Liverpool people just have that melody in them

May 30 2008 by Emma Johnson, Liverpool Daily Post

Sir Paul McCartney is returning to Liverpool this weekend to headline Liverpool Sound at Anfield. Emma Johnson reports

RINGO kicked off the celebrations for Liverpool’s Capital of Culture year back in January, and now it is the turn of his fellow surviving Beatle to pick up the musical baton.

After months of anticipation, on Sunday Sir Paul McCartney will headline the Liverpool Sound concert at Anfield, the biggest live music event in the Culture calendar.

And, while Ringo sparked fury after making some less than glowing remarks about Liverpool on the Jonathan Ross show, Sir Paul won’t be making any such faux pas, and is clearly overjoyed to be part of our celebrations.

"It’s great. All of us interested in Liverpool were part of trying to make it the Capital of Culture, it was like an Olympic bid," he reveals. "You all get fired up and carried along by the enthusiasm for it. It was great when we did actually get it. There have been a few plans for me to be part of it, and I’m doing a couple of other things, too."

"I love going back to Liverpool, and to play a big gig like this is something special," he adds.

On Sunday afternoon, Sir Paul will be joined for this musical extravaganza by some of today’s hottest musical talent. As well as local heroes The Zutons, Leeds-based five- piece Kaiser Chiefs will be providing the soundtrack.

"I know the Kaisers quite well," Sir Paul reveals. "Over the last couple of years I’ve done a couple of things they’ve been on. They interviewed me once for NME, too. They’re good guys, we get on well, they’ve got a good sense of humour.

"I don’t know The Zutons personally, but I like their music, they’re one of the good Liverpool bands.

"They were suggested for it, so I said ’Yeah, they’ll be great’." Adding an international flavour to the proceedings, it was revealed a couple of weeks ago that Foo Fighters frontman and ex-Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl would also be dropping in to strum a few numbers.

"I’ve run into him a couple of times," says Sir Paul. "Foo Fighters did a cover of Band on the Run, and someone told me they were down at Abbey Road recording it, so I dropped in and surprised them.

"Dave was putting the guitar track down, it was great. I just busted in the session, ruined it I suppose, and said ’Hi’ to everyone.

"It kind of reminded me of a Wings session, which was good for me because they were doing Band on the Run, but Dave’s wife had their baby there, which reminded me of how me and Linda would be. Often, one of the babies would be at the recording session, or would be playing around on the floor.

"You don’t see that so much now. There was a chance the band would play, but the scheduling was a bit tight, but Dave said he’d make it on his own so he’ll come and do something with us. It’s nice for me, but it’ll be good for the audience."

FOR Sir Paul, a man who has travelled to all four corners of the world and been feted on every continent, produced 20 solo albums and is arguably the most famous musician in the world, the concert will also mark a milestone in his life because it will be the first time he has ever set foot inside Liverpool FC’s hallowed ground.

He laughs out loud: "Ha ha. I haven’t been to Anfield before. It’s that thing isn’t it, you’re supposed to be Manchester United or City, Rangers or Celtic, you know, one or the other, but I just gave up on that idea years ago.

"I’m officially Everton, my dad was born in Everton, but the Liverpool team came to one of my concerts at Wembley Arena once, led by Kenny Dalglish.

"He brought the whole team, so that gave me enough of a reason to be able to support them openly.

"I love both teams, but if it comes to the crunch I’d have to be on Everton’s side."

As for what Sir Paul – who will be taking in his designer daughter Stella McCartney’s fashion show at LIPA, before heading over to Anfield – has planned musically, he assures us the show will have a real Liverpool feel.

"It’s always a difficult one that, because it’s just my set, it’s just what I’m doing at the moment, but with some new surprises put in especially for Liverpool.

"We’re working on that now, I rehearsed last week, and I’m working all this week. We’re working on a few things we don’t normally do, especially for Liverpool. Which are surprises, so don’t ask me about them!"

So, 50 years since Sir Paul met John Lennon on that fateful day in Woolton, what does the music mogul think it is about his home city which inspires so much great music?

"I think it’s heritage. Years ago, Liverpool was the second city in Britain, it was a mercantile capital. It was very prosperous.

"I think the people there became very proud of themselves and their city, and confident, and it’s never gone away, even though the mercantile eminence has gone, or receded, the people still remain very confident.

"That finds its way into entertainment, so you get a lot of comedians out of the city – most of the people on the street are comedians, or at least think they are!

"So there’s a good sense of humour and atmosphere, and the music is the other thing that comes out of that confidence, Liverpool people just have that melody in them."

* SIR PAUL McCARTNEY headlines Liverpool Sound on Sunday afternoon at Anfield Stadium. For more information, visit www.liverpool08.com

emmajohnson@dailypost.co.uk