A little piece of Beatlemania came to Hollywood when Paul McCartney was honoured with a star on Tinseltown’s storied Walk of Fame, watched by hundreds of screaming and jostling fans. It sits outside the Capital Records building on Vine Street, alongside the other Beatles’ stars. The ceremony got off to a little bit of a late start, prompting fans to chant, “We want Paul.” When McCartney stepped out, it was almost as if it were the 1960s all over again, with women screaming and holding signs.
McCartney paid tribute to the “three boys”-John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr-who helped make him famous. “I couldn’t have done it without them, so I want to thank those guys and bless them for being in my life,” he said. “Way back in history, in Liverpool when we were kids and we were listening to Buddy Holly and all the rock ‘n’ roll greats, I would have never thought the day would come when I’d be getting a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.” McCartney is the last member of the iconic group, Beatles, to receive one.
John Lennon received a star in 1988, nearly eight years after his death. George Harrison’s came in 2009, almost eight years after he died. Starr got the honour in 2010. It was 48 years ago Tuesday the Beatles landed in America. McCartney’s Walk of Fame honor coincides with a busy week for the former Beatle. He released his new album, ‘Kisses on the Bottom’, and will receive the MusiCares Person of the Year honour in Los Angeles.
The 69-year-old singer-songwriter will perform live at the Grammy Awards on Sunday. McCartney’s star, which joins those of his band mates, is the 2,460th on the Walk of Fame, a long stretch of Hollywood Boulevard and adjoining sidewalk which celebrates entertainment stars from over the decades. Fans had gathered for hours for good viewing spots at the ceremony, although many had to strain to see anything as the crowd swelled out across the street for the early-afternoon event.
