Paul McCartney Disliked 1 Beatles Book So Bad He Set It On Fire

Paul McCartney, a music legend adored by millions, has inspired countless biographies and tell-alls about his life and time with the Beatles. But not all accounts sit well with the star. One particular book by a trusted confidante of the band struck a particularly sour note.

This book, titled The Love You Make by Peter Brown and Steven Gaines, documented the Beatles’ journey from their early days to the aftermath of John Lennon’s death.

Despite the seemingly familiar territory, the book’s content apparently left McCartney so incensed, he resorted to a fiery response.

A betrayal in ink

Macca wasn’t happy with this particular biography about The Beatles. In 1983, The Love You Make arrived on shelves. The book promised an insider’s look, drawing on Brown’s experience as the band’s confidante and interviews with the Beatles and their associates.

While many cooperated with the project, the final product left a bitter taste in McCartney’s mouth. The book delved into controversial territory, including allegations of a sexual relationship between John Lennon and manager Brian Epstein.

It also made claims about McCartney having an illegitimate son. These sensational details, among others, painted a picture that clearly upset McCartney.

The author was defiant and stood by his revelations

The fallout from The Love You Make was swift and dramatic. According to Howard Sounes’ biography Fab: An Intimate Life of Paul McCartney, McCartney’s anger burned so hot he didn’t even confront Brown directly.  Instead, he and his wife Linda took a drastic step.

They staged a symbolic burning of their copy of the book, with Linda capturing the fiery scene in a photograph. Brown, however, remained defiant. He denied any malicious intent behind the book’s content.  

In a 2024 interview with The New York Times, he dismissed accusations of betrayal, insisting the book was truthful. He went on to question McCartney’s memory, suggesting the star has a tendency to embellish and reframe events to suit his own narrative.

A collaboration that turned sour

The story of McCartney and The Love You Make is one of a collaborative effort gone awry.  Brown embarked on the project with the cooperation of all the band members. While Brown describes their overall enthusiasm as lukewarm, Paul initially stood out for his willingness to participate.

Brown recounted how each Beatle agreed to interviews, and McCartney, in particular, proved to be quite forthcoming during the initial sessions. These interviews even became unexpectedly lengthy.

Brown, with guests arriving for dinner that evening, found himself caught between his culinary obligations and McCartney’s seemingly endless anecdotes. Little did Brown know, this initial cooperation would soon give way to outrage, as the published content would deeply offend McCartney.

Transparency through his own words

In contrast to his fiery reaction to The Love You Make, McCartney has taken a more open approach in recent years. His own book, The Lyrics, published in 2021, offered a detailed look at his life and music. While he admits to being somewhat guarded about certain information, his overall aim was transparency.

“I hope that what I’ve written will show people something about my songs and my life that they haven’t seen before,” he shared with Rolling Stone. His goal was to shed light on his creative process and the personal meaning behind his music, hoping it would resonate with readers as well.

This openness stands in stark contrast to his outrage over Brown’s book. While McCartney has generally been forthcoming about his time with The Beatles, the content of The Love You Make proved to be a clear exception.