New Paul McCartney Album???

Sir Paul pleads: Get me back to where I once belonged

11/03/07 Exclusive By Chris Goodman

PAUL McCartney is planning to release an album as soon as his divorce is over. Friends say the former Beatle is desperate to be known for his music again “The album is scheduled for seven or eight weeks’ time, it’s imminent,” said a source close to McCartney’s company MPL.

“It’s a rock album. But he knows that just because he might win a court case, it doesn’t necessarily mean fans will buy his album. “It’s almost like starting out again for him. He lost touch with his core fans when he married Heather and he wants to reconnect.” Another McCartney aide said: “We’ve been told to stand by for an album. He has been working on it for some time and it will be the first of two projects, the second being a guitar concerto.”

But he is just as concerned at the damage the marriage has done to his reputation as Britain’s biggest rock star. “Before he met her, he was the chairman of the board of rock’n’roll,” said the source. “Now he’s more like the chairman of Grace Brothers. He’s old Mr Grace. People love

Paul because he’s a national icon but the national icon has been made to look a fool. Colleagues are talking about a series of intimate gigs to relaunch McCartney, or even an impromptu tour in the style of his 1970s band, Wings, who turned up unannounced at universities, asking to play.

Sir Paul has always been keen on intimate gigs as a way of directly reaching fans. After The Beatles gave up live performances in 1966, he suggested they turn up at pubs to play and has repeatedly planned smaller shows over the years. His daughter, fashion designer Stella, 35, has been helping him plan his future and has taken an active role in his business affairs over the past few months. “It’s true, Stella has been running the show,” said the source. “She’s making decisions, backing Paul up on a lot. “She’s his main ally and of all his children, the one most like him. She took the marriage personally, she hated it from day one, everyone who was at the wedding will tell you that, she wasn’t smiling. Stella’s a good girl, she has the same honesty and work ethics as her father. She understands the responsibility of being a McCartney.”