The Documentary Podcast Paul McCartney: Beatles and beyond
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Aug 31, 2025 
In this insightful discussion, Mike McCartney, Paul McCartney's brother and a member of The Scaffold, shares heartwarming memories of their childhood in Liverpool. Beatles historian David Bedford dives into the band's transformative journey from the Quarrymen to global icons. They explore the significance of Liverpool's cultural landscape in shaping McCartney's musical ambitions and the legacy of the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA). Personal anecdotes and historical context blend seamlessly to highlight Paul’s enduring influence on music and education.
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Liverpool Childhood Shaped The Beatles
- Mike McCartney describes Fourth In Road as a cramped terraced house where Paul learned music and Mike learned photography.
- He credits their mother's death with inadvertently allowing the boys to pursue instruments and form their musical path.
Timing And Teen Culture Enabled The Beatles
- David Bedford links post-war Britain, extended schooling and disposable income to the emergence of teenage culture and skiffle.
- That unique moment let young people buy records and instruments, seeding bands like the Beatles.
NEMS And Brian Epstein's Early Role
- Jean Catherall recalls NEMS as the Liverpool record shop where Brian Epstein watched customers and sold Beatles records.
- She remembers being served by Epstein and seeing him observe record-buying habits firsthand.
