Paul McCartney has opened up about reconnecting with John Lennon before his death in 1980.
The Beatles singer revealed that he was happy to have reunited with the late musician, and admitted that it would have “been a heartache” had they not done so.
McCartney reflected on his relationship with his late band member when he appeared on BBC Radio 2’s John Lennon at 80 event.
Speaking to the show’s host Sean Lennon – John and Yoko Ono’s son – he said: “I always say to people, one of the great things for me was that after all The Beatles rubbish and all the arguing and the business, you know, business differences really – even after all of that, I’m so happy I got it back together with your dad.”
He continued: “It really, really would have been a heartache to me if we hadn’t reunited. It was so lovely too that we did and it really gives me strength to know that.”
The feud between Lennon and McCartney was public knowledge, with the two voicing their dislike for each other at various moments throughout their careers, particularly after The Beatles split in 1970.
In a 1971 interview, Lennon claimed he could not see himself working with McCartney ever again. Following the release of McCartney’s album Ram in May that same year, the singer admitted that many of the lyrics in the song “Too Many People” were intended as digs at Lennon.
Speaking on BBC Radio 2, McCartney spoke fondly about his working relationship with his late friend. “Boy, we complemented each other. It was a bit of yin and yang,” he said. “They say with marriages opposites attract and I think we weren’t madly opposite but I had some stuff he didn’t have, and he had some stuff I didn’t have.
“When you put them together it made something extra, which I think was this.”
John Lennon at 80 will air from 9 –10.00 pm, 3 and 4 October on BBC Radio 2 and BBC Sounds.
