At 83 years old, Paul McCartney could be forgiven for putting his feet up and reminiscing about his Beatles days.
But instead, the legendary rocker is doing quite the opposite—he’s jumping into new projects, still packing stadiums, and even popping up in unexpected places, like a hilarious cameo in the upcoming Spinal Tap sequel.
Yes, that Spinal Tap. The fictional rock band that’s been cranking it up to 11 since the ’80s is back this September with Spinal Tap II:
The End Continues, and McCartney is joining them on screen alongside another icon, 78-year-old Elton John.
Rocking with Spinal Tap for One Last Laugh
The sequel brings back the beloved mockumentary characters—Nigel Tufnel (Christopher Guest), David St. Hubbins (Michael McKean), and Derek Smalls (Harry Shearer)—for one final concert.
And McCartney is right there in the mix.
Director Rob Reiner, who reprises his role as filmmaker Marty DiBergi, shared a fun behind-the-scenes moment in an interview with AARP’s Movies for Grownups.
When he asked McCartney why he and other music legends like Elton John and Mick Jagger still love to perform, McCartney answered with a wink: “Yeah. And the drugs.”
It’s a joke that made the cut in the film—but the sentiment behind it is real.
These guys still get a kick out of being on stage.
As Reiner put it, “If they’re given an opportunity, they’ll get in front of an audience and play.”
From Hotel Aliases to Punk Rock History
As if McCartney’s influence wasn’t already massive, here’s another unexpected twist—he played a part in naming one of punk rock’s most iconic bands: The Ramones.
Back in the day, McCartney and John Lennon would check into hotels using fake names to stay under the radar. One of Paul’s go-to aliases? Paul Ramon.
That alias stuck in the mind of a young fan named Dee Dee, who later used it to create his own stage name—Dee Dee Ramone.
The rest of the band followed suit, and just like that, The Ramones were born.
Even drummer Marky Ramone recalled the quirky story with a laugh, saying: “Paul McCartney would sign into a hotel room as Paul Ramone… Dee Dee looked at this and said, ‘Let’s call ourselves The Ramones.’”
None of the band members were related, but they all took the Ramone name—and punk history was made, thanks to a Beatle’s secret identity.
A New Chapter with Wings
Beyond his Beatles legacy, McCartney has long embraced reinvention.
After the Fab Four split, he faced the daunting task of stepping into the spotlight solo.
But instead of retreating, he formed a new band—Wings—in 1971.
Now, McCartney is looking back on those wild years with the upcoming book Wings: The Story of a Band on the Run, set to be released in November.
In it, he opens up about starting over, doubting himself, and eventually finding that same old buzz all over again.
“Starting from scratch after the Beatles felt crazy at times,” Paul admits.
“There were some very difficult moments and I often questioned my decision.”
But as Wings began to click—with hits like Band on the Run, Venus and Mars, and At the Speed of Sound—McCartney knew he had something special again.
“We proved Wings could be a really good band,” he said.
“To play to huge audiences in the same way the Beatles had and have an impact in a different way—it was a huge buzz.”
Still Going Strong and Still Having Fun
Between surprise cameos, new books, and ongoing tours, Paul McCartney is showing no signs of slowing down.
In fact, he’s still very much living for the music, the connection, and the laughs.
And if Spinal Tap II reminds us of anything, it’s this: growing old doesn’t mean growing quiet—not when you’ve still got the fire (and maybe a fake alias or two) in your back pocket.
