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Paul McCartney says he likes wearing masks because he can ‘go anywhere and do anything’

Former Beatle adds that despite anonymity masks give him, he certainly isn't happy about 'this most frightening year of our lives’

Rachel Brodsky
Los Angeles
Thursday 17 December 2020 16:51 EST
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Paul McCartney talks to Howard Stern about John Lennon

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Protective masks have been one of the most polarising topics of 2020, but Sir Paul McCartney really likes his.

The former Beatle, who just released a new album, McCartney III, said that he liked wearing masks because he could 'go anywhere and do anything' without people recognising him.

Speaking to SiriusXM shock jock Howard Stern, McCartney said, "We love the mask. I walked into work today wearing a mask, you know, looking at everyone. Looking them right in the eye. 'Hello, you don't know who this is. Do you know who I think I am?'"

McCartney added that despite the anonymity masks give him, he certainly isn't happy about "this most frightening year of our lives".

"Even though it's been probably the most frightening year of our lives … because cause you know, when there were other big crises like AIDS, the bird flu or Sars or whatever, they tended to happen to other people, but this thing's happening to us, no matter who you are or what you've been doing," the performer said.

Read More: Paul McCartney’s 20 best post-Beatles songs, from ‘Live and Let Die’ to ‘Band on the Run’

“I think we've got to kind of take some lessons from it, like, it's quite good to slow down, it's very good to be with your family, have time for people instead of just rushing around, and to me that was the silver lining.

"It's not over, but it's something that's brought a lot of people together, so I hope that we've learned something from it."

McCartney's comment comes shortly after he spoke about turning to former bandmate John Lennon to advice when writing new material, calling the late singer "the best collaborator in the world".

"We collaborated for so long, I think, 'OK, what would he think of this? What would he say now?,'" McCartney elaborated. "We'd both agree that this new song I'm talking about is going nowhere."

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