Coronet Books Fly Away Paul How Paul McCartney survived the Beatles and found his Wings.

by Lesley-Ann Jones

'No other book has come close to capturing so well what Paul McCartney is about, nor described so vividly his mental breakdown when the Beatles separated, nor his need for Linda to nurse him back to good health...the book is packed with trivia, not for the sake of it but because it throws light onto the way Paul developed. And it's fascinating; every word of it. It's an extraordinarily brilliant book.' SIMON NAPIER-BELL'The most brilliant journalism ... Captivating.' STEVE HARLEY, COCKNEY REBEL'...another amazing book. Your meticulous research is second to none.' JOHNNIE WALKERThe first definitive account of Paul McCartney's time in Wings, publishing on the fiftieth anniversary of the bestselling album Band on the RunNo comprehensive biography of the time Paul McCartney spent with Wings has ever been published. A period often dismissed as McCartney's 'missing' years, in fact the band lasted for a two years longer than the Beatles, and wielded such impact and influence that they at one point achieved the status as the biggest live band in the world. Band on the Run sold over 6 million copies worldwide and became EMI's biggest selling album of the 1970s in the UK.Music biographer Lesley-Ann Jones has met McCartney many times and knew his late wife Linda. Here she shows how crucial Linda was to the evolution of Wings - at great cost to herself given the ridicule she was to encounter. But Linda saw that McCartney needed the band in the wake of the break up of the Beatles.Drawing on extensive interviews and her trademark meticulous research, the author shows how this period in Paul McCartney's career was to become crucial not only to his development as an artist, but to his very survival.

Genres: Biography, Music, Nonfiction

352 pages, Hardcover

Published October 19, 2023

About the author

Lesley-Ann Jones is a British biographer, novelist, broadcaster and keynote speaker.
She honed her craft on Fleet Street, where she worked as a newspaper columnist and feature writer for more than twenty years. She has also worked extensively in radio and television, appears regularly in music documentaries in the UK, USA and Australia, and is the writer and co-producer of ‘The Last Lennon Interview’, a film about the final encounter, in New York, between the former Beatle and BBC Radio One presenter Andy Peebles.

Her debut memoir ‘Tumbling Dice’ is out now.
NB: the cover of TUMBLING DICE displayed here is NOT the current, correct one, but is of an edition that was never published! It appears to be impossible to change it! The ISBN for the CORRECT, CURRENT VERSION is 978109175

First serialisation rights for TUMBLING DICE were acquired by the Mail on Sunday UK, published across four pages on 7th April 2019. Second serial went to The Times, UK, featured as a double-page spread on 10th April.

The author’s interview with US ABC Radio network is syndicated to 2,000 stations across the United States. She has discussed the book on most BBC local stations, including BBC York, Northampton, Guernsey, Cornwall, Solent, Hereford & Worcester, Derby and Oxford. Live radio exposure continues over the coming weeks, with BBC Radio London’s Robert Elms Show, Wandsworth Radio, Express FM’s The Soft Rock Show, K107FM Scotland, Wycombe Sound, Camglen Radio (Scotland), the Sticks Radio Show & podcast, BBC Radio Kent, Radio Caroline, Talk Radio’s The Paul Ross Show and Talk Radio Europe’s Bill Padley Show.
Lesley-Ann Jones’s agents are currently negotiating with two independent production majors on a screen adaptation of TUMBLING DICE.

Other recent works include ‘Hero: David Bowie’, ‘Imagine’, and ‘Ride a White Swan: The Lives and Death of Marc Bolan’. Her globally-acclaimed definitive biography of Queen frontman Freddie Mercury, re-issued in 2019 as ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’, is a Sunday Times Top Ten Bestseller. The book accompanies the band’s long-awaited eponymous feature film, the highest-grossing music biopic of all time.

The author is currently working on two further titles, for publication in 2020.

She is a mother of three, and lives in London.

Reviews

[Mark · Rating 2 out of 5]

Seemingly assembled from internet searches and judicious cutting and pasting, this biography lacks genuine insight into and analysis of Paul’s post-Beatle music. Like her woeful Marc Bolan biography, we learn nothing we didn’t already know.

[Paul Carter · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is nothing more than a cuts job, a complete waste of time.

[Barry Howling · Rating 1 out of 5]

As a big McCartney fan I was looking forward to reading this book but I really didn’t enjoy it. First the good stuff, it’s very positive about Linda which is good as real fans will see her as a superstar. But it’s passive negativity about yoko and others is a shame. But I had two main problems either the books. Firstly I felt there was a lot of conjecture about what people may of been feeling that didn’t align with that I’d heard from reading other books. And secondly, and most importantly there was so little about the music.albums were mentioned and the author outlined her favourite songs but I came away thinking this was a book about Paul as you would have read in tabloid newspapers over the years if you focus on the positive stuff; and not a book about Paul as a musician. And I’ve realised I’m much more interested in the music - hence my low rating. Others interested in the man may enjoy it more.

[Maria · Rating 1 out of 5]

If you want to read about Paul McCartney don’t read this. If you want Lesley-Ann Jones opinions, speculations and amateur psychoanalysis then waste your time on this.
I had previously read Jones’ book on Freddie Mercury and it was equally terrible.
I only read it because it was a gift from someone special.

[Trish · Rating 3 out of 5]

Patchy. Much of interest here, especially the author’s personal reminiscences of Linda. Too many tangents and lists. Odd selection of photos too.

[John Hardy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Paul McCartney is such a superstar it's difficult for anyone around him to be anything but a sycophant. It's his way or the highway is the strong impression I got. That's on the professional level, but on a personal level, it seems that he became a more likeable person, a loving father, after his marriage to Linda.
This book rambles on with a lot of detail about people, places and times. It gets boring at times, and I often wasn't sure who was talking. Personally I was never that interested in the band Wings, although undoubtedly I have heard some of their great hits.
I learned a few things I didn't know, but there's not much that I want to, or will, remember.
There's a small and random collection of photos.

[Anders Gustafsson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit different. I was occasionally miffed by the psychoanalysing of people, but overall, I found it a pleasant and informative read. I did learn some things I did not know already so I would recommend it to people interested in not just Paul, but also John, because, as the author of the book explains: You cannot write a book about Paul McCartney without mentioning John Lennon.

[Simon Sweetman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Comprehensive bio of Paul’s years with his best band.

[Jonathan Percival · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting insight into Paul's life. The timeline at the end of the book really highlights the enormous highs and lows he's experienced.

[Annie Booker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok I was a John girl always but this book just might have made me a John *and* Paul girl. Brilliantly written and eminently readable.

[Terry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting look beyond The Beatles and how McCartney has become such a stayer and a complete legend. It's not been easy, but it it was everyone could do it!

[Ruby · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is always such a treat to read anything written by Lesley-Ann Jones. Her writing is clear, and her tone is so individual to her that I have yet to come across anybody who writes in a similar way. Reading her books feels like a podcast, a casual chat between me and her - a chat amongst friends, almost.

'Fly Away Paul' is a comprehensive biography of Macca and Mrs Macca's time in Wings, a band that has been shamed under The Beatles umbrella but which lasted two years longer than the band which changed music and music history forever.

I read her John Lennon book when it was released. I read it twice through before I could formulate an opinion on it. With her latest, focusing on John's counterpart, Paul, I did no such thing. This book was a little 'factier', but I enjoyed it no less.

With the skill of a true rock 'n' roll insider, Jones peels back the layers of Paul's life and career in Wings, revealing the heart and soul of a legendary musician. Her deep and intimate understanding of the subject matter shines through every page, offering readers a rare glimpse into the enigmatic world of Paul and his incredible journey post-Beatles.

From the very first chapter, you're gripped by the raw and emotional storytelling, as if you're right there with Paul, living every high and low, every riff, and every backstage shenanigan. Jones has an uncanny ability to bring the characters to life, making you feel like you're sipping whiskey with Paul himself as he regales you with stories of life on the road, studio sessions, and the ups and downs of fame.

LAJ knew Linda McCartney, having once worked on a vegetarian cookbook with her (it was never released). She does not judge Linda as some Macca books have in the past, and instead she writes fondly of her. There are subtle (and not so subtle!) Beatles references, and the photos included are just gorgeous.

In a world filled with a clutter of rock biographies, 'Fly Away Paul' stands out as a shining example of what the genre can be. It's a tour de force of storytelling, a vivid exploration of a rock legend's life, and a passionate tribute to a musician who touches the hearts of millions. Lesley-Ann Jones' 'Fly Away Paul' is a must-read for anyone who wants to experience the magic of rock 'n' roll in its purest, most unfiltered form, and with a love of Wings. It's a love letter to the music that moves us, and it's a triumph in the world of rock literature. Get ready to fly high with Paul, Linda, `Denny 1 & 2, Henry, and the revolving door lineup of Wings and experience the adventure of a lifetime.