Paul McCartney has spoken to NME.COM about his participation in the surefire future Xmas Number One ‘DO THEY KNOW IT’S CHRISTMAS?’
The former Beatle, Bono, Thom Yorke and Chris Martin were among a host of stars who laid down the historic Band Aid 20 version of ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas?’ last weekend (November 13-14) at George Martin’s Air Studios in London.
NME.COM was there and spoke to Paul McCartney just after he finished recording the bass part. He said that despite tabloid pressure to record vocals for the song, which is released on November 29, he was only asked to provide bass.
He said: “We’re keeping away from the hullabaloo while we try and get a backing track. I play bass on it, that’s really all I was really asked to do and that’s what I fancied doing. It’s kind of nice to do that.
“And then the national, wonderful press got into ‘Why aren’t you singing? Oh he’s too old!’ and did all that shit. I was like ‘Oh, fuck off!’ So I’ve just done what my producer asked me to do, he’s producing it.”
Paul McCartney has been working on his new album with Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich, who also produced the new version of ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas?’.
Playing his Hofner ‘Beatle bass’, Paul McCartney was joined at Air by Radiohead’s Thom Yorke, who plays piano and Supergrass’ Danny Goffey, who plays drums. Also present in the studio were Jonny Greenwood and Fran Healy from Travis, although [a][/a] guitarists Justin and Dan Hawkins waited until Saturday (November 13) to record what Justin called some “very Eighties, twin harmony guitars.”
For more on Band Aid, see this week’s NME, out now.