"I now realize that taking drugs was like taking an aspirin without having a headache. "

Paul McCartney is an English singer, songwriter and bass player, best-known for his work with The Beatles. He has been listed in The Guinness Book of Records as the most successful composer of all time.

McCartney was given a trumpet by his father that he swapped at "Rushworth and Dreampers" (a large instrument supplier) for an acoustic guitar, which he still owns. His mother died when he was only 14, which created a bond between him and John Lennon, whose mother died when he was 17; the two used one another's music to deal with this grief.

The Beatles began to form after Lennon and McCartney met in 1957. Soon McCartney's schoolmate, George Harrison, joined as another guitarist, and then Suart Sutcliffe on the bass. Later, Pete Best joined on the drums. This group formed the original band. McCartney took on the bass later in the 1960s. Ringo Starr replaced Best in 1962 to create the final band.

McCartney has a record of 29 U.S. #1 singles, twenty of them with The Beatles. He has written over fifty top ten hits, which is more than any other songwriter. The music of The Beatles includes Can't Buy My Love, Yesterday, Hello Goodbye, Penny Lane, Hey Jude, and Let It Be. Lennon and McCartney wrote many of the best known songs in rock music.

McCartney is one of the most influential and creative bassists of his time, bringing the electric bass to the front of the stage. He was the first Beatle to record a score -- for the film The Family Way in 1966. The soundtrack was released as an album, and won a Ivor Novello Award for Best Instrumental Theme.

He met photographer Linda Eastman in 1967 at a launch party for the Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album. The couple began an affair despite McCartney's five year relationship with Jane Asher. On Christmas of the same year, Asher accepted McCartney's marriage proposal However, their engagement ended in 1968. McCartney and Eastman married soon after. He adopted Linda's daughter, Heather, and they had three more children together: Mary Anna, Stella Nina, and James Louis. The couple stayed together until Linda died of breast cancer in 1998.

In 1969 The Beatles began falling apart. The creative force of the band was killed by the constant bickering and jealousy. During this time the band was more popular than ever. At that time there was an urban legend that McCartney had died and was replaced by William Campbell or Billy Shears. John Lennon was the first to leave the band; McCartney announced the band's split on April 10, 1970, which was only a week before the release of his solo album, McCartney.

McCartney then started the band Wings, which became one of the most successful bands of the 1970s. In 1973 Wings recorded the James Bond theme "Live and Let Die," and the acclaimed album Band on the Run. They released one of the best-selling British singles of all time, "Mull of Kintyre" in 1977. During this time McCartney also worked in classical music and ambient electronics. His works during this time included Liverpool Oratorio; he worked under the pseudonym The Fireman.

In August 2005 it was announced that McCartney was the new spokesperson for Fidelity Investments with a campaign called "This Is Paul." The company supported his 2005 US tour. In September 2005 he released Chaos and Creation in the Backyard. McCartey did almost all of the albums instruments himself, including drums, guitar, bass, keyboards, block flute, and harmonium. The album was nominated for three Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year.

He wrote the children's book, High in the Clouds: An Urban Furry Trail, about a frog and squirrel who save the lives of other animals.

McCartney and his wife Heather announced their separation in May 2006. McCartney filed for divorce in July 2006, and McCartney blamed his wife, saying her behavior was unreasonable and argumentative.

McCartney enjoys painting; his artistic talent, as well of his work has remained private until recently. He is a strong advocate for animal rights, vegetarianism and music education. In June 2006, McCartney celebrated his sixty-fourth birthday, which brought full circle his song, When I'm Sixty-Four.