I'm glad it's your birthday. It's my son's birthday too, yeah. My son was tentatively named Paul the day my wife found out she was pregnant. That night, in 2002, we saw Paul M in concert. Paul C, my son, was born nine months later, on June 18. About 20 minutes later I realized the coincidence from an item in the newspaper. Now Paul C is just 17. You know what I mean? Odd story. Paul C is very musical as well. Happy birthday to both of you!
Posts made by Bill Curry
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RE: Happy Birthday, Paul!
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Reflections on Retirement
I think I've seen each birthday over 50 as a celebration of one step closer to retirement, for richer or for poorer. For us all there comes a time that we can't perform like we used to, present company excepted. Sure, you may be broke, but if you're old enough and live in a civilized country, you should get some assistance. It's great if you can save for it, but that vagaries of life don't always permit that. So at some point, most people retire. At any rate, it's a better perspective than seeing a birthday as a year closer to heaven/hell, oblivion, or wandering the borderline of Newtonian or quantum physics. That's how I see it anyway. So, when I'm 62, and I'm eligible for a smidgen of money from social security, I might at least slow down without feeling bad about it. I've got a bad back and arthritis. So I guess a modest birthday celebration is in order. I'd probably get more than a smidgen if Bernie Sanders became president of the U.S. That's not looking too likely just now but one can always hope. For some, retirement means complete retirement: no more bosses, no more urgent deadlines, no more pretending you'd love to do that which, in the words of Bartleby, you'd prefer not to. Maybe you can afford to live near a ski resort or on a beach. Lucky you. That doesn't sound too bad--cause for big birthday celebrations, perhaps even after the goal is reached. Why not? I probably won't see the day, but not everyone does. At least I'm certainly not worried about God having to thread a camel or Porche Cayenne through the eye of a needle in my case. For those w/ a reasonable expectation of a nice retirement, a birthday is a cause for celebration, assuming you won't be destitute or leaving a job you truly love. The latter I assume would include Paul McCartney, so I hope he can go on making music forever. But that's certainly no reason not to celebrate his 74th. Again, why not?
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RE: Happy 74th Birthday Paul!
Nancy R:
Hate to tell you Bill, but Paul will never read what you wrote. Good story though!
Hi Nancy! It's a smaller world than you think! I could have easily met Paul by playing Apple Scruff at Sea-Saint Studios in '75. My girlfriend, surprisingly, chickened out. Then I became a news reporter and, while still n college, interviewed Michael McCartney, Paul's brother. As a pro, I had a long conversation with Ron Howard, a brief one w Clint Eastwood, "Get outta my way, Punk!" Just kidding. He told me tell everyone in my town to see his next "flick," I stood next to Michael J. Fox, drink in one hand, fox in other, as girls pounded on a glass wall at the end of a hall, threatening to break it down. Shared laughs w Red Skelton. I could go on, but the truth is I care that Paul reads my story. Not so he comes over for a drink, but for his sake. It's so coincidental, there's' almost something metaphysical about it. Actually, I have talked to Paul, as follows: Me: (loudly) She Loves You! Paul: Well, I tell you what, that's an old one, but now we're going to play a new one. Me: Besame Mucho! Finally, I hung around the French Quarter w this guitarist who wanted my guitar for about 10 years. He plays lead guitar on Bob Dylan's Oh, Mercy album. And Bob wrote about the guy, Mason, in Chronicles Vol. I. I still keep up w/him, Mason, that is. Just saw a photo of him and Jimmy Page trying out each other's guitars. I wrote what I wrote for Paul's sake, not mine. It's a very strange but true story. Oh, and guess who I met about 5 years ago? Pete Best. Great guy. And when I was in New York, guess who sat at the next table? Woody Allen. But the guy who writes about old NYC buildings has everybody beat: He and his date were eating dinner when who should the hostess sit next to them--John and Yoko. One last time on the chances of Paul reading my missive. I just read all three volumes of Mark Twain's bio. He didn't want any body to read it until 100 years after his death. I can sum them up, and I should mention I have a PhD in English to help vouch for their veracity. Vol I-Twain reads his mail. Vol II-Twain reads his mail. Vol III-Twain reads his mail. Well, Nancy, do I think you'll read all this? I hope so. But for you, not for me.
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RE: Happy 74th Birthday Paul!
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RE: Happy 74th Birthday Paul!
I haven't posted in years so I'm new again. Had a helluva time gettin in, I'll tell you that. Anyway, Happy Birthday Paul! (A day early). I know it's June 18 'cause of an odd coincidence. My wife found out she was pregnant one morning some 12 years ago. That night we travelled from Lafayette to New Orleans to see your show. It was great, but I missed the most recent one due to computer scalpers. I was privileged to buy a day early and there was nothing under $300. Anyway, after the show 12 years ago (0ne of the first with the post-Linda band), my wife and I returned to the car and she starts going on about baby names. The concert as great, so I thought to nam him after you. I know your first name is James, but your middle and stage name is Paul, so we went w Paul. Then, when he was born I carried him to a crib and wrote Paul Alexander Curry on the paper the nurse gave me. I picked up a newspaper that had a "what happened this day in history" section. I read, "On this day, across the ocean in Liverpool was born Sir Paul McCartney . . . ." Well, I just about fell on the floor. Good timing, huh? And get this--my wife had another kid named Michael, not named after your brother, sorry to say. I have at least two cousin Michaels, one of whom painted the Lady Liberty logo for Sony. He's done much more than that though, covers for Time, Legends of Hollywood stamps, like Marilyn Monroe. But that's not of whom I thought when my wife asked. I thought of a real nice cousin on my father's side, whom I'd met only once or twice. He's no longer with us. He was a lucky man, who made the grade, whose life came to a swift end. And I can't help but wonder whether his significant inheritance played a part. On a happier note, I did meet your brother Mike at Tulane, covering his Liverpool presentation as a reporter for the U of New Orleans Driftwood. Well, Happy Birthday again; I'll be leaving soon to meet my son, who is celebrating his birthday w his grandparents in Baton Rouge, so Goodbye Joe, Me gotta go pole the pirogue down the bayou. Son of a gun, we gonna have big fun. I'm gonna see mah m'chez a mio. You invited too. PM me via email. Mais je suis certain que vous avez quelques autre chose ? fait. But you could consider inviting your namesake next year. Maybe you could teach him the right way to sing Yesterday. It's about the only thing he's done in school where he didn't sparkle. Well, au revoir sha! I'm not Cajun, but stay here long enough and it's rub off on you. I'm told sha is used here instead of cher. Hell, when these people arrived from Nova Scotia, they had their oral language, their religion, and that's it. Well they did have their music, "La Jolie Blonde," etc. Hey, you want to get away from it all, rent a houseboat in the Atchafalaya. Nobody's going to recognize you, Ah gahrauntee.
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RE: Lottery for Tickets to Paul's Shows
In response to my post about the difficulty o getting tickets to Paul's shows, one person suggested being a member of this site, therefore eligible for pre sale tickets. I am and I tried. But she apparently had no qualms about paying $600/ticket. I could have done the same if I had $1,200 for my wife and I to attend, not to mention travel and hotel. But we've seen Paul and Linda. We've seen Paul and his new band in 2002. Both times in N.O., both times at steep but affordable prices. All I want is a CHANCE at an affordable price. MACCA + co may not be able to completely outsmart the scalpers and their ticket bots, but they can TRY. I say bypass ticket master for the affordable seats and have a lottery for loyal fans only--no scalpers, no bots, no gangsters, no mafia. The latter don't even want to see the show, they just want to make money off it. SO FIND A WAY TO GET THE AFFORDABLE SEATS TO LOYAL FANS ONLY! A lot of gangsters won't like that, but **** them! Let'm find somebody else to rip off. Have a test: You want to be in the lottery? Where did John and Paul meet? In what key is All My Lovin' usually played? Where did Paul record Venus an Mars (easy)? What is Paul's brother's name a the name of his group? You get the idea. Some stuff that might not be in Wlkipedia. There must be a way to separate the wheat from the chaff. All I am saying is give wheat a chance!
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Lottery for Tickets to Paul's Shows
My wife and I had no trouble getting tickets to a show in the fall of 2002 in New Orleans.. On the day of the show we found out she was pregnant. So we named the kid Paul. I had no trouble getting tickets to that show. However, when Paul came back to the same venue about 10 years later it was impossible to get any kind of ticket to the show. With the exception of perhaps the most incredibly expensive tickets. Scalpers are at work or at the very least something fishy is going on. My wife and I were not able to go to the show and bring our son Paul, nor his brother Michael. I tried and tried. I just couldn't get tickets. And I was willing to pay a fair amount. I strongly suggest with the presence of scalpers and with the growing popularity of Paul's shows, a lottery be set up for the reasonably priced seats. I would be willing to put down the deposit to be refunded if I did not win the lottery. Please consider this idea because it's all I can think of to get to see another Paul McCartney concert. And I'd like my son to see his namesake. If you can figure out a better way then fine. But I tried every way I could and could not get a ticket to the show a couple of years ago. It was at the Smoothie King center in New Orleans. Possibly consider the Superdome. We saw Paul there with Linda quite a few years ago. It's not an intimate venue. Paul would not hear my call for Besame Mucho and She Loves You (Paul: That's an old one but we'e going to do a new one now). PS--Paul Curry was born on June 18. I dropped the hospital newspaper when I read that Sir Paul and my Paul were born on that same date. Please consider a lottery so the next show's audience is more than millionaires and industry people. Thank you.
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RE: PAUL AND NANCY ARE MARRIED!
And hello to Michael, Paul's brother and best man, whom I met in 1985 when he brought his Liverpool talk to Tulane University in New Orleans. I certainly wish the best to Paul and Nancy. I'm tempted to quote from Browning's Rabbi ben Ezra, bittersweet since 1980, but what the heck: Grow old along with me! The best is yet to be. . . . So long, Paul, Nancy, Michael. Best of luck to all of you. Bill Curry Lafayette, LA (formerly of New Orleans) PS--Paul, c'mon back to New Orleans . That last one was great. So was the one with Linda. You could have Thadeus play sax if he's still around. I'm sure the audience would appreciate "This is my Mardi Gras; It's a Lovely Day," even though it wasn't released. C'mon now, listen to what the man's says! Oh, and don't forget Besame Mucho this time.