Paul McCartney collected his 17th Grammy award this past Sunday for his 2012 album Kisses on the Bottom and in case you’re wondering, he still isn’t bored of the gold-plated trophies.
“You don’t get tired [of winning],” Sir Paul told the New York Times this morning. “It’s very nice. And the Grammys have become more and more important, media-wise. It’s a bigger, better show. When you look at all the people in the musical field who are up for them, it’s gratifying to think that you’ve picked one up.”
But the former Beatle wasn’t at the February 10 ceremony to personally accept his statue — he was busy presenting an award at this year’s BAFTAs, which he believes may have actually helped him clinch the Best Traditional Pop Vocal win. “[My wife Nancy Shevell and I] started to get a theory that when you don’t go, that’s when you win,” McCartney said. “We went a couple of times and sort of sat there, and graciously accepted defeat. With that moment you look for at the Oscars or the Grammys, when the cameras go to the people who didn’t win, and they’re smiling wonderfully and applauding. ‘And the winner is — John Mayer!’ And you go, ‘Oh, wonderful. How wonderful. What a good singer.’ Secretly you’re thinking, ‘He’s not as good as me though.’ It’s a very human moment.” John Mayer, you say…
The Saturday Night Live all-star also offered a few scant details on his next album — he’s already written the songs and is working with a number of producers, including Giles Martin, son to legendary producer and Beatle collaborator George Martin — and talked a bit about “Cut Me Some Slack,” his recent afternoon jam with the surviving members of Nirvana.
“I was in L.A., so I went over with my wife and two of my daughters and they just hung, the gals, while me and Dave [Grohl] went over to the studio, feeling like two little teenagers escaping,” McCartney said, after explaining that Dave Grohl simply called him on the phone and pitched the idea. “What was so lovely about it was that it really was just, ‘Hey, do you want to have a jam?’ It was totally organic. It was like an improv afternoon.” Sure, just a casual afternoon jam session between the guy who wrote “Yesterday” and the rhythm section that helped ’91 become the Year Punk Broke. No biggie.
A couple of other insights gleaned from this Q&A: McCartney calls Grohl, Krist Novoselic, and Pat Smear “the Nirvana boys” (adorable), and even though he’s one of the most influential pop stars to ever live, Sir Paul is not that good at Rock Band. “My grandkids always beat me at Rock Band,” he admits. “And I say, ‘Listen, you may beat me at Rock Band, but I made the original records, so shut up.”
As previously reported, “Cut Me Some Slack” will appear on the Sound City Players’ upcoming LP, Sound City — Real to Reel, which is one of 50 Albums You Gotta Hear in 2013.
