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Sir Paul McCartney Reveals Abbey Road Fears

Sir Paul McCartney has expressed his desire for Abbey Road Studios to be saved, as this most illustrious of Beatles heritage sites faces the 'For Sale' sign.

The studios in St John's Wood, Northwest London, was where the Beatles recorded from 1962 to 1970, and was also used by Pink Floyd and Cliff Richard. Abbey Road is owned by troubled music giant EMI who have reportedly put the studios up for sale in the hope of raising up to £30m to help them out of debt.

"There are a few people who have been associated with the studio for a long time who were talking about mounting some bid to save it," McCartney told the BBC. "I sympathise with them. I hope they can do something, it'd be great."

He added, "I've got so many great memories there with the Beatles and it's still a great studio."

It was revealed on Tuesday that EMI needs to raise £100m from investors in order to prevent breaching its arrangement with US lenders Citigroup. The sale of the studio would eat some way into that debt.

Abbey Road has been a working studio since 1931, when Sir Edward Elgar conducted a session with the London Symphony Orchestra to mark its opening. Recent artists to make use of Abbey Road include Panic at the Disco, Mike Oldfield and Oasis.

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pcr

Ah! Er? How much did peg leg get? So Paul should cough up for Abbey Road? Why? His music will live for ever! As will all, Toyota will! Rap and Hip Hop will (gag) AOL will!!!

February 19 2010 at 12:31 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
ROY WELDON

As kids we used to climb a certain difficult tree in our local park---------called by the kids theE.M.I.tree cos' you could just see the top of the factory [ EMI ] from the very,very, dangerous top limb of the tree--- like a badge of honour if you did it!

February 18 2010 at 3:12 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
j

I lost all respect for Sir Small when he dissed Ringo. After George and John had died, I saw and heard him refer to himself as "the only surviving Beatle". He said something nasty about "What's Ringo been doing besides opening grocery stores" He made me want to puke.

February 17 2010 at 5:20 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jerry

If you consider the kind of crap that comes out of studios these days, it's no wonder why new recordings don't sell well. Few people over age 30 bother to buy it.
Without being an insider, I'd guess that the majority of sales worldwide would be in older catalogs. You don't need a great recording studio to reproduce music that has already been recorded.

Sure wish someone would buy MY stuff!

February 17 2010 at 4:18 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
don juan

First I may be wrong but I think McCartney sold his songwriteing as well as publishing rights. Then Jackson bought them both.
Doesn't matter though he has enough money to buy it and so does another SIRE Sir Elton John. It should be a money maker like graceland so what about it Elton can u feel the love tonight save cheap skates studio.

February 17 2010 at 3:59 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
ghardigree

Sorry JimV but you too are wrong. Jackson did in fact buy the rights to the Beatles music. He then used the music rights as collateral on one of many loans that were never repaid. If anyone is getting the royalties now,its the bank/banks. Jackson,like many, is worth more now that he is dead than he was alive. He was in debt past his eye balls. In truth he most likely owed more that what he was worth. He survived no his name but his reputation was closing in fast.

February 17 2010 at 3:58 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Joseph Papierz Jr

Paul McCartney is a real dissappoingment. If he cherishes his memories as he says he could buy the building himself and make something good happen instead of sitting around moaning about it. What's his problem? Getting lazy in his old age?

February 17 2010 at 3:53 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jayne Jensen

OK. You know what? Who cares? If Paul wants to buy it, he will, if not, he won't. Rich people who became rich on their own have money because they spend wisely. If he and Ringo are still getting royalties, good for them, if not, oh well! If Michael Jackson outbid the Beatles for their own music, good for MJ (and now his family). Life goes on! (By the way, if certain people feel compelled to post their opinions in writing, please learn proper grammar, spelling and punctuation!!! i.e.It's BUY not BY.)

February 17 2010 at 3:49 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Draconian

The late John Lennon suposedly 'willed' money to Strawberry Fields which was a school.

February 17 2010 at 3:43 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
one concious mind

WHAT IF ABBEY ROAD BOUGHT ITSELF?. PEOPLE COULD RUN IT AS ITS OWN ENTITY, IT COULD ACTUALLY BE AN OPEN SOURCE COMPANY THAT PEOPLE COULD PUT STOCK IN, AND THE MORE MUSIC WITH BETTER AND BETTER LEADING ARTISTS THAT ARE FUNNELED THROUGH IT, THE BETTER THE COMPANY AND ITS SHARE HOLDERS WOULD DO. -cJ WACHTER

February 17 2010 at 3:42 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply