McCartney, Music & Homeopathy
“I can’t manage without homeopathy. In fact, I never go anywhere without homeopathic remedies”
This quote from Paul McCartney on my homepage is significant for several reasons. Before I began my homeopathic journey I worked in different independent record shops from the age of 15 for 20 odd years, and also played music during that time. The music of the Beatles has been a lifelong passion. Like millions of other people, due mainly to my father’s influence, I grew up with their music as a personal soundtrack to my life. I was born between the release of my two favourite Beatles albums: Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band and The White Album, which came 4 days after my birth.
Fast forward almost 40 years and on 19th July 2007 I met Paul McCartney. I had cycled to Lords Cricket Ground to watch the opening day of the Test Match between England and India. It was quite a long ride to St Johns Wood from South London and I was looking for a good spot to lock my bike up for the day. I was pushing my bike round the side of the ground when I spotted a suitable lamp-post on Cavendish Avenue and headed towards it. All of a sudden, heading straight toward me walked Paul McCartney in a light linen summer suit (not a Sir yet). He looked like he was on his way somewhere with a newspaper tucked under his arm. Abbey Road recording studios was nearby so he may have been on his way to lay down more timeless pop classics.
I had met famous people during my record shop days but this was somebody who had had an enormous impact on my life - and millions of other people too. I had rued missing the opportunity to speak with Robert Plant, singer with Led Zeppelin, another hero 20 years earlier and was determined not to let the opportunity pass me by. So as he came closer to me I called out -
Me Hi Paul
PM Err.. alright mate?
Me I’m such a big fan of yours. I didn’t expect to see you here today, I just came to watch the cricket
PM Oh did you? Oh ok (looking from side to side slightly nervously)
Me Um… do you think you’ll be listening to it at all today? (Desperate to keep him engaged in the conversation but jabbering in an overwhelmed, “I’m talking with Paul McCartney” kind of way.
PM Well, I’m not really sure
Me Oh Ok
PM See you (giving me the Macca thumbs-up on one hand)
Me Bye Paul
I went through the highs and lows waiting for my mate Nick to arrive and the game to start - hysterical laughter and tears came flooding out as I realised what had happened. Kevin Pietersen went on to score a century that day, but my mind was on Macca.
Dizzy Gillespie’s quote is also significant but in a different way. 2020 post-lockdown has become a year of Jazz immersion and obsession after previously finding a lot of it, frankly, unlistenable. It became the soundtrack accompaniment to hours spent drawing and filling up sketchbooks. I also did a series of Jazz musician portraits and found the music complemented the process. The quotes help unite two of my passions - music and homeopathy.
