Remembering Linda
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LadyLeslie wrote:
Nancy R wrote:
Sorry Leslie, I looked at that twice and didn’t see it. Duh!
That's ok With all the quotes and everything sometimes it's hard to see what's there, lol
Saw another great Linda and Paul photo this morning and thought it was lovely, so had to post it! Was this taken at Stella's fashion show? Seems like they wore the Anti-Fur buttons then.
Photo credit: beatlesphotoblog.com
Love what the site administrator (at beatlesphotoblog.com link above) wrote with this photo, such a wonderful tribute to Linda!
Today is the 20th anniversary of Linda McCartneys passing. I don’t expect there will be much fanfare or acknowledging this date, so I’m going to.
You know the saying ‘Be careful meeting your heroes, they may disappoint you’?, that was SO not the case with Linda. I have always been a Wings fan first and foremost, I was too young to know of the Beatles when they were around. From the get go I was drawn to Linda, I guess I empathized with her being the underdog, and felt deeply for her because she was constantly attacked, for being a woman, being an individual who danced to the beat of her own drum.
I ‘totally’ got Linda, even from when I was about ten years old, I knew she was pushing boundaries and peoples buttons, because people wanted her to conform. I’d see her wearing high heels with socks, different coloured socks!, open toe shoes with multi coloured toe socks, moon boots with overalls and an ostrich feather boa, and always, ALWAYS with unshaven legs, and I would fist pump, ‘YES!!’.
People shit on her constantly for her musical ability, but the joke was on ‘every’ single person who put her down, because she knew she was there for fun, and she was doing her best. When reporters would try to trick her, or put her down, she would laugh and say ‘Are you kidding me?, most kids in high school can shake a tambourine better than me’. Fucking music and artist snobs are a blight on this earth, the irony being, Linda is now slowly being acknowledged as one of THE great female American photographers.
Women like Patti Smith, Courtney Love etc are held up as female rock icons, but I’m nominating Linda to be held up there with them, and definitely as probably the first female punk, and by punk, I mean in its raw, don’t give a fuck, just get up there and do it sense. In 1971 Paul pointed to middle C on the piano, the curtain rose, and Linda hit the ground running, learning on the go, putting herself on stage, in front of crowds just baying to take a swipe, barefoot, again with crazy stage clothes, all the while (with Paul) raising four kids without nannies, I’d say that’s pretty punk.
Over time something fantastic happened, Linda’s voice became part of some of the greatest harmonies recorded in 70’s rock. I can’t imagine all those albums, especially RAM and Band on the run without Linda’s vocals. Her bravery against the meat industry was heroic, those bastards don’t piss around in causing you trouble, even to the point of sabotaging her vegetarian meals at one point.
It was far easier to mock Linda than adore her, the mean spirited piece of filth who isolated her vocals, from a concert during the end refrain for Hey Jude, should be ashamed. Linda’s quote after this was used to mercilessly mock her?, ‘Sticks and stones will break your bones, but words will break your heart’.
I did meet Linda, I did get to speak to her quite a few times, it would take me writing a novel to document all those experiences. All I will say is, I’m glad I met that particular hero, because Linda was the kindest, most engaged, interested, genuine person you could hope to meet. I’m proud to have defended and loved her all these years, she earned it, and deserved it, mismatched toe socks and all. L.I.L.Y
Genuine and respectful tribute. Thanks so much for posting.
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fan4-45years wrote:
Genuine and respectful tribute. Thanks so much for posting.
You're welcome! Thought it was wonderful, and thought people would appreciate reading it!
I'm sure most everyone who is a fan of Paul has seen the video below, but thought it really captured Paul and Linda, and how much it meant to him just having her on stage with him. She was his rock!
Also loved his guitar playing on this at 4:00 mark (specifically at 4:30) .... my oh my.... I think I'm going to hold up another sign at the next concert of his I go to that says "If you can read this sign that means I'm still standing and fully conscious. "
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It was announced today that Paul has donated some of Linda's photos to the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. What a wonderful way to preserve her legacy for future generations! The Museum also has an exhibit of her photographs planned for October.
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I just love this photo of them!
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Nancy R wrote:
I just love this photo of them!
Oh me too... as we've discussed before, have always thought the way he looked into her camera lens was so sweet
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Nancy R wrote:
It's great they have a marker on the building. Were you able to visit the Bag'O Nails Club when you were in London, Nancy?
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LadyLeslie wrote:
Nancy R wrote:
It's great they have a marker on the building. Were you able to visit the Bag'O Nails Club when you were in London, Nancy?
Yeah, I took that photo in 2011 when the club itself had been renamed. Then in 2016 it was changed back to Bag ‘O Nails! The plaque is still there.
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In 2011
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Cool! Thanks for sharing your pics! Would love to go there myself one day.
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LadyLeslie wrote:
Cool! Thanks for sharing your pics! Would love to go there myself one day.
It is a blast! My friend Jennifer and I are talking about going back in 2020.
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Nancy R wrote:
LadyLeslie wrote:
Cool! Thanks for sharing your pics! Would love to go there myself one day.
It is a blast! My friend Jennifer and I are talking about going back in 2020.
That's great! Sounds like a wonderful trip!
Love the photo below of Linda with Paul and family, 1970, Scotland
From the Linda Eastman Forever page on Facebook
The way Paul is holding Mary is so sweet! As I was looking at the photo couldn't help thinking how good it was that he had Linda and the children with him at the time the Beatles broke up... just having them in his life made such a huge difference, and inspired him in his music. They helped him make the world a better place!
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I really think that if he hadn’t had Linda and the kids, he might have spiraled right down the drain, if you know what I mean. He was in a very dark place in the fall of 1969.
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Yes, I agree! I think he would have eventually pulled himself back up on his own, and with support of family and friends, and his music would have kept him going at least, but he would have been in a dark place for quite a while until then.
But Linda understood him, and loved him, and was there for him. I'm glad the world will never know what his life would have been like without her, because they were meant to be!
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LadyLeslie wrote:
Yes, I agree! I think he would have eventually pulled himself back up on his own, and with support of family and friends, and his music would have kept him going at least, but he would have been in a dark place for quite a while until then.
But Linda understood him, and loved him, and was there for him. I'm glad the world will never know what his life would have been like without her, because they were meant to be!
Well said!
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Thought this was a lovely photo of Linda, haven't seen it posted before.
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^ Great pic - never saw before!
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She would be 76 years old? That's hard to picture.
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HaileyMcComet wrote:
She would be 76 years old? That's hard to picture.
I know, it is hard to believe that so much time has gone by. In September it will be 77 years.
Perhaps Paul took this photo of her.
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HaileyMcComet wrote:
She would be 76 years old? That's hard to picture.
I know! If she was still alive she would be 77 on Sept. 24, 2018. She was 9 months older than Paul.
That’s how he came to write Birthday for her in Sept. 1968.