Paul McCartney’s Colleague Shares Glimpse Into How the Musician Acts When He’s Out of the Public Eye

Paul McCartney continues to champion aspiring musicians, dedicating his time to the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA).

The 82-year-old singer-songwriter — who rose to fame with the Beatles in the 1960s, thanks to their iconic hits including “Help!” and “Come Together” — regularly visits the institution to support graduating students.

David Stark, a colleague at LIPA, attested to McCartney’s motivating commitment.

“For the last 20 years I’ve been involved with LIPA, which Paul is the patron of, and he was instrumental in getting that off the ground in the early 90s,” Stark told The Mirror US. “They have the graduation day every year in July and I give out the SongLink Prizes every year. And Paul’s always there. So he makes a big effort.”

McCartney reportedly also dedicates time to teaching and mentoring songwriting students prior to their graduation.

“He’ll sit down with each of them for half an hour or so to talk about their songs. He’s great. He really is,” Stark said. “He makes a big effort and I’m very proud to work with him.”

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Stark described the music icon’s demeanor away from the Hollywood spotlight.

“I met him many times and he’s just a great guy,” Stark shared, explaining that McCartney is “happy” to have conversations with students. “And, you know, not all people realize that he does all this on the side and he makes a big effort.”

Stark also had a chance encounter with John Lennon’s aunt, Mimi Smith, shortly after Lennon’s death.

“I really got on with her,” Stark said, explaining they were introduced by a mutual friend. During their conversation, Smith shared intimate details of Lennon’s childhood before he became a musical icon. “She’s telling me everything about John and his early life. You know, how he was wise and gabby when he was a kid.”

Mentoring students isn’t the only thing McCartney’s been up as of late. In 2024, he hit the road for his Got Back Tour, and he just wrapped up the Paul McCartney Rocks The Bowery Tour earlier this year. McCartney’s career has spanned over the course of six decades — and it shows no signs of slowing down.