Paul is not dead. In fact, he’s totally cool.

Hard to believe the person who is arguably the most influential figure in the last hundred years of Western pop culture is a decent guy.

This is an account written by songwriter/baseball fanatic/leftist turned smartist Seth Swirsky ‘running’ into his childhood (and adulthood) idol Paul McCartney. The post is from the website outlandosmusic.com but I thought I’d repost it here to cut down your click-through fatigue.

I hope McCartney writes a book called “How I didn’t turn into a freak, drug addict or alcoholic even though I was a Beatle” before he dies.

Really a good read.

MEET THE BEATLE!
By Seth Swirsky

Dear Sir Paul,

I thought you might enjoy a story of what it’s like when a very longtime fan of yours has the opportunity to meet you, unexpectedly.

When I saw you running on the treadmill at my gym, it didn’t register for a good, long moment that it was you in the flesh. I couldn’t help but walk over – not to get an autograph or a picture – but to see if the treadmill next to you was taken (it wasn’t!) in hopes that you would allow me a “hello” or something.

Could you ever really know how deeply you affected so many people’s lives like mine? I was born to 18 year-old parents in 1960. They bought Beatles records from the beginning in 1964, so I “got” it all at a very young age.

By 7 years old, in 1967, I was taking guitar lessons already knowing what I wanted to be when I grew up: you! By 8 years old, I was playing “Hey Jude” and “Yesterday” in front of my entire grade school assembly. At that age, I thought John was very cool, I liked George just fine and Ringo sang “With a Little Help From My Friends” and “Yellow Submarine” which both made me feel good as they do to this day. But, you were the coolest.

Inspired by you, I became a staff songwriter with Warner-Chappell Music and EMI Music for over 20 years, writing hits for a number of artists and becoming a recording artist myself. So, to have a chance to even just say “hello” to you would have been a major life thrill.

So, back to the treadmill! I got on the one next to yours, inconspicuously. But I made sure I wasn’t giving out the vibe that I was just another fan looking for an autograph or something.

I noticed out of the corner of my eye that you had turned up the speed on your machine to 7 miles an hour. That is really fast for someone even half your age (nearly 67 at the time). I was impressed and felt I had to at least match that!

So, I put the speed of my treadmill up to 7 miles an hour and scrambled in my mind for something I could say to you if you gave me that ½ a second “opening”.

Now, for the past 5 years I’ve been making a documentary called “Beatles Stories”, which consists of filmed interviews I’ve done with a myriad of people who have a cool story about themselves and The Beatles. While trying not to fall off the treadmill, I was thinking of who would impress you that I’ve interviewed. Graham Nash? No. I needed someone more personal to you, Sir Paul. Perhaps, Sir George Martin? No. You’ve known and worked with him for so long. Mention of his name wouldn’t intrigue you. Sir Ben Kingsley, Art Garfunkel, Justin Hayward? My mind was scrambling as I noticed you ramping down your machine. 6 miles per hour, 5 miles per hour…I had better think of someone quickly…

Then, as your machine stopped and you started toweling yourself off, I noticed you turn slightly towards me as if to say, “Ok. You look like a Beatle person. I’ll give you a shot to ask me a question.”

That’s when I turned to you and said, “Sir Paul, I’m making a documentary and a few years ago I interviewed your original engineer, Norman “Hurricane” Smith (Norman was not only at The Beatles audition in June, 1962 — in which he re-mic’ed Paul’s amp so that they would sound good — but he was their main recording engineer for every song they did up to and including the Rubber Soul album. In short, Norman helped make “the sound” of The Beatles).

I can still see how your eyes lit up, Sir Paul, at the mention of Norman’s name. I told you, that I really understood how ‘you guys’ — as I said it — would love Norman, because, in my afternoon at his home in Sussex, England, I too, had great affection for him. I remember telling you that he was like your favorite uncle that you loved because he let you do stuff your dad might not. He’d be mischievous with you.

Then, you said, as we stood, face-to-face: “Yes, we were young guys (as I’m thinking, THIS IS PAUL MCCARTNEY TALKING ABOUT THE BEATLES!!!) that took a great liking to Norman. He was, as you say, like an uncle to us, very playful and fun.”

We talked a bit more about Norman and you stayed facing me, NEVER giving me the feeling of “ok, you’ve had your Beatle moment now, now move on.”

Then, unexpectedly, you asked me my name as you put out both your hands and took my hand and shook it. After I told you my name you said to me: “Thank you very much for bringing up this memory for me today. It was a real gift.”

I couldn’t believe that the man who had been the great influence of my life was so decent and kind.

So, thank you, Sir Paul, not only for your unparalleled music but for being the really cool person I hoped you would be if I ever got to meet you.

Sincerely,

Seth Swirsky