On This Day in Beatles History: Paul McCartney Publishes Tribute to Michael Jackson – 4 July 2009

On 4 July 2009, Sir Paul McCartney published an extended written tribute to Michael Jackson on his official website. Jackson had died on 25 June 2009 at the age of 50, and McCartney’s statement — which included both a brief public message and a longer personal memoir — offered a rare and intimate account of their friendship and creative partnership during the early 1980s.

Paul McCartney’s Statement

McCartney’s initial public statement read:

‘It’s so sad and shocking. I feel privileged to have hung out and worked with Michael. He was a massively talented boy man with a gentle soul. His music will be remembered forever and my memories of our time together will be happy ones. I send my deepest sympathy to his mother and the whole family and to his countless fans all around the world.’

Sir Paul McCartney, official website, 4 July 2009

Memories of Michael: McCartney’s Extended Tribute

Alongside the brief statement, McCartney published a longer personal memoir titled ‘Memories of Michael’, in which he recalled the origins of their friendship and their work together. The full text read:

‘I first heard from Michael when he phoned me over the Christmas holiday season in 1980 and my initial reaction was “who is this and how did he get my private telephone number?”. Michael laughed and explained who it was and, as we talked and I asked him why he was ringing, he said “Do you wanna make some hits?” and that was the start of our adventure together.

He came over to England with his close friend and minder, Billy and they visited our house in the country many times as Michael and I put together the ideas for our songs together. First of all, we came up with and finished an idea for a song I had started which became ‘Say Say Say.’ We recorded in Air Studios, London with George Martin producing and eventually went to California to make the video for the song. Funnily enough, I was staying at the ranch that Michael later bought and made into Neverland.

My memories are of his great sense of humour and we seemed to spend most of the time playing around and having a laugh. He became very friendly with my family and we had lots of great times together. Although we drifted apart in later years I will always remember fondly the fun we had working and playing together. My family and I send our deepest condolences to his family and, like them, we know that his great talent will never be forgotten.’

Sir Paul McCartney, ‘Memories of Michael’, official website, 4 July 2009

The McCartney–Jackson Friendship

The friendship between Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson began with that unexpected phone call at Christmas 1980 and developed rapidly into a creative partnership. Jackson visited McCartney’s home in the English countryside on multiple occasions, and the two worked together on songs that would appear on McCartney’s 1983 album Pipes of Peace.

Their most successful collaboration was ‘Say Say Say’, recorded at AIR Studios in London with George Martin producing — the same producer who had worked with The Beatles throughout their recording career. The song was released as a single in October 1983 and reached number one in both the United Kingdom and the United States, spending six weeks at the top of the Billboard Hot 100. The accompanying video, filmed in California at a ranch that Jackson would later purchase and rename Neverland, featured both McCartney and Jackson in a comic vaudeville scenario.

The two also recorded ‘The Girl Is Mine’ together, which appeared on Jackson’s landmark 1982 album Thriller, and ‘Say Say Say’’s B-side ‘Ode To A Koala Bear’.

The ATV Music Catalogue and the Falling Out

The friendship between McCartney and Jackson became strained in 1985 when Jackson purchased the ATV Music Publishing catalogue for approximately $47.5 million. The catalogue included the publishing rights to the majority of the Lennon–McCartney song catalogue — the songs written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney during their time with The Beatles.

McCartney had been advised of the catalogue’s availability and had considered purchasing it himself, but had not moved quickly enough. He later said that Jackson had given him no warning of his intention to buy, and that the purchase had damaged their friendship. In a 1995 interview, McCartney recalled that Jackson had once jokingly told him “I’m going to buy your songs one day” — a remark McCartney had taken as a joke at the time.

Jackson merged the ATV catalogue with Sony’s music publishing division in 1995 to form Sony/ATV Music Publishing. McCartney spent years attempting to regain control of the Lennon–McCartney songs, a process that was eventually resolved through the US Copyright Act’s termination rights provisions, with McCartney beginning to reclaim rights to individual songs from 2018 onwards.

Michael Jackson’s Death

Michael Jackson died on 25 June 2009 at his rented home in Holmby Hills, Los Angeles, at the age of 50. The cause of death was acute propofol and benzodiazepine intoxication, administered by his personal physician Dr Conrad Murray, who was subsequently convicted of involuntary manslaughter in 2011.

Jackson’s death prompted an outpouring of tributes from musicians, world leaders, and fans around the world. McCartney’s tribute, published on 4 July 2009 — nine days after Jackson’s death — was among the most personal and detailed accounts of their friendship to be made public.

George Martin and Say Say Say

The involvement of George Martin as producer of ‘Say Say Say’ gave the McCartney–Jackson collaboration a direct link to The Beatles’ recording heritage. Martin had produced every Beatles album from Please Please Me in 1963 to Abbey Road in 1969, and had continued to work with McCartney on solo projects. His presence in the AIR Studios sessions brought a continuity of craft and experience that both McCartney and Jackson valued.

AIR Studios — founded by George Martin in 1969 — was at this time located on Oxford Street in London, before moving to its current home at Lyndhurst Road in Hampstead in 1992.

On This Day in Beatles History

• Date: 4 July 2009
• Event: Sir Paul McCartney published an extended tribute to Michael Jackson on his official website, nine days after Jackson’s death on 25 June 2009
• Collaboration recalled: ‘Say Say Say’ (1983), recorded at AIR Studios, London, produced by George Martin; reached number one in the UK and US
• Also recalled: Jackson’s visits to McCartney’s country home; the Neverland ranch connection; their friendship and eventual estrangement over the ATV catalogue

Explore More Beatles History

• Paul McCartney: Solo Career
• The Beatles Timeline 1956–1970
• George Martin: The Fifth Beatle
• The Lennon–McCartney Song Catalogue

Frequently Asked Questions

When did Paul McCartney publish his tribute to Michael Jackson?

Paul McCartney published his tribute to Michael Jackson on 4 July 2009, nine days after Jackson’s death on 25 June 2009. The tribute included both a brief public statement and a longer personal memoir titled ‘Memories of Michael’.

How did Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson meet?

Michael Jackson first contacted Paul McCartney by telephone over the Christmas holiday season in 1980, asking “Do you wanna make some hits?”. Jackson subsequently visited McCartney’s home in England on multiple occasions, and the two collaborated on songs including ‘Say Say Say’ and ‘The Girl Is Mine’.

What songs did Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson record together?

McCartney and Jackson recorded ‘The Girl Is Mine’, which appeared on Jackson’s Thriller album in 1982, and ‘Say Say Say’, which was released as a single in October 1983 and reached number one in the UK and US. ‘Say Say Say’ was produced by George Martin at AIR Studios in London.

Why did Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson fall out?

Their friendship became strained after Jackson purchased the ATV Music Publishing catalogue in 1985 for approximately $47.5 million, acquiring the publishing rights to the majority of the Lennon–McCartney song catalogue. McCartney had not moved quickly enough to purchase the catalogue himself and felt blindsided by Jackson’s acquisition.

What happened to the ATV Music catalogue after Michael Jackson’s death?

Jackson had merged the ATV catalogue with Sony’s music publishing division in 1995 to form Sony/ATV Music Publishing. After Jackson’s death, his estate retained his share. McCartney began reclaiming rights to individual Lennon–McCartney songs from 2018 onwards under US Copyright Act termination rights provisions.

Who produced Say Say Say?

‘Say Say Say’ was produced by George Martin at AIR Studios in London. Martin had been The Beatles’ producer throughout their recording career and continued to work with McCartney on solo projects after the group disbanded.