Norman to write Paul bio?
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I just read an Examiner column that Phillipp Norman is going to write a Paul bio with Paul's approval. Is this another late April fools joke?
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I heard he made nice with Paul when he wrote the Lennon bio.
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The only book I care about is Vol 1 of Mark Lewisohn's 3 part (we hope) masterwork.
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This is surprising when everyone knows what Paul thought of "shout". In fact , I'm sure Paul changed the spelling of the title ...
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BertoneBeatle:
I heard he made nice with Paul when he wrote the Lennon bio.
Did they eventually make nice? I know that Yoko was initially happy with the book and then didn't like the final result. I forgot what Paul said about it. but yeah, in Shout, Norman made a nasty "stupid cow eyes" comment about Paul.
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Kathryn O:
BertoneBeatle:
I heard he made nice with Paul when he wrote the Lennon bio.
Did they eventually make nice? I know that Yoko was initially happy with the book and then didn't like the final result. I forgot what Paul said about it. but yeah, in Shout, Norman made a nasty "stupid cow eyes" comment about Paul.
He also basically opens up the book saying he was always a Lennon fan and the other 3 were sidemen, partly because of his bitterness that Paul's MPL people wouldn't let him meet him or something
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DanTheFan:
Kathryn O:
BertoneBeatle:
I heard he made nice with Paul when he wrote the Lennon bio.
Did they eventually make nice? I know that Yoko was initially happy with the book and then didn't like the final result. I forgot what Paul said about it. but yeah, in Shout, Norman made a nasty "stupid cow eyes" comment about Paul.
He also basically opens up the book saying he was always a Lennon fan and the other 3 were sidemen, partly because of his bitterness that Paul's MPL people wouldn't let him meet him or something
Norman apparently has softened his view of Paul in recent years. What really made him realise he had been too harsh was discovering that Paul had paid for Neil Aspinall`s cancer treatment. There were plenty of other examples of Paul`s generosity, if only he had bothered to look. I guess Norman has grown up.
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femaleanimal:
DanTheFan:
Kathryn O:
BertoneBeatle:
I heard he made nice with Paul when he wrote the Lennon bio.
Did they eventually make nice? I know that Yoko was initially happy with the book and then didn't like the final result. I forgot what Paul said about it. but yeah, in Shout, Norman made a nasty "stupid cow eyes" comment about Paul.
He also basically opens up the book saying he was always a Lennon fan and the other 3 were sidemen, partly because of his bitterness that Paul's MPL people wouldn't let him meet him or something
Norman apparently has softened his view of Paul in recent years. What really made him realise he had been too harsh was discovering that Paul had paid for Neil Aspinall`s cancer treatment. There were plenty of other examples of Paul`s generosity, if only he had bothered to look. I guess Norman has grown up.
Well it's about f--king time.
I don't care how well written Shout was, the book painted a highly inaccurate portrait of the band, and of Paul's role in it. Norman's Lennon bio gave a more evenhanded treatment of Paul, but it didn't shed much light on the Lennon-McCartney bond and partnership, which Norman seems to prefer to see as "all business," despite all evidence to the contrary. Norman may have been the right person to write a Lennon bio but is he the right person to write a Paul bio? Why would someone who is so obviously a Lennon fan even want to write about Paul? Sure, Norman is a Beatles fan. But it would be nice if Paul got a biographer who actually appreciated the best of his solo work, too, -- someone who, for example, understood the glories of Ram, and understood why electronic music fans now appreciate McCartney II. Or will this be yet another bio like the last one by that hack who didn't offer a single insight into Paul as a musician, as a songwriter, as a singer, as a bass player, or as a man. Not to mention that book's misogynist treatment of Linda. Why does Paul always get these biographers who aren't really interested or passionate about him or his music? That's who Paul is: his music. And yet none of his biographers so far have been well versed enough in music to understand that. The last book bizarrely focused on Paul as a lyricist (something at which we all know he has had good moments and bad) but completely ignored Paul as a bass player, ignored Paul's voice, ignored his genius at melodies and arrangement -- in short, it ignored the thing that makes Paul a genius. Why bother to write a biography of a musician at all if you aren't interested in the musician's music? (The answer, I suppose: Money.) I'm just not convinced Norman will produce a book that addresses any of that. -
Michelley:
femaleanimal:
DanTheFan:
Kathryn O:
BertoneBeatle:
I heard he made nice with Paul when he wrote the Lennon bio.
Did they eventually make nice? I know that Yoko was initially happy with the book and then didn't like the final result. I forgot what Paul said about it. but yeah, in Shout, Norman made a nasty "stupid cow eyes" comment about Paul.
He also basically opens up the book saying he was always a Lennon fan and the other 3 were sidemen, partly because of his bitterness that Paul's MPL people wouldn't let him meet him or something
Norman apparently has softened his view of Paul in recent years. What really made him realise he had been too harsh was discovering that Paul had paid for Neil Aspinall`s cancer treatment. There were plenty of other examples of Paul`s generosity, if only he had bothered to look. I guess Norman has grown up.
Well it's about f--king time.
I don't care how well written Shout was, the book painted a highly inaccurate portrait of the band, and of Paul's role in it. Norman's Lennon bio gave a more evenhanded treatment of Paul, but it didn't shed much light on the Lennon-McCartney bond and partnership, which Norman seems to prefer to see as "all business," despite all evidence to the contrary. Norman may have been the right person to write a Lennon bio but is he the right person to write a Paul bio? Why would someone who is so obviously a Lennon fan even want to write about Paul? Sure, Norman is a Beatles fan. But it would be nice if Paul got a biographer who actually appreciated the best of his solo work, too, -- someone who, for example, understood the glories of Ram, and understood why electronic music fans now appreciate McCartney II. Or will this be yet another bio like the last one by that hack who didn't offer a single insight into Paul as a musician, as a songwriter, as a singer, as a bass player, or as a man. Not to mention that book's misogynist treatment of Linda. Why does Paul always get these biographers who aren't really interested or passionate about him or his music? That's who Paul is: his music. And yet none of his biographers so far have been well versed enough in music to understand that. The last book bizarrely focused on Paul as a lyricist (something at which we all know he has had good moments and bad) but completely ignored Paul as a bass player, ignored Paul's voice, ignored his genius at melodies and arrangement -- in short, it ignored the thing that makes Paul a genius. Why bother to write a biography of a musician at all if you aren't interested in the musician's music? (The answer, I suppose: Money.) I'm just not convinced Norman will produce a book that addresses any of that.
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Michelley:
.Norman's Lennon bio gave a more evenhanded treatment of Paul, but it didn't shed much light on the Lennon-McCartney bond and partnership, which Norman seems to prefer to see as "all business," despite all evidence to the contrary. .
Not all business. Norman had that one quote about John's secret desires....
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Not sure how to take this. If Norman is actually coming around to liking Paul that is all well and good. However, I think Lewisohn or someone like that would write a much better book. How about a book that gives equal weight to the Wings and solo years? Would that be too much to ask?
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This conversation leads me to the repeated question: what book has been written best about Paul??? any recomendation?? especially his solo (40 years) part and music relation with the always angry George Harrison for no obvious reason. a book that is true and give Paul a good balance in his life to the bad things written unfairly by people who seek easy fame and fortune (including Norman) I think Paul should change his song "Norton" to "Norman" and do it live
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Ammar:
This conversation leads me to the repeated question: what book has been written best about Paul??? any recomendation?? especially his solo (40 years) part and music relation with the always angry George Harrison for no obvious reason. a book that is true and give Paul a good balance in his life to the bad things written unfairly by people who seek easy fame and fortune (including Norman) I think Paul should change his song "Norton" to "Norman" and do it live
Many Years from Now by Barry Miles. the best book about Paul, hands down
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an LJ author named PivitalMoments wrote this imaginary chapter heading based on Norman's comments about Paul from Shout and here is what she came up with: MUZAK TO MY EARS: THE LIFE, LIES AND "MUSIC" OF PAUL MCCARTNEY FOREWORD BY JANN WENNER AFTERWORD BY YOKO ONO CHAPTER 1: A COW-EYED STAR IS BORN CHAPTER 2: PAUL'S LUCKY BREAK CHAPTER 3: PAUL'S LIFE STARTS TO MATTER CHAPTER 4: PAUL MEETS THE FIRST LOVE OF JOHN'S LIFE ( Collapse ) CHAPTER 5: PAUL MANIPULATES JOHN INTO ACCEPTING A MEDIOCRE MUSICIAN CHAPTER 6: THE IMPORTANT MOTHER DIES CHAPTER 7: JOHN AND STU GO TO HAMBURG: PAUL TAGS ALONG CHAPTER 8: PAUL FAILS TO "MAKE SHOW" AND MAKE FRIENDS CHAPTER 9: JOHN'S BAND, FOUNDED BY JOHN, PLAYS THE CAVERN CHAPTER 10: BRIAN EPSTEIN DOESN'T FALL IN LOVE WITH PAUL CHAPTER 11: GEORGE MARTIN AND GEOFF EMMERICK DO, FOR SOME REASON CHAPTER 12: PAUL WHORES HIS WAY THROUGH BRITAIN CHAPTER 13: PAUL WHORES HIS WAY THROUGH AMERICA CHAPTER 14: JOHN WRITES BRILLIANT SONGS: PAUL BOOKS STUDIO TIME CHAPTER 15: PAUL WHORES HIS WAY THROUGH LONDON CHAPTER 16: PAUL BOOKS STUDIO TIME CHAPTER 17: PAUL WHORES HIS WAY THROUGH LONDON AND BOOKS STUDIO TIME CHAPTER 18: PAUL PRETENDS TO BE ARTISTIC, LIKE JOHN CHAPTER 19: PAUL HYPNOTIZES JOHN INTO LETTING HIM TAKE CREDIT FOR SGT. PEPPERS CHAPTER 20: MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR: PAUL'S EGO TRIP CHAPTER 21: INDIA BECOMES INFECTED WITH SILLY LOVE SONGS CHAPTER 22: SALIERI MEETS MOZART'S MUSE CHAPTER 23: JANE COMES TO HER SENSES CHAPTER 24: PAUL'S MISOGNY CAUSES TENSION ON THE WHITE ALBUM CHAPTER 25: HELTER SKELTER: ONLY CRAZY PEOPLE LIKE PAUL'S SONGS CHAPTER 26: THE MEDIOCRE MUSICIAN WALKS OUT ON PAUL CHAPTER 27: A COW WITH WINGS CHAPTER 28: PAUL BOOKS STUDIO TIME AT ABBEY ROAD CHAPTER 29: JOHN BREAKS UP JOHN'S BAND WHICH WAS FOUNDED BY JOHN CHAPTER 30: PHIL SPECTOR: ANOTHER VICTIM OF MCCARTNEY'S CHAPTER 31: PAUL SHOWS HIS TRUE COLORS CHAPTER 32: WINGS OVER MEDIOCRITY
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Oh cool another book where Paul's life ends in 1970..
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BertoneBeatle:
Oh cool another book where Paul's life ends in 1970..
Actually Norman has been quoted as saying he's going to write about Paul's full life and his solo work. That's what bothers me. Norman is and always has been a Lennon fanboy who didn't like Paul as an artist or as a person, and who called George Harrison "mediocre" and thought Ringo was best ignored. There is no way Norman understands Paul as a musician or appreciates his music. It's a puzzle why he would even want to write this book. (Other than the money, I suppose.)
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Gawd, I hope not. After the hideous "Shout" book, how can we expect anything objective out of him? I wont be buying it, if true.
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Kathryn O:
BertoneBeatle:
I heard he made nice with Paul when he wrote the Lennon bio.
Did they eventually make nice? I know that Yoko was initially happy with the book and then didn't like the final result. I forgot what Paul said about it. but yeah, in Shout, Norman made a nasty "stupid cow eyes" comment about Paul.
It wasn't just Paul, either. He worships John (and I do love John, just so you know I am not one of the Paul fans who doesn't) but sees Paul, George and Ringo as contributing little.
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Kathryn O:
an LJ author named PivitalMoments wrote this imaginary chapter heading based on Norman's comments about Paul from Shout and here is what she came up with: MUZAK TO MY EARS: THE LIFE, LIES AND "MUSIC" OF PAUL MCCARTNEY FOREWORD BY JANN WENNER AFTERWORD BY YOKO ONO
That is awesome. And not far from the truth of what Shout is. My favorite Paul books: Barry Miles' book The Macs by Mike McCartney Linda's Pictures. Wings Tour USA book. Seriously, there has been ONE good bio of Paul. I have others but they are either superficial, end in 1970 or are just stupid. It is telling that two of my faves are photo books, no? My fave Beatles book, hands down is "The Longest Cocktail Party". It is just so crazy and amusing, even though it chronicles the breakup. The part with the Hells Angels is priceless!
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Need any more reasons why Norman doesn't belong writing a bio of Paul? Consider this piece he wrote on Paul for the Daily Mail some time ago: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-197588/Whats-eating-Macca.html by PHILIP NORMAN, Daily Mail As reports of Paul McCartney's behaviour hits the headlines, one of his greatest admiriers, Beatles' biographer Philip Norman asks why are you doing your best to make millions of your fans despise you? Here, in a letter to the rock veteran, Philip Norman charts the highs and lows of Paul McCartney's popularity. Mod Edit Post edited to conform with Copyright Forum Guidelines and source link added.
