Released recently, Eyes of the Storm (Liburuak) presents a refined collection of photographs captured by Paul McCartney in his twenties during the Beatles’ first major international tour in the early 1960s. The images offer a vivid window into the surge of Beatlemania, a global phenomenon that instantly crowned the quartet as the most popular band the world had ever seen.
The photos carry a sense of innocence and sensitivity that mirrors many of McCartney’s early songs, where youth’s clarity and personal experience shaped the music. In Letras, a comprehensive volume, the musician details the motivations and circumstances that gave life to 161 songs spanning different chapters of his career—from the pre-Beatles era through Wings. The book is a candid exploration of how he and his collaborators approached composition and how their creative process evolved with time.
McCartney’s reflections reveal a reluctance to dwell on daily journals, preferring instead to share the wealth of his songs. In the foreword to a softcover edition, he notes that the collection offers the closest thing to a personal autobiography. Song by song, the narrative folds in memories of the early days with Lennon, the weekly routine of writing, and the simple tools that fueled their craft — two guitars, two notebooks, two pens. The writers describe how they would gather at McCartney’s home or at John’s, ready to chase a fresh idea and see where it led.
One of McCartney’s earliest compositions, I Lost My Little Girl, dates back to 1956 following the death of his mother. At fourteen, the future star processed the loss through music, a direct emotional response that he describes as almost inevitable and deeply personal. The memoir style is consistently forthright throughout the volume, which is co-authored with Irish poet and Pulitzer Prize winner Paul Muldoon. This collaboration opens a privileged doorway into the genesis and influence of enduring songs such as Let It Be, Yesterday, Blackbird, Golden Slumbers, A Day in the Life, Lady Madonna, Hey Jude, and Live and Let Die.
McCartney stands as one of the most celebrated composers of the twentieth century, and the material within his archive continues to inspire musicians around the world. The pages reveal much about his approach to music, including a philosophy that remains shrouded in mystery about what sparks a song once the initial chords settle in. He explains that writing music is a singular, unpredictable journey. Maintaining an open mood and trusting instinct are essential, because the destination often remains unclear from the outset. That mindset is a through line in his creative method, a reminder that inspiration and craft rely on a willingness to explore the unknown.
Beyond the lyrical transcriptions, the volume gathers an extraordinary assortment of McCartney’s personal artefacts. Photographs, letters, and handwritten drafts enrich the narrative, turning the book into a remarkable encyclopedia on the art of making music. For Beatles enthusiasts and anyone devoted to the craft, the collection stands as a treasure trove, illustrating the discipline, the curiosity, and the passion that defined McCartney’s career and the band’s enduring legacy.
Readers will encounter a portrait of a prolific artist who balanced public success with private reflection. The volume captures not only the music but the environment that shaped it—the early tours, the rapid pace of life on the road, and the informal studio sessions in which melodies began to take form. It is a story about perseverance, imagination, and the continuous pursuit of expression that resonates with creators across generations.
Ultimately, Eyes of the Storm offers a compelling reminder that art often grows from a blend of personal memory and shared collaboration. It invites fans to witness the moment when a young musician transformed observation into sound, and sound into a lasting cultural footprint. The book celebrates both the period of Beatlemania and the quieter, more intimate moments that contributed to the Beatles’ extraordinary journey and McCartney’s own enduring influence as a composer and storyteller.