Sir Paul McCartney
It was a cold night, I believe in October of 1996. The Charing Cross road was busy, full of excited tourists and locals transiting on foot from one destination to another. Crowded buses pulled to a halt at the traffic lights, accompanied by the screech of several black cabs applying their brakes in unison. The wide opening of the Leicester square underground was spewing hoards of seemingly limitless amounts of people into the the heart of London's West End. The air was chilly and damp, the smell of exhaust fumes and cigarettes lingered, the bright neon lights of take-aways and coffee shops inticing the bypassers like moths to a flame.
This was an ordinary night for such a populated city, but for one 18 year old boy that night would hold a memory he would cherish forever.
The young lad had found himself homeless the year before and by now was growing accustomed to his daily life as a busker. His acoustic guitar and the clothes on his back were his only possessions, but he had a dream which he held on to, that kept him from being swallowed up by the cold nights, lack of warm meals and the dangers of being young and naive in such an unwelcoming environment.
Ken Mercer (1996) Leicester Square London
This boys dream was to learn to play guitar and sing for people. He listened to his music idols, Buddy Holly, Hank Marvin, The Beatles, Simon & Garfunkel and was greatly inspired by them.
As he sat on the cold stone steps of the Wyndams Theatre, practising the song 'A Hard Days Night' of the Beatles, he had no idea of the event that would shortly take place.
Inside the Wyndams Theatre in that precise moment, the actress Maggie Smith (now Dame Maggie Smith) was on stage perfoming her role in Edward Abee's production 'Three Tall Women'. In the audience, enjoying a evening out with his then wife Linda, was one of the boy's musical heroes... Paul McCartney (now Sir Paul McCartney)!
Wyndams Theatre Charing Cross road
Meanwhile outside, the young lad still practising on the steps, became distracted by a large black chauffuered car pulling up outside of the theatre's main entrance.
Out of curiosity he stopped playing, swung his guitar over his back and approached the car, to discover that they were there to collect Paul McCartney, who was about to leave the venue in a few moments time. He couldn't believe his luck and recognised that this would be a once in a lifetime chance to meet one of his idols in the business. The situation was not made public either so passers by were oblivious as to what was about to happen. It was a perfect opportunity!
Time stood still while he waited. It seemed like an eternity. Then finally, it all happened in flash.
Two very large men in black suits and white shirts stepped out of the building on to the pavement, looked around cautiously and waited for a few seconds. Suddenly he appeared. Paul and his lovely wife Linda were making a dash for the already open car door. The young lad nervously made his way towards the vehicle and called out to Paul and asked if he would mind signing an autograph. One of the security men instantly made a human wall before him stopping him dead in his tracks. In that moment he thought that was it, he wouldn't get his chance. A feeling of disapointment ran through his body, but as he turned to walk away, he heard that familar voice say "It's ok, leave him alone".
The huge black and white human mountain that stood before him suddenly stepped aside and he could now see Paul's friendly smiling face, inviting him over to the open car window. Paul took the paper and pen from the quivering hands of the boy and immediately signed it and returned it back to him asking "Well, are you gonna play me a tune?"
The boy pulled round his guitar from his back, he knew instantly which song to play...'A Hard Days Night'!
The boy performed and Paul happily sang along as the car slowly pulled away from the curb. He quickened his paced to follow the car as Paul's head was hanging out of the still open car window looking back and singing along. "It's been a hard days night, I should be sleeping like a log"
The black car disappeared into the night, but the memory stills remains in that boys head twenty years on. It had been a hard day, but this had definitely made his night! Thank you Paul!
That young boy was me, and I'm proud to say I met Sir Paul McCartney, and got to sing a song with him! The autograph I unfortunately lost somewhere in the streets as I had no home at the time to keep it safe. But I will never forget that incredible moment. Thank you Paul!
