Speaking to Music Week, Sting was asked for his thoughts on McCartney previously saying he wishes he’d written his 1993 single ‘Fields Of Gold’.
In conversation with Pulp’s Jarvis Cocker at The Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts in 2018, McCartney said: “There’s always a couple that I hear that I think I’d have liked (to have written). I liked Sting’s ‘Fields Of Gold’, and I thought, ‘Y’know what, I should have written that.’” (Farout)
In response, Sting has now said: “I can’t tell you how many songs of Paul McCartney’s I wish I’d written. So that was a lovely thing for Paul to say. But again, he’s one of those people who inspired me to become a songwriter. He’s from Liverpool, a working class guy who conquered the world with his songs, so he gave a whole generation of people behind him the permission to attempt to do the same. And we did.”
In the same conversation, Sting also gave his seal of approval to fellow North East musician Sam Fender, who is set to play two sold-out dates at Newcastle’s St. James’ Park stadium this summer. “Oh, I know all about Sam Fender, I think he’s wonderful,” he commented. “He’s the real thing. The songs are fabulous. The playing is great. The singing is great. I’m a big fan of Sam and he’s a nice guy – and a Geordie!”
Brian Ray, McCartney guitarist, opens of what Paul is really like to work with and more
When guitarist joined Paul McCartney's live band in 2002, he would never have thought he'd be in a band with McCartney longer than The Beatles were together.
"Paul never rolls his eyes while we're playing 'Hey Jude' again, a song he has performed at least 2,000 times" Ray says. "He never once has made one remark or one bored face. So in turn we're inspired and we're excited as well."
Gene Simmons and Rick Rubin: 'Sir Paul McCartney is the best of all bass players'
Kiss singer and bassist Gene Simmons said in an interview with Dean Delray that he thinks Paul McCartney is an underrated bassist.
Simmons was keen to explain why he thinks many people don't notice how influential and extraordinary the former Beatles member's bass playing is.
Explaining his style Gene Simmons compared his playing to that of Paul McCartney: "I think the approach was much more than a string quartet, where there are melodies, the violin and the cello.
The bass also plays melodies, while the others play their own melodies. McCartney was the king of it all. "
In the interview Simmons went on to say, “To begin with, he didn't approach bass like a bassist. He understood what chords were and if you understand chords and melody, then your approach to bass is definitely different. Because, I don't know, it's like having an X-ray vision. In fact, McCartney is really underrated. If you like "Taxman" and if you liked his solo, that's McCartney. He's a killer. "
