Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Pull out the DVD the Space Within US. View "Fixing a Hole." I noticed a little screen to Paul's right. After about two seconds I realized they were LYRICS!!!!! I was further horrified to find that later in the song, Paul needed the screen to finish the song.

On a positive note, in the middle of the song Paul's tech returns his Hofner to the stand. I belive I can see the 4001S at the end of the rack.

At 64, Paul's memory may not be what it used to be. What's the name of his new album? Memory Almost Full?

I forget songs consistently,and i've got nearly 20 years on Macca!....
....What was the question again??

He's been using a teleprompter for years.

Rush uses them too.

And Springsteen, and Brian Wilson.

There's nothing worse than being at a gig, doing a song that you've done in bands for the past 20+ years. You know the words to the song by heart (you can sing them in your sleep). The band plays the intro, you step up to the microphone, open your mouth, and...

You have absolutely no idea what the first line is!

Thee a quick scene in "Back in the US" where Paul comments to the crew that the lyrics of "Maybe I'm Amazed" are actually wrong and to correct them (!).

So, he's certainly not trying to hide anything.

There've been a few times where I've actually had to ask the audience what the first line to a song is; it's good for a laugh anyway.

I am glad I am not the only one. I feel better now.

Think of how many times Lennon mangled his lyrics. It can't get any easier with age.

Alan, to be honest with you, after all those years of listening to Maybe I'm Amazed, I didn't know the word was "leave". I just ordered my teleprompter.

he is human... right?

of course.

I know, he's human. I guess I blew this one out of control. My apologies.

Shame on you Rick! For shame!

Jorma and Kantner both sometimes glance at low-tech versions. (Binders on a music stand.)
Age happens.

I think it should be okay for some people to just space, eh? It's just rock. Start the number over, ask someone in the band, ask the audience. I've been told by someone whose friend toured with him that by the 80s Dylan never remembered the first words to any of his songs.

He'd be cue'd by a member of the band and then he'd be off, and remember all of the lengthy words to all the tunes. And he's got as many words in three songs than Macca has in a whole set.

Then again, if there's one dig against Macca, it's that he's always been mechanical on stage, same set right each night down to the talk between songs, and looking at his watch for the last number in the old days. It's not like Lennon ever remembered the words when he was 22. Having the words there is for Karaoke. If you can't memorize 23 three minute songs for a world tour, chances are you're voice isn't cutting it anymore, either.

It might help to cut out the whacky tobacco.