The Physicality of Wild Paul McCartney
According to the Beatles narratives, Paul McCartney was something of a restless animal onstage, throwing himself thither and yon as the music moved him. There is some evidence that this is true, most particularly the odd picture that looks like Paul is the devil tempting John to get on his knees, and there is also a drawing by Klaus Voormann, sketched out while the boys were performing in Hamburg, that suggests that (back around 1960) Wild Paul may have “invented” the “knees-together-legs-splayed-high-jump-with-guitar” move that became ubiquitous in the late 60′s and early 1970′s.
The legend has it that Brian Epstein, as he got the boys to tame their stage personas, dropping the leather, the cussing and eating on stage and the wearing of toilet seats, he in particular told Paul to curb his enthusiasm as he played to the crowd, moved to the beat, and served whatever inner agent of chaos he tended to unleash while onstage.
Obediently, he did calm it down. Although it still came out in the way he’d all but bite the air (or George) as he played.
It still came out in the headshakes and the excessive sweat that would pour from him during their (only 30-minute-long) sets. Of course. They weren’t exactly standing still…
If this is how he sweated in a suit, imagine him in leather, and bouncing around the stage:
Also, I do think he might have “invented” this posture. Was Paul the first rocker to play guitar as though it were an extension of his penis?
Did he invent the moonwalk? Nah. Still cute, though.
Still, every once in a while, Paul got playful on stage, even despite Brian’s warning. This post was put together simply because I crack up every time I see this little move at NEMS 1965, which I’m sure he perfected in Hamburg – as though he’s being pulled away from the mic by a large magnet. Rather like a human looney tunes cartoon.
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