SIR Paul McCartney has finally completed the third in a trilogy of solo albums – 50 years after he started the project and 40 years since the second instalment.
The former Beatle released his debut solo record McCartney in 1970, then McCartney II in 1980 — and I can reveal he will formally announce McCartney III on Thursday.
He has been working on the album for much of the year at home, recording all the instruments himself.
And I’m told that has even involved banging a saucepan as percussion.
A music insider said: “Paul has been totally alone, with no producer or sound engineer, while making this record, just as he was for the previous two volumes.
“Obviously this time around recording in isolation wasn’t his choice.
“But it made complete sense for this album to be the third in the trilogy, particularly given the first came out five decades ago.
“It’s been a true solo effort and he had to get experimental with what he used as instruments, hence the saucepan.
“He’s now gearing up to put it out in the coming weeks, with a global announcement due tomorrow.”
Eagle-eyed fans of the legendary singer will have noticed hints about the album in recent days.
One clue appears when you listen to the two previous instalments on Spotify, with an animation of a dice with three dots dropping on to the album covers.
There have also been cryptic social media posts of things in sets of threes and the website name mccartneyiii.com was registered in August.
Earlier this year Macca, whose last full-length album was 2018’s Egypt Station, said: “I’ve been able to write and get into music, starting songs, finishing songs.
“I’ve had a few little things to write and it’s given me the time to finish some songs that I hadn’t found the time to get around to.”
As a lifelong fan I’m over the moon about the news.
I’ve no doubt it will be worth that 40-year wait.
Jen puts her foot in it
JENNIFER Lopez looks ready to sell some knock-off Russian VCRs she bought off Monkey Harris in this latest outfit.
The singer and actress posed in a Del Boy-style sheepskin coat, from comedy Only Fools And Horses, as she leant on a white Bentley to advertise her Designer Shoe Ware-house range.
She posted snaps of her sporting the new shoes, saying: “Fall, flannels and family.”
J Lo, who is starring in upcoming romcom Marry Me, recently talked about the movie and assured fans she is still Jenny From The Block.
She said: “I was playing a character trying to find someone who accepted her for all of what her life was but also just saw her as a person. Like a real girl, which is what I am. People see you as this thing, this star.
“They forget that you’re just a girl and want to live and laugh and be normal.”
I’m sure normal women can relate to this multi-millionaire Hollywood star who lives in a huge mansion.
Miley spots Alien on high
MILEY Cyrus is certain she made eye contact with an alien . . . after smoking cannabis.
The Midnight Sky singer said of her road trip in California: “I was driving through San Bernardino with my friend and I got chased by some sort of UFO.
“I’m pretty sure about what I saw, but I’d also bought weed wax from a guy in a van in front of a taco shop, so it could have been that. The best way to describe it is a flying snowplough.
“There were a couple of other cars and they stopped, so I think what I saw was real. I didn’t feel threatened at all but I did see a being sitting in the front of the flying object.
“It looked at me and we made eye contact. I think that’s what really shook me, looking into the eyes of something that I couldn’t quite wrap my head around.”
There’s a lesson, kids.
Lily's fears
LILY James feared she would never be a star after she failed her first movie audition in 2008.
She said: “When I was 17 I got an audition for Sweeney Todd and I just assumed I’d get it.
“I was like, ‘Wow I’ve been spotted, this is my big break. I’m going to be in a movie!’ but I didn’t get past the first round. I thought movies would never happen.”
The Downton Abbey star now has an even bigger profile after she was seen snogging married actor Dominic West.
She told the Awards Chatter podcast she wanted to change her “good girl” persona.
She’s done that all right.
Blondie tour new tunes
FANS of music legends Blondie have more than just the band’s ten-date UK tour to look forward to next year.
In an exclusive interview, drummer Clem Burke has revealed they plan to release their 12th studio album to coincide with the gigs after lead singer Debbie Harry started writing in lockdown.
Clem said of the follow up to 2017’s Pollinator: “We are working with each other on new material. We wanted to start recording but lockdown stopped that. Really we have been creating new music to keep ourselves sane. You can do so much over the internet. We’ve been collaborating around the world. We have a great working relationship.”
The New York group will kick off their gigs in Clem’s favourite city, Liverpool, on November 6, 2021 and will be joined each night by veterans Garbage.
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Clem explained: “The tour is called Against All Odds because really it is – we’re trying to stay optimistic that it will happen.
“It’s unbelievable that we’ve not played as a band in the UK in four years. To come back is going to be so meaningful for us. The UK is Blondie’s second home. We can’t wait to return.”
I’ll be rolling out the red carpet.
Mixing it up
LITTLE Mix will host the MTV Europe Music Awards on November 8.
Perrie Edwards, Jade Thirlwall, Leigh-Anne Pinnock and Jesy Nelson will also perform new single Sweet Melody, out this Friday.
The girls, who are up for four gongs, said: “What an honour. It’s a dream, it’s such a special event.”
Other acts on show include Sam Smith, Zara Larsson and Doja Cat.
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