Paul McCartney Reflects on Linda's Mantra That Helped Him After Beatles Split

The musician opens up about how his late wife's freeing mindset guided him through the band's breakup.

Apr. 5, 2026 at 3:39am

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In a new documentary, Paul McCartney discusses how his wife Linda's positive outlook and mantra of 'it's allowed' helped him cope after The Beatles disbanded. McCartney credits Linda, who he married in 1969, with being a 'freeing influence' that encouraged him not to be 'too uptight' during that transitional period in his life.

Why it matters

The Beatles' breakup in 1970 was a pivotal moment in music history, leaving the band's members to navigate uncertain futures. McCartney's reflections on how his wife's supportive perspective guided him through that challenging time offer insight into the personal struggles artists can face after the end of a massively successful group.

The details

In the documentary 'Paul McCartney: Man on the Run,' the 83-year-old musician opens up about his life after The Beatles split. He recalls how Linda would tell him 'it's allowed' whenever he expressed uncertainty about the future, which helped alleviate his stress. Linda, who worked as a photographer, joined McCartney's next band Wings as a keyboardist and vocalist, contributing to the group's success in the 1970s.

  • The Beatles broke up in 1970.
  • Paul and Linda McCartney married in March 1969.
  • Linda passed away in 1998 at the age of 58 after a battle with breast cancer.

The players

Paul McCartney

An 83-year-old English musician who was a member of the iconic band The Beatles and later formed the successful group Wings with his wife Linda.

Linda McCartney

Paul McCartney's wife from 1969 until her death in 1998. She was a photographer who joined Wings as a keyboardist and vocalist, contributing to the band's success.

Morgan Neville

The director of the documentary 'Paul McCartney: Man on the Run,' which features McCartney's reflections on his life after The Beatles.

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What they’re saying

“In a situation like that you lost your job, you can get uptight very easily. One of my favorite expressions of hers was, you'd be saying, 'Oh, I don't know. I'd love to do so and so, but I can't. I can't,' and she'd say, 'it's allowed.' It's like all the weight just went off. It's allowed. Yeah, of course it is. So those kind of things really impressed me and I think probably made me think a lot more was allowed than was.”

— Paul McCartney, Musician

“She liked rock and roll, and she would do things like sneak out of the house late at night to and drive into New York with a boyfriend. So there was a lot of freedom in her thinking, so I think that's really was good for me.”

— Paul McCartney, Musician

What’s next

The documentary 'Paul McCartney: Man on the Run' is set to premiere on streaming platforms later this year, offering fans a deeper look into the musician's life and career after the breakup of The Beatles.

The takeaway

McCartney's reflections on how his wife Linda's positive mindset and encouragement helped him navigate the uncertainty after The Beatles' split underscores the importance of having a supportive partner during major life transitions, especially for artists whose careers are so closely tied to the success of a group.