Paul McCartney's reaction to John Lennon's death

I hate Paul McCartney, he was always a massive self important tool. John wasn't any better, but at least he had talent.

R1 yea, paul has no talent. Fuck you.

Cut Paul some slack. He was obviously in shock and trying to process it all.

Paul has always relied on bland understatement--as when he refers to the Beatles as "a good little band," that kind of thing. He did that here, only it was so wrong to rely on understatement when something so horrific has happened.

He looks upset to me and clearly doesn’t want to talk to the bunch of cameras and microphones shoved in his face.

Crying on camera is not an English thing.

I mean John was kind of a dick...

I’m sure he was in shock. I always wonder how Yoko could have stayed living in the Dakota. Then again, how does one leave a multi floor apartment overlooking Central Park.

Bette Davis didn't think that Joan Crawford's death was a drag (or any other negative term) and wouldn't have said so. Paul McCartney was no doubt in shock and said the first negative thing that came to mind in order to stop the press from bugging him.

[quote] He looks upset to me and clearly doesn’t want to talk to the bunch of cameras and microphones shoved in his face.

That's it. Why give the vultures something to feast on. They wanted to see him break down so it would make good copy.

[quote] Bette Davis didn't think that Joan Crawford's death was a drag (or any other negative term) and wouldn't have said so.

Actually, her famous quote when reached by the press that day was, "My mother said you should never say anything bad about the dead. Well, Joan Crawford is dead. GOOD!"

He was hardly going to burst into tears. I'd say his reaction is quite standard for an Englishman of that era.

Sorry R1, but Paul was the more gifted musician. John was the better songwriter, but just barely. I'd call it a push.

According to numerous sources Paul always refers to John in the present tense.

That Faul barely knew any of the Fohns.

He was in shock, and the Beatles had a long history of being sarcastic to the press in order to create some much-needed distance. Sounds like he was on autopilot to me.

Like many former artistic collaborators, they had moved on and were no longer particularly close.

R13 I also think he had the better voice, though I know that’s the minority opinion. He couldn’t hit as high notes as Lennon, but his voice was so much more soulful.

Maybe he couldn’t hear the question, given his fake ears and all.

He's a socio. Married Linda because she was an heire$$.

CLEARLY in shock in that clip. However, Lennon seemed to be pretty unlikable.

In Paul’s defense he has written over the years in support of Lennon’s murderer not getting released on bail and also has spoken in favor of gun control because of Lennon’s death. The two of them had their issues for sure but to say Lennon’s murder did not affect Paul is not true.

Can you imagine how flippant John would have been if Paul had been the one to die?

In public, sure R23. But privately, probably not.