Paul McCartney

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As half of the singing and songwriting core of The Beatles, Sir Paul McCartney stands amongst the most influential figures in 20th century music. With John Lennon, guitarist George Harrison and drummer Ringo Starr, the Beatles changed the face of popular music forever.

Nearly all Beatles songs were co-credited to Lennon-McCartney, but McCartney was solely responsible for many of their best songs. His song "Yesterday" is thought to be the most covered pop song ever, and was estimated to have been performed over seven million times in the 20th Century. He was also the primary writer of "Lady Madonna", "Hey Jude", "Let It Be", "Good Day Sunshine" and "Helter Skelter", among many others. After his success with the Beatles, McCartney went on to enjoy a massively successful solo career.

His first solo album McCartney, was released in 1970, just two weeks before the final Beatles album Let It Be was released. He then formed a rock band that included his new wife Linda, called Wings. Wings had several line-up changes and didn't get off to a good start, but worldwide touring ensured that by the mid-70s they were selling millions of every record they released. Wings are best known for the theme tune to the James Bond film Live and Let Die, which they released in 1973, and for the soft rock ballad "Mull of Kintyre", which became the biggest-selling British single of all time in 1977.

Wings broke up shortly after the assassination of John Lennon, as McCartney was reluctant to continue touring, but he continued to enjoy solo success in the 80s. In 1982 he duetted with Stevie Wonder on the international smash hit "Ebony & Ivory", before two duets with Michael Jackson. In the 90s he moved into classical music, and helped finish two Lennon demos, "Free as a Bird" and "Real Love", for the first 'new' Beatles music in 25 years. He has continued to record and release new music, and tour as a solo artist, to massive commercial success. He is frequently presented with awards (including an MBE in 1965 and a Knighthood in 1997), and the Guinness Book Of Records now lists him as the most successful musician and composer in popular music history.

In 1998, his first wife Linda (Eastman) died of breast cancer. He married Heather Mills in 2002, but they announced their divorce in 2006. McCartney had four children with Linda (one adopted), and one with Heather.

There is, however, an infamous conspiracy theory that Paul McCartney actually died in 1966, and was replaced by a look-and-sound-alike. The rumour was started by a phone-call to a radio station in Detroit in 1969, and since then conspirators have added up over 300 'clues' from lyrics, album covers, and messages they say exist when records are played backwards. Despite the claims, McCartney continues to insist that he is very much alive.