From a Liverpool church fete to Wings, the Olympics and the last Beatles song — the life of Paul McCartney.
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Paul McCartney: Beatle, Wings and Beyond 20
1942Paul McCartney born in LiverpoolJames Paul McCartneyBorn at Walton Hospital, the son of a jazz-band cotton salesman.
1956Paul McCartney's mother Mary diesAged 14His mother's death later inspires Let It Be.
1957Paul McCartney meets John LennonWoolton church feteMeets Lennon after a Quarrymen gig and joins the band.
1960Paul McCartney goes to Hamburg with the BeatlesIndra ClubThe Beatles play months of all-night sets in Hamburg.
1965Paul McCartney records YesterdayOne of the most covered songs everRecorded alone with a string quartet.
1967Paul McCartney leads Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club BandHis conceptThe album concept was his idea.
1969Paul McCartney marries Linda EastmanLondonMarries the American photographer Linda Eastman.
1970Paul McCartney announces he has left the BeatlesEnd of the BeatlesA press release with his first solo album breaks the news.
1971Paul McCartney releases RamWith Linda McCartneyPanned at the time, later reclaimed as a classic.
1971Paul McCartney forms WingsNew bandForms Wings with Linda McCartney and Denny Laine.
1973Paul McCartney and Wings release Band on the RunRecorded in LagosWings' best album, recorded in Nigeria.
1977Paul McCartney and Wings release Mull of KintyreUK best-selling singleFor years the best-selling single in British history.
1980Paul McCartney detained in TokyoWings tour cancelledHeld for nine days over cannabis in his luggage — the Japan tour is cancelled and Wings fade out.
1982Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder release Ebony and IvoryNumber one duetNumber one in the US and UK.
1991Paul McCartney premieres the Liverpool OratorioClassical debutHis first classical work, at Liverpool Cathedral.
1997Paul McCartney knightedSir PaulKnighted by Queen Elizabeth II for services to music.
1998Paul McCartney's wife Linda diesAged 56Linda McCartney dies of breast cancer.
2012Paul McCartney closes the London Olympics opening ceremonyHey JudeLeads the stadium in Hey Jude.
2020Paul McCartney releases McCartney IIILockdown albumMade alone in lockdown, playing every instrument.
2023Paul McCartney completes the last Beatles songNow and ThenA Lennon demo finished with AI-assisted audio restoration.