This post may not quite be 'in the flow', but I want to post these accounts at NIR-PWR so that they are not lost to history.
One is from
TKIN/60IF, and / or
PID Miss Him Miss Him Miss Him. The other links to here.
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"An interesting anecdote..." Jan 20, 2007 at 9:34am
This story was initially posted at the
60IF/TKIN Paul is Dead forum:
60if.proboards21.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=faul&thread=1068755256&page=1 (this link may no longer be valid)"Hi, everyone!
I'm somewhat new to these forums, but I thought I'd finally chime in with a few things that I have heard from trusted colleagues and seen/experienced first-hand.
First of all, I am a retired news reporter/anchor/producer and worked my entire career for the NBC affiliate here in New Orleans, LA. From 1971-1976, I was a 24 year-old "special segments"
writer/producer for the late news (10pm cst). In the fall of 1974/spring of 1975, Paul McCartney began appearing in town fairly often, being seen by many frequenting French Quarter
restaurants and popping in and out of jazz clubs. Come to find out, he was laying the groundwork details for the recording of his album "Venus and Mars," alot of which was recorded
here from what I recall.
Well, it didn't take long for the "newshounds" to sniff out his accomodations - he was staying at the Richelieu Hotel on Chartres Ave. Needless to say, many hours were spent
by myself and other young journalists of every media stripe hanging around the hotel and the studio, trying to get a few words from Paul. You'd be surprised just how
accomodating he was.....at times. I'd say about 1/3 of the time, he'd give us a curt little nod, a quick wave, or a funny face as he rushed by us down the sidewalk or into
a waiting car. Another 1/3 of the time, he'd sort of stick around for a few minutes and simply banter with us, just joking around and what-not. But, the other 1/3 of the time,
he'd hang around, often by himself, for a half-hour to an hour or so. A couple of times, an editor-friend of mine actually went for drinks with him at a bar called Napoleon's.
He was exceedingly witty, bright, and talkative. I remember there being something slightly condescending about him, not in a haughty way, more that he had simply become
accustomed to "always being right." Totally friendly, though, was he on these occasions.
OK, now for the weird stuff (and there's ALOT of it---moreso than I can get into now). The friend mentioned above was with a now-defunct New Orleans newspaper (The States-Item)
in 1964 as a "beat reporter." He tended to do write-ups on local club/restaurant openings, high school sports, fads, etc.
He was also fortunate enough to have met all four Beatles when they came to New Orleans for a 1964 concert at City Park, and to have been present at a "press conference"- style
interview (along with about 75-100 other reporters) and a smaller radio interview session (about 10-12 media people in attendance). During the radio interview, he was about 6 feet
away from each Beatle, at various points standing even closer, shaking their hands, and getting a friendly clap on the back from Ringo.
Fast forward to 1968: New York - same friend finds himself covering several appearances by Paul McCartney for a now-defunct local music magazine. He attends a press interview
at The Americana, but doesn't get to ask any questions. Plus, he's confused. Although he is less than twenty feet away from Paul, something about his appearance makes my friend
wonder if his eyes are beginning to fail.
Two or three days later, he and a reporter from the NY Times meet Paul in the lobby of the Americana. He stops to talk for a few minutes, seeming to recognize the NY Times reporter,
who introduces him to my friend. My friend has said (paraphrase):
"MrKite, I tell you there is no single doubt in my mind that the man I met in 1964 and the one I met in 1968 were two different people. When he first came out for the press conference
in New York, I and a few others actually laughed aloud, one reporter asking, 'What's the joke?' He was so obviously not Paul McCartney. I actually thought at first, 'Damn, that guy
looks a lot like McCartney!' and was surprised he had someone in his entourage that resembled him so closely. Once I realized that this guy was supposed to be Paul, I just figured
'Okaaa-aay, whatever!' and dutifully recorded the interview. In the lobby of the hotel, up close, I was surer than sh*t it was a different person! No look of recognition coming from
him either, even when I mentioned the radio interview and certain things said back in 1964."
Now, it gets weirder: fast forward again to 1974/1975 - this same friend, who had drinks with Paul, claimed that, yet again, he was sitting with a man who was different from both
the 1964-Paul AND the 1968-Paul. He sat within arms reach of Paul for at least an hour, and he swore that his bone structure, hair texture, mannerisms, and overall look was but
a good approximation of the "other Pauls" he had met.
I myself can personally attest that the Paul here in New Orleans in the mid '70s (who was recording an album) that I personally spoke to on a number of occasions (probably 20-30 times
over a few months for a total of about 5-10 hours) was a different man than the one who gave "official" interviews here in New Orleans during the same span of time.
No doubt about it - case closed.
I and a few colleagues thought maybe he looked different because he was made-up. Not so. Again, no look of recognition when I queried him.
Physically, "official" Paul was a broader, taller specimen with a more sing-song quality to his voice. What's more, his hair was a different length!
Yep, "official" Paul's hair was a good two inches longer than "studio" Paul's.
Plus, my friend who sat for drinks with Paul agreed with me. Especially since "official" Paul had responded to an aside comment from him after the interview about
their conversation at the Napoleon House with, "I don't know what you're talking about, bub." It was so obvious there were two Paul's running around that it became
an in-joke among those of us who hung around the hotel and studio.
I know this was massively long, but I thought it would have a bearing on things. There is alot more to this stuff, as my friend actually drove himself into bankruptcy
investigating certain aspects of the anomalies we'd experienced. We all remembered the Paul-is-Dead rumors. What we saw and heard made us consider that there could have
been some validity to the alleged rumors.
My friend ended up penniless, divorced, and marginally insane (in my opinion). He had become obsessed with McCartney and, according to him, discovered plenty of info,
even claiming to have solved the riddle, to his satisfaction at least. I had less and less contact with him throughout the late '80s and mid-'90s, as he began
to spend more and more time abroad, mainly in England and Scotland. He has told me some things that have strained credibilty; however, he was always intelligent,
fair-minded, and tenacious in his research.
I have no reasons not to believe him other than my own predisposition not to want to.
I will write more later - my wife is waking up, and I'd rather her not now I'm writing about [my friend].
I don't think that person posted again after that. I find his story very compelling.""
Read more:
only1rad.proboards.com/thread/89/interesting-anecdote#ixzz5Jgv3LzAt PID Miss Him Miss Him Miss Him-------------------------------------------
Story about Paul in Liverpoolinvanddis.proboards.com/thread/3178?page=1Post by jerriwillmore on Oct 25, 2004 at 4:20pm
This lady emailed me, wishes not to be named, tell me what you think....
""I just wanted to tell you (off the board) about the incident in Liverpool. I'm the one that has a good friend who also happens to be friends with P(F)aul.
A little background about me:
I met Paul (very briefly) in 1966 at Candlestick Park, at the Beatles last show of the last tour. I was quite taken by John at that point in time, but Paul really impressed me
by his charm. As I was (am) quite a fan, I really drank the encounter in.
Later in 1975 or 1976 (I honestly get the years mixed up) - I was living in London - I met P(F)aul and Linda at a film premier. I shook his hand and he spoke and actually
sang to me (a tiny bit of "When I'm 64"), probably because the press were all around and it was a photo op. I was a bit taken aback;
this, to me, did not seem to be the same person I'd met 10 years before. Honestly. I was looking directly into his eyes - they did not seem the same.
I kept this opinion to myself for decades. I tried to make no judgement about what might have happened. I would allow that 10 years had passed -
lots can happen to a person in 10 years, but...as I love to study eyes, this was quite haunting to me.
Lo and behold, I stumble upon 60if. Again, I've always reserved judgement...I didn't necessarily buy into the whole Paul-is-dead thing...but certainly wondered what DID happen.
I still feel this way...
My dear friend in Liverpool met P(F)aul a few years back; they got along well...and when he's in town, he always hooks up with this friend. I've not been eager to strain that
relationship at all...and my friend has only known him in this decade.
Well, this friend does, in fact, tell me little things he's said when they've been together. The incident in Liverpool was this:
P(F)aul went to the graduation of the (then) current class. He's generally quite charming and affable, giving a rousing send-off speech, full of optimism.
This time, an old friend showed up - one who'd attended the school when they were schoolkids themselves.
This friend (not in front of the students) came up to P(F)aul and expected to get a firm handshake, a joke, maybe, and exchange a memory or two.
P(F)aul didn't recognize him...and when this old friend pressed him a bit further, P(F)aul started to get really irritated.
According to MY friend, who was present for this encounter, he was more than mildly upset - and this seemed really odd to my friend. My friend told me it seemed
sort of a mountain/molehill situation.
Then, P(F)aul went to address the students - remaining in a pissy mood - and gave them none of the usual pep talk, rather he kept that mood throughout,
finally, at the end, just telling them that the hard work they would encounter will probably break some of them in such a competitive business.
My friend wrote this off as just a bad mood.
I shared it with the board because (again, trying not to draw conclusions) I thought they ought to know.
I don't really want to be involved with the board, so I'm telling you personally. I have quite a life, and can't get drawn into the fray.
I do not, still, want to conclude that Paul is dead, or alive for that matter. I just don't know. I have my own senses and experiences...
but just don't want to jump into taking anything else as fact.
There you have it.
onlooker""
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