August 4, 2009 12:17

Paul McCartney: 'I'm not retiring'

Former Beatle denies tabloid reports that his next world tour will be his last

Photo Gallery: Paul McCartney
Photo: Pa Photos

Paul McCartney has denied claims that he is set to retire after completing his next world tour.

Tabloid reports last week (July 31) stated that the former Beatle was on the verge of announcing details of what would be his last tour, which would apparently see him call at unusual venues including China's Tiananmen Square and Berlin's Checkpoint Charlie.

However, an interview with the Boston Herald saw McCartney laugh off the reports, even comparing them to the notorious 'Paul is dead' rumours that made headlines in 1969.

"All I can say is that I'm not retiring," he confirmed. "It's like 'Paul is dead'. 'No, I'm not,' is all I could say. I did talk about retirement in one sentence in one story and only to say 'No way, Jose.' But someone must have only read part of that one sentence."

McCartney added that he currently wants to continue playing live for as long as possible.

He said: "As long as people want to come and hear me, I’ll probably be doing this. It's just so easy to start rumours."

The veteran rocker also praised two of the acts supporting him on his current tour – Thievery Corporation and MGMT.

"Tonight [August 1] we're playing Washington and we have Thievery Corporation, this local group, opening up. And MGMT [who open McCartney's two Boston Fenway Park shows on August 5-6], well, I just happen to like them."