Paul McCartney made an appearance at the Tribeca Festival’s “Storytellers” series on Thursday, but did not mention his recent plans to use AI technology to extract vocals of his former bandmate, John Lennon, from an old demo to create a final Beatles record. Instead, McCartney shared memories from his new book, 1964: Eyes of the Storm.
1964: Eyes of the Storm
McCartney’s new book features 275 largely unseen photographs shot by himself between the end of 1963 through early 1964, when The Beatles become an international sensation. Candid photos of Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr were displayed during the conversation, which was recorded for a future episode of Conan O’Brien’s podcast. McCartney expressed his admiration for Lennon’s vulnerability, which he attributed to minor tragedies throughout his life.
The Beatles’ Flight to New York City
During the conversation, McCartney shared a photo of the band on a flight to New York City just prior to their appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show on February 9, 1964. The pilot informed them that a big crowd was waiting for them at the airport, but they were still bowled over by the reception. McCartney also reminisced about their press conference at the airport and how they knew they could respond to any insult with the fact that they were number one in the country.
Man on the Run
McCartney is currently working on a documentary, Man on the Run, directed by Oscar and Grammy winner Morgan Neville, about his creative output in the decade after he left The Beatles.
While the audience may have been disappointed that McCartney did not discuss his AI project, they were still treated to a trip down memory lane with candid photos and stories from the Beatles’ early days. Fans can also look forward to the release of the Beatles’ last record, with the help of AI, later this year.