who managed to keep it from derailing his personal life.
Yes, he might have been arrested as the leader of Wings in Japan for marijuana possession, but unlike his other Beatles, McCartney seemed to mostly withstand the narcotic effects of superstardom. When the band was falling apart at the seams in the late 1960s, he would nestle into domestic bliss with his wife, Linda, and set about raising a family while simultaneously creating his pastoral early solo efforts. This stark eschewing of the darkness that was engulfing rock at the time remains a brilliant example of McCartney’s significance outside of music.
Throughout his time in the limelight, McCartney has also continued to spread the countercultural spirit, utilising music for the betterment of society. This included releasing an album exclusively in the USSR in the late 1980s so people there could also enjoy his music behind the Iron Curtain. Genius moments such as these also reflect the way his music transcends cultural and political barriers, another reason why he is so adored across the globe.
Despite being known as one of music’s most gregarious figures, McCartney is not someone to be crossed. This was made evident after The Beatles’ breakup, when he took personal potshots at his former songwriting partner, John Lennon, through his music. Over the years, McCartney has shown that behind his typically friendly demeanour and slightly bumbling persona lies a sharp mind that has never dulled. When pushed too far, he has no hesitation in striking back.
Enter Oasis. The Mancunian band made it clear from the outset that they would not bow to the industry’s whims and were determined to do things their own way. This brazen attitude fuelled their era-defining music and attracted legions of fans, presenting a brash counterpoint to Blur’s art-school charm. However, their unapologetic arrogance also garnered plenty of ire from those who couldn’t stand their self-confidence.
In 1996, when Oasis were at the peak of their powers, and booze, drugs, and fame were starting to take a noticeable toll on the members and their creative output, guitarist and band leader, Noel Gallagher told MTV that he genuinely believed his group’s first two records meant they were better than The Beatles. The following year, McCartney shot down the ‘Live Forever’ outfit. He said they were simply “nothing” to him.
McCartney told the New Statesman in 1997: “They’re derivative, and they think too much of themselves. I hope for their sakes they’re right. But they really mean nothing to me.”
Oasis simply weren’t McCartney’s problem. Their future was their concern, he maintained. While he might have occasionally heard their songs on the radio and thought they were fine, he sensed that they were beginning to believe their own hype, wishing them luck in avoiding the trap so many others had fallen into. Despite his foreboding, the former Beatle spoke of co-existence, diplomatically stating, “There’s room for us all”.
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