Fans send birthday wishes as Sir Paul McCartney turns 79 today Brighton News

One Twitter user wrote: “Happy birthday to the man I still listen to almost every day” while others have described him as their “greatest musical inspiration”.

Happy 79th birthday to my greatest inspiration @Paul Mccartney!! ❤️🌱 pic.twitter.com/uuoGeDmBb0

– Cam dusting (@camdustoevsking) June 18, 2021

Sir Paul, who lives on a farm in Peasmarsh, near Rye, was born on June 18, 1942 in Liverpool.

At the age of 15, the self-taught musician met John Lennon and his skiffle band The Quarrymen at the Woolton Village Fete in 1957, and soon after he was invited to join the group, originally as rhythm guitarist.

Paul McCartney, John Lennon, Ringo Starr and George Harrison

George Harrison joined the band in 1958 as lead guitarist and Paul became bassist in 1961 when the band adopted the Beatles name.

Ringo Starr joined the band in 1962, replacing drummer Pete Best – and that’s how the Fab Four started.

By the time the Beatles signed with EMI-Parlophone in 1962, they were writing most of their own material, and Lennon and McCartney had established themselves as songwriters for the group.

How the hell does this man have 79 ?!#HappyBirthdayPaulMcCartney pic.twitter.com/H2R4UG3jLl

– Brackets🌳🥦🥪🎲 Paul’s day (@ RealSubjectA12) June 18, 2021

Paul, a multi-instrumentalist who also played drums on some Beatles tracks, became known for his extraordinary gift for melodies and his melodic approach to playing the bass.

As of this year, Sir Paul has been ranked as the richest rock star in the world, with a net worth of $ 1.2 billion.

Sir Paul McCartney is 79 years old today

He was due to embark on a series of European concerts last year, including a Saturday night at the Pyramid Stage of the Glastonbury Festival.

Instead, Sir Paul went through confinement at his East Sussex farm with his daughter Mary and four grandchildren, recording the solo album McCartney III, released in December.

Last year, Paul also revealed that he regularly speaks to his late Beatles mate, George Harrison, through a tree at the entrance to his home in Peasmarsh.

He told US broadcaster NPR that the tree was given to him by George shortly before his death in 2001 and his spirit lives in it now.

He said: “George was very interested in horticulture, he was a very good gardener.

“He gave me the tree as a gift. It’s a big tree and it’s next to my door.

“As I was leaving my house, I got out of the car, closed the gate and looked up at the tree and said, ‘Hi, George’.

“There he is, growing. It takes me back to when I was hitchhiking with him. George and John Lennon still have a ubiquitous presence.