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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Entertainment
Dalya Alberge

Live and let fly: the tall tale of Paul McCartney’s 007 theme song is revealed

Paul McCartney sings the theme for the James Bond movie Live and Let Die on US TV in 1972.
Paul McCartney sings the theme for the James Bond movie Live and Let Die on US TV in 1972. Photograph: Bettmann/Bettmann Archive

It had always seemed inconceivable that the James Bond producers wanted to replace Paul McCartney with another singer for Live and Let Die, particularly as his title song for the 1973 Roger Moore classic became a massive hit.

But the story told by Beatles record producer George Martin, and repeated by McCartney, was that the 007 producers thought McCartney’s recording with his band Wings was just a demo and they wanted a female voice.

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