Is it just me that finds this odd? (Probably)
(Sir) Paul McCartney will be signing copies if his new children’s book at Waterstones in Piccadilly, London in early September.
Why?
Why would he want to spend time doing this?
I don’t get it. Your speculation is required to help me understand. Please!
http://www.superdeluxeedition.com/event/meet-paul-mccartney-at-waterstones/
Because he feels like it?
See also Dylan and Springsteen.
He wants, indeed needs, to be loved.
That was my ‘take away’ from it. I can’t think of another good reason for him to do it. How odd.
Massive worldwide publicity for the book. There will be TV crews there.
I forgot to get up at 4am to try and get a ticket …
With no publicity “push” at all, the book might possibly have flopped. He’s a very well-known person and that, but even members of the Royal Family have written children’s books with mixed results.
I’m sure his publisher will be absolutely delighted. Extra copies will be sold on the strength of this.
If it’s any good, copies will continue to sell over a decent period of time. If it’s not, then at least some early copies will have been sold.
Re: “even members of the Royal Family have written children’s books with mixed results.”
Indeed so. Who could forget “Budgie the Little Helicopter” by H.R.H. the Duchess of York?
Bah – we “Hector The Helicopter” fans saw straight through that one.
I find it odd that you find it odd, to be honest. He’s spent his entire life making product and then promoting it to get the biggest audience he can. It’s what he does. And, as Barry Norman didn’t say, why not?
I vaguely recall that he was due to sign copies of his book of paintings at the same shop about 20 years ago, but it was called off because it was thought the size of the crowds would cause too much disruption. Given that they have hosted signings by figures as significant as Bill Clinton that says something about McCartney’s ongoing celebrity.
Dagnabbit. Wish I’d known about this earlier (so that I could have joined in with constantly refreshing my browser before ultimately being disappointed!). I collect autographs and had a modestly sized ‘dream’ list, which I have just about completed with the Laurel and Hardy autographs I got last week. Only Michael Ripper is left on my list (apart from a few James Bond signed trading cards I can’t afford) – I told you it was modest!
I bought a signed Ringo book not long ago and settled for having one Beatle. Actually, a signed George book came available for a price a little outside my affordability earlier this year, but then I was unexpectedly given some ‘early inheritance’ money a few months later, but sadly too late for the George book (although even them I would have had to put up a very strong argument as to why the book was a priority over paying off the credit card debt!). A Lennon autograph would only be affordable with a lottery win or if I manage to pull off faking my own death. But the chance to get a signed copy of Paul’s book would be an unexpected bonus!
I love the story about how an interviewer asked Ringo to sign a copy of the White Album which already had Paul’s signature on it. Ringo obliged, saying “you’ll have trouble getting the other two y’know…”
I had a ticket to meet Bruce Springsteen and get a signed copy of his book in Toronto. But I couldn’t go! Did meet all of Wilco and got a signed book from them (I also have a signed Ringo book somewhere, didn’t meet him though).
As discussed on the fab Nothing Is Real podcast a few eps ago, McCartney’s fatal flaw is that he wants to be all things to all people. The discussion on the podcast was about how in Wings he wanted to be “one of the guys in the band” at the same time as having everyone do things his way because – well, because the world is round.
Fatal?
@dai – hmmm, well he’s not dead yet. But I think the expression “fatal flaw” means the flaw that kills off something, in this case his ambition to be loved by everyone. Does that make sense?
Not really, how has this perceived flaw proved to be “fatal”? He’s done whatever he wants to do since The Beatles, made some brilliant music, some not so brilliant music, still fills stadiums and is in great shape for a man of 77. And he’s a billionaire.