On 9 December 1980, Paul McCartney emerged from a recording studio in London to an awaiting press scrum. He’d been there all day while the rest of the world was coming to terms with the news that John Lennon, his erstwhile Beatles bandmate, had been murdered in New York the night before. Lennon was 40 years old. When McCartney stepped out, he was chewing gum. The press swarmed, microphones extended, wanting to know how he felt.
“Er, very shocked, you know. It’s terrible news,” the singer offered.
