Paul and Heather Mills news

MILLS MCCARTNEY: Very much so. You know, I tend to get asked to come and see survivors, because they look at me and think, well, she looks absolutely normal. And then I pop my leg off, and they realize that they, you know, can be exactly like me, given the chance to have a comfortable limb, and it just makes them feel that they've got somebody to relate to, because otherwise you say, it's going to be OK, you're fine, and you're standing there with all your limbs, they can't relate to you so much.

So I do that. And just push them to realize that, you know, with some help from us, they can carry on as they did before. And actually go on to become an inspiration themselves. That's the most important thing.

KING: Isn't the first week or two after the loss of a limb the hardest?

MILLS MCCARTNEY: Absolutely, because you haven't got any idea. You know, what's going to happen to your life? You basically have nobody coming to see you, which is why I try and get to see people who have lost limbs as quickly as possible. And it's really -- you're still in shock, so it's your family that need the most counseling, because they feel helpless. They can't say anything, they can't do anything. Or they feel they can't, but they actually can, you know, getting on the Internet and looking up prosthetics and limbs and showing them what's available out there is a key thing. So I try and inform them immediately.

And anybody that is an amputee or about to lose a limb and checks on to HeatherMillsMcCartney.com, we've got an amputee forum there that we set up. So when I counsel someone, I insist that they join, and they go on, when they overcome their disability, to help somebody else. And now we've got hundreds of people helping each other all around the world.

KING: We'll take a break, come back, and then we'll meet an extraordinary young lady and Bob Watts, the aforementioned Bob Watts. And Lady McCartney will remain with us. Don't go away

KING: We're back on this special edition of LARRY KING LIVE. Remaining with us from London is Lady Heather Mills McCartney, the human -- humanitarian and activist in artificial limbs and landmines and getting rid of them and helping so many people around the world.

Joining us now is Zeynab, the 11-year-old who lost her right leg above the knee when a cluster bomb fell on her home near Basra, Iraq. Zeynab will be speaking through an interpreter.

Also in London is Bob Watts. Bob is the renowned London prosthetist -- I hope I'm pronouncing that right -- who fitted Zeynab and Lady Heather with their prosthetic limbs.

Zeynab, we'll start with you. How did this happen? What happened that you lost your leg?

ZEYNAB, 11-YEAR-OLD, LOST LEG WHEN BASRA HOME WAS BOMBED (through translator): It happened during the war. She was in Basra, and then they evacuate Basra from these women and children to a nearby village, which is safe for them, you know, mosque area. There was (UNINTELLIGIBLE), and then it was safe for them. And after that, American airplanes came in, bombed that area, and she didn't feel anything, only explosion, and then when she -- one day they just transferred her to the hospital, she was awake, she woke up and they told her that the situation of her leg was so, so bad, and they tried to make her a vascular (ph) repair for her artery, but it fell down, and then they amputated her leg, and she said that's what I do to lose my leg, and all the children in that war.

KING: What happened to her family? ZEYNAB (through translator): She said that 17 from her family, uncles, aunts and cousins, all of them just died by this cluster bomb, and only she was the survivor from that misery and with her -- apart from her father, only.

KING: Just her and her father. Heather, how did you find Zeynab?

MILLS MCCARTNEY: I found her, I was having unbelievably a day off in a spa with all the girls, and we all switched the mobile phones off, and luckily one of the girls didn't, and they were gotten hold of, and said that -- I was about to out of the country, and they said a young girl has just been flown in and brought by a journalist called Lee Gordon, who was brave enough to get her out of Iraq, because there were no facilities to make her a limb, and bring her back to England, which was a big process. And would I meet with her? So I changed all the plans, and met with her in the morning. And wanted to meet privately, but they said they needed some publicity on it, to help the other children, and nobody was interested unless I was involved, or stood with her, which was quite sad.

And so I did. And when I met her, I did my usual trick, popped my leg off, and she immediately changed and said, "is she a princess, and will I be like her?" And I promised her that we would fit her up with a limb, which we have, and she's walking very well, and we've been swimming. And I just can't believe how strong she is. She's just, as you can see, she's an incredible girl, and she wants to spread the message of all the other children that are devastated in her country, and the help that they need.

KING: That's a great story. Now, Bob Watts, how did you get involved and what did you do for Zeynab?

BOB WATTS, PROSTHETIST: I got involved because Heather asked me to, and if Heather asks you to do something...

KING: You do it.

WATTS: ... it's very difficult to say no. So -- yeah, you do. And Heather brought Zeynab down, and we fitted her up with the artificial leg she's wearing now.

KING: What kind of patient was Zeynab?

WATTS: She hasn't complained at all. I asked her to do something, and she's off and away. She was a little hesitant to start with, but once she's got her confidence up, she's away, and very brave little girl.

KING: Boy, is she. Heather, what did you want to show us?

MILLS MCCARTNEY: I said, he should show you his hairy leg, not his, but the one he's made. You know, in case you ever need one, Larry.
KING: Oh, he's made a leg with hair so men can feel comfortable?
MILLS MCCARTNEY: Yeah, exactly. I haven't got a hairy one to show you.

KING: That's amazing. What -- this is an extraordinary young lady. What do you owe it to, Heather? How do you explain Zeynab?

MILLS MCCARTNEY: I just think a lot to do with her own genetics and her own character. Because people say, oh, how do you overcome this, how do you do that, but you get people who go through terrible lives and end up messed up, or end up incredible, like Zeynab, and you know, she obviously had quite a difficult life before the war started, you know, very poor country, and we were pretty terrible in doing the Oil for Food programme, because we weren't really giving the right amount of money for the oil; otherwise Iraq would have been a very rich country and had an abundance of food. So I think we have a lot to -- to be responsible for in the years gone by.

And I think she's had to grow up in difficult circumstances, which you either become a survivor or you collapse and break down. But she's -- she's just amazing. I think she's just born with that incredible spirit.

KING: I can safely say, we're going to be hearing a lot from Zeynab as the years go on. And we salute Bob Watts. We thank them both for being with us. Lady Heather Mills McCartney will remain, and we'll be joined by an old friend, Carol Bellamy, the executive director of UNICEF. We're going to talk about UNICEF and their involvement in Iraq. Heather will remain. We'll be right back.

KING: Remaining with us is Lady Heather Mills McCartney, and joining us from New York City is Carol Bellamy, former president of the City Council, now executive director of UNICEF. Has held that post since 1994, and former director of the Peace Corps.

Carol, first of all, what did you make of our young lady?

CAROL BELLAMY, EXEC. DIR., UNICEF: Well, I think you saw how resilient young people are. These kids are terrific. She certainly seems to be a great heroine.

KING: And what do you make of the work that Heather does?

BELLAMY: You know, it's so important. When you get people who other people are going to respect, who they knew, who are famous, and they go out there and they're working in Bosnia, and they're working in former Yugoslavia, it makes a difference, and she has a real life story.

KING: Have you done work with UNICEF, Heather?

MILLS MCCARTNEY: No, I haven't, actually. I've done work with the Red Cross and the International Committee for the Red Cross and OXFAM (ph), but I know a lot of the UNICEF work, but we haven't done any work together.

KING: Boy, you ought to hook the two of them up, Carol. Why aren't you with her?

BELLAMY: Well, I'll try that. Both OXFAM (ph) and Red Cross are great organizations as well. I mean, you know, there are a lot of folks involved in landmines. We try and not duplicate each other. The work that Adopt a Landmine (sic) is involved in is critically important, and we spend most of our focus when it comes to landmines in trying to educate, particularly kids, because they are so vulnerable. They're smaller, they're closer to the ground. Some of these landmines are made to look like toys, so kids play with them.

KING: And you said Adopt a -- a -- adopt a -- it's Adopt a Minefield, right?

BELLAMY: I'm sorry. Adopt a Minefield.

KING: Landmines.org. Have I got that right, Heather?

MILLS MCCARTNEY: You got it right. Everybody says Adopt a Landmine. I'm starting to think maybe we should have called it that, but it's more than just a landmine. It's usually a minefield. Adopt a Minefield.

KING: Carol, what...

MILLS MCCARTNEY: And Landmines.org, if anyone wants to help children like Zeynab.

KING: Yeah, we have two, and also for more information on that big, big get-together in Los Angeles in October.

What, Carol, does UNICEF do in Iraq?

BELLAMY: Well, frankly, one has to acknowledge that over the last year, in fact, we're about to come up to a terrible anniversary, August 19, a year ago when the bomb went off and killed a number of U.N. staff. So U.N. international stuff have not been in Iraq since then. But our local staff have still kept working. So what we've been working on, as we do in so many places where kids are impacted by war -- frankly, war is miserable for kids -- we're trying to make sure they keep getting immunized against diseases like measles. We've gotten some schooling materials in so the kids could finish their exams, and we're still tankering in water. Water is life. Water can kill if you don't have water. So those are some of the ways that we're still working in Iraq.

KING: Heather, would you want to go there?

MILLS MCCARTNEY: I'd be there in a short, if my husband wasn't sort of tying me down, and my responsibility towards my baby. I've never had any fear for war zones. I've been in them quite a number of times. But now I'm a mommy, I've got big responsibilities, and I find that I can do more by helping directly with the people here, and around the world. But we're not even sending our NGOs and prosthetists there at the moment. We're trying to set a clinic up in Basra, and it's just too dangerous. Even if we get protection from the British army, it makes it a target. So it's that real dilemma of wanting to get in there and get it done, and protecting our own civilians. So we're just trying to raise the money, get the groundwork set up, so that we've got enough components, and got everything planned, and the second it gets safer we'll be in there straight away.

We helped fund Handicap International in the north for survivors in the Kurdish area, which was less of a threat, but it's too far from Basra for little children like Zeynab to get to, so we really have to concentrate on setting the groundwork up.

KING: Carol, does UNICEF have a problem getting volunteers to go to Iraq?

BELLAMY: Well, we don't use volunteers; we actually have a regular staff...

KING: Is that a problem?

BELLAMY: ... and again, right now, the U.N. is not allowing its international staff to go in. But our local staff are still there. This happens in so many of the war-torn areas of the world, where the local people are really carrying the greatest burden.

KING: What is the access to medical care generally in Iraq?

BELLAMY: Well, there's been some -- well, some improvement. It had already been somewhat challenged even before this war. Heather mentioned before that this is a very poor country, three wars over a 15-year period. The situation of children, for example, before this war, was already bad. One in eight children dying before the age of 5. Many of the services had been compromised. There is some rebuilding of these services, but it's still quite limited.

And there is a fear. That's one of the problems, is the fear, because of the insecurity.
KING: How did Zeynab get to London, Heather?

MILLS MCCARTNEY: Through an amazing guy called Lee Gordon, that was out there on behalf of "The Daily Telegraph," and he just kept coming by her, hobbling around on some rickety wooden crutches, and just couldn't believe that there were no facilities for artificial limbs. And he managed to persuade her father, got her out, and just as he got her out, the father wanted her back; had to go all the way back again. And obviously, being one of the sole remaining members of the family, the father wanted his daughter to be with him, but at the same time have the best care, of which there is none for prosthetics at that time, and she came -- she came out through this guy. And he contacted me straight away, to try and bring some awareness.

The biggest problem at the moment, Larry, is that as Carol was saying, you know, some of the local Iraqis can do the work, but most of our prosthetists that were local Iraqis working in Basra actually were based in Baghdad, so they find it very difficult to take the risk to get from Baghdad to Basra. So this service is very, very limited. So it's this whole security issue that's really the biggest problem.

KING: And Carol, even before the war, the mortality rate in Iraq in children was pretty high, wasn't it?

BELLAMY: It was. Again, reflective of what we see in so many parts of the world today, where war is having a much bigger impact on civilians than military. Sometimes when you look at the pictures from Iraq, you see the people in uniform, but it's really the civilians, the kids, the women. Infant mortality and under 5 mortality rates were high. About a quarter of the children were malnourished. About a quarter of the children didn't go to school, and this was before this war. KING: Are there figures on children casualties in Iraq?

BELLAMY: You know, we don't have those numbers. I don't think anybody has those numbers. But the fact is, what we do know is there are far more civilians casualties, and since about half the population is 18 or below, so the numbers are pretty high.

KING: Boy.

MILLS MCCARTNEY: We have about 600 to 800 amputees at the moment, just around the Basra area, waiting for artificial limbs.

KING: Six hundred to 800?

MILLS MCCARTNEY: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) sort of area. Yeah.

KING: Waiting for artificial limbs?

MILLS MCCARTNEY: Yeah. Just from this war.

KING: We'll take a break and be back with our remaining moments with Lady Heather Mills McCartney, who's been with us all the way, and Carol Bellamy, executive director of UNICEF, on this edition of LARRY KING LIVE. Don't go away.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KING: We're back with Heather Mills McCartney and Carol Bellamy. Why aren't a lot of these limbs available to these people, Heather?

MILLS MCCARTNEY: Because of the security issue and because of funding, you know. We can get within (UNINTELLIGIBLE), we're still trying to get more money together, and every day more people, two or three children a day, are being maimed or killed by mines. So we've got so much unexploded ordnance just strewn around from people that just wanted the boxes as firewood, so there's a big problem. Then you've got the mines left over from the last war, and also you know, the Iraq-Iran war on the borders. But it's just a crazy situation.

But it's mainly down to the security. We have got some funding, so we can go in there as soon as the area is safe.

KING: Carol, in a sense, there is nothing more chicken in war, if that's the correct term, than a mine, isn't it?

BELLAMY: Well, yeah, it sure is. I mean, the weapons of war shouldn't outlast war. It would be nice if they weren't existing in the first place. There has been an international treaty on mines for the last five years; 31 million mines destroyed, but there are still mines out there, and the big manufacturing countries, in no particular order, includes our own, the United States, Russia, India, China -- they're still making mines.

KING: For whose use?

BELLAMY: Who is what? KING: Who's buying the mines? Who's using them?

BELLAMY: Well, again, you know, when there's demand, there's production, and the mines are still being used in too many of the places around the world.

War today is largely within countries. It's not necessarily done through military forces. And so we have many different fighting groups, rebel groups, small groups, and they're buying the mines. And laying them.

KING: Heather, you would think they ought to be banned?

MILLS MCCARTNEY: They are banned in a lot of countries, but some countries haven't ratified, and the good news is, since the Mine Ban Treaty came about, the manufacture of them has gone down immensely. But it's rumored that most mined areas that people are buying for are being used in Chechnya and now in Sudan. So we're going to have a huge problem there. But -- because there's no oil there, how much are we going to help? So -- as in governments. Of course, we'll help as a charity. But they are the two main areas, Chechnya and Sudan, that have a mine currently being planted problem as we speak.

KING: Heather, is Zeynab going to go back to Iraq soon?

MILLS MCCARTNEY: She's going to go back soon. We're in a real dilemma, because it's -- it's a balance between her going back in safety and her actually being with her father, and he is her -- in charge of her life at the moment, so it's entirely up to him, what he wishes. But you know, it's just so dangerous. There are so many cluster bombs still there, and so much fighting going on. And the reason that Britain and America use these cluster bombs is because they are an actual bomb with many bomblets, as they're called, and they can fit so much more into, you know, an airplane, because they can be used in artillery or dropped. And there are just tiny little bomblets in one bomb, and they spread all over the place. So as far as how many bombs can we fit on this plane to cause as much destruction as possible, the clsuter bomb is the one, so that's why they use this cluster bomb, and that's how one bomb can kill 17 members of Zeynab's family.

KING: Since the 17 are dead, could the father come to London?

MILLS MCCARTNEY: The father -- well, that's a really good point, actually. It's very difficult to get them in for any length of time. We've got a short visa that we keep begging for longer for for Zeynab. But you know, it's this whole situation that we have in Britain and America at the moment, where you have these refugees, and how many will the country let into their own country? Because then they get targeted as people that are using the taxpayers' money here, and it just becomes and much, much bigger issue.

The main thing is to get the care to the people in the country that we went to war with, and to sustain that. You know, we went in and did what we did in Afghanistan, and we, the NGOs, are left to clear it up and tidy it up and deal with it. And it just can't go on any longer, that you keep starting a war and don't follow it through.

KING: And Carol, children are always the innocent victims.

BELLAMY: They are. I was just thinking, we've talked so much about Iraq, Heather just mentioned Afghanistan, but one could talk about Uganda or Colombia or Sri Lanka or Nepal or Congo, and on and on.

KING: Unbelievable.

BELLAMY: And the kids are bearing the greatest brunt.

KING: Thank you both very much. Heather, thanks for a wonderful job tonight and being with this show.

MILLS MCCARTNEY: Thank you.

KING: We look forward to seeing you a lot. And Carol Bellamy, always nice seeing you.

BELLAMY: Great. Thanks.

KING: Thanks for joining us. Have a great rest of the weekend, and good night.

Добавлю, что шоу Ларри Кинга вышло в эфир 17 апреля, а 14 августа был повтор. (на фото Ларри Кинг)

August 24, 2004 -- Contact Music

McCARTNEY'S WIFE RETURNS TO FRONT LARRY KING

Former Beatles star Sir Paul McCartney's wife Heather Mills is set to front the Larry King Live program again this autumn.

The former model, who first hosted the American chat show on April 17, so impressed TV bosses with her interviewing skills they have asked her to return for a further stint of presenting.

A source says, "Heather might have taken flak for her last appearance on the show - when she grilled veteran star Paul Newman - but people obviously believe she has what it takes, otherwise they wouldn't want her back.

"She's determined to have a television career in the States and this is clearly another big chance for her to make her mark."

Veteran interviewer Larry King adds, "Lady McCartney has had, to our honor, the honor of hosting this show and we expect to see more of that in the fall and months ahead."

McCARTNEY STOPS WIFE'S IRAQ VISIT

Former BEATLES star PAUL McCARTNEY is refusing to allow his wife HEATHER MILLS to visit war-torn Iraq as part of her charity work.

The former model, 34, wants to go to the Middle Eastern country to remove and increase awareness of landmines as part of her campaign work for the ADOPT A MINEFIELD organisation.

However, her YELLOW SUBMARINE husband is adamant Mills avoids dangerous locations, especially as she is now a mother to their baby daughter BEATRICE.

Mills explains, "I'd be there in a shot if my husband wasn't sort of tying me down and because of my responsibility towards my baby.

"I've never had any fear of war zones. I've been in them quite a number of times. But now I'm a mummy I've got big responsibilities."

26/08/2004

SAVE OUR SARA : MACCA, SIR CLIFF AND THE BECKHAMS ALL PITCH IN FOR SARA Aug 26 2004

SIR Paul McCartney, Sir Cliff Richard and the Beckhams all got behind the Save Our Sara appeal yesterday.

Former Beatle Sir Paul was so touched by little Sara Thackray's brave battle with leukaemia he made a personal donation of £5000.

Pop icon Sir Cliff also pledged his support by promising a cash gift from his charitable fund.

And football star David Beckham and his wife Victoria have donated three signed postcards to auction for the appeal.

Sir Paul, 62, who has a 10-month daughter Beatrice Milly with wife Heather Mills, asked his personal assistant to write a letter sending his best wishes to Sara and her parents, Grant and Lynne.

The touching note reads: 'Paul was extremely sorry to hear what a profoundly difficult time Sara's family have been through.

'As a result,Paul would like to make a donation of £5000 towards the fund for Sara's medical treat-ment in North Carolina. On Paul's behalf, I would like to send Lynne, Grant and Sara his very best wishes.

'He also sends the best luck to you for your ongoing fundraising efforts.'

Sir Cliff was also moved by Sara's story and has promised to make a cash donation to her fund in October.

Posh and Becks have sent three signed postcards with photographs of themselves - one is signed by both and they have signed one each.

They will be auctioned in a special event in the Daily Record.

Sara, of Dunfermline, Fife, needs £450,000 for a pioneering stem cell transplant in America.

The three-year-old will die within a few months if enough cash is not raised to pay for the procedure.

Sara's dad Grant,38,said yesterday: 'We are so overwhelmed that such prominent people as Paul McCartney have read about Sara and want to help us. He is a music legend and to think he has been touched by our little girl is amazing.

'We cannot express how grateful we are that he has given us his backing.'

The generous gestures came as our appeal reached £311,560 after big-hearted Daily Record readers donated a massive £9000 yesterday.

But a lot of the cash pledged so far has still not arrived.

Grant and Lynne will not be issued with the visas they need for their stay in America until they can prove they have funds in the bank to pay for their daughter's treatment.

Sara has just finished her last course of chemotherapy at Edinburgh's Sick Kids Hospital.

Her leukaemic white blood cell count must be below five per cent before she can have the transplant.

Next week, she will have a test to see if her cancer is in remission.

Sara will then have to fly to America as soon as possible.

So please keep raising money - and get it banked quickly.
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/tm_objectid%3D14571944%26method%3Dfull%26siteid%3D894...

August 26, 2004 -- San Jose Mercury News

BAY AREA BRIDGE RUMORS

The lineup for this year's Bridge School Benefit is rumored to include Paul McCartney, Tony Bennett, the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Ben Harper. In the past, some big names have been floated but never materialized.

The lineup for the Oct. 23 and 24 shows at the Shoreline Amphitheater in Mountain View, California will be formally announced in early September.
http://www.bridgeschool.org/events.html

September 1, 2004 -- http://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/

Macca sightings in the UK

Paul McCartney was spotted in the checkout line at the Tesco supermarket in Hove, East Sussex, buying exotic fruit.

September 3, 2004 -- Belfast Telegraph

McCartney big fan of Sexsmith

"This is the first time I've ever been able to write unabashed love songs," says Canadian troubadour Ron Sexsmith. "I can't even begin to tell you how good it feels, man."

Sexsmith's latest offering, Retriever, marks yet another seismic leap in the singer's development. He has decided to abandon studio trickery for a more straight down the line rock approach, and by the singer's own admission, it's paid off. "This is the first record I've been completely happy with.

Sexsmith counts Paul McCartney and Elvis Costello among his biggest fans. It's a fact that pleases the singer immensely.

"I owe a lot to Elvis Costello. If it wasn't for him telling people in the US that he loved my record, I don't know where I'd be now. He really helped me out.

"As for Paul McCartney, well I never thought I'd actually meet any of the Beatles, let alone have one saying he loved my stuff. It's pretty amazing - the first time I ever got to England I was having breakfast at Paul McCartney's house."
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/lifestyle/music/story.jsp?story=557999

September 6, 2004 -- The Sun

To Russia With Love

Stars, firms and our family of readers all dug into their pockets yesterday as The Sun's fund for the kids of Beslan raised £127,000 ($232,410) in just one day.

England skipper David Beckham and Sir Paul McCartney each donated thousands of pounds.

Prime Minister Tony Blair called our appeal "a great campaign" and suggested we widen it to include gifts of toys.

Companies large and small threw their weight behind the fund. And readers up and down the country rushed to give what they could.

We launched our national appeal on yesterday's front page with £10,000 ($18,300) immediately matched by Virgin boss Sir Richard Branson and British Gas.

Pop legend Sir Paul said, "Anything that can be done to ease the suffering has my total support."
http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0%2C%2C2-2004412095%2C00.html

HUNTING TO BE BANNED IN 6 MONTHS Sep 6 2004

THE government will this week begin moves to ban hunting by February.

And in an open letter to Tony Blair, Sir Paul McCartney heads a list of celebrities urging that laws to outlaw it should be pushed through "as soon as possible".

Ministers, who last year voted to ban all hunting with hounds, are keen to press ahead with the move first promised in Labour's 1997 election manifesto. They will use the Parliament Act to override inevitable opposition from the House of Lords and ensure there is no unnecessary delay in getting the new law passed.

A Hunting Bill will be announced this week with a Commons vote after a day-long debate next Tuesday or Wednesday.

To avoid mass protests, Mr Blair would prefer to see the legislation introduced after the next election but is aware this would inflame Labour traditionalists and animal rights groups who have waited years for it.

Sir Paul's letter, signed by other stars including Louise Redknapp, Dermot O'Leary and Mel C, reads: "We are counting on you to bring back the Hunting Bill as soon as possible to ensure that a law to ban fox hunting is passed."
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/allnews/tm_objectid%3D14608768%26method%3Dfull%26siteid%3D...

September 8, 2004 -- Billboard

McCartney, Peppers to rock Bridge School

Paul McCartney, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Tony Bennett, Sonic Youth, Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals, Los Lonely Boys and Tegan & Sara will join event founder Neil Young on the bill for the 18th annual Bridge School Benefit. The shows will be held Oct. 23-24 at Shoreline Amphitheatre outside San Francisco.

Performing as part of Bridge School's traditional acoustic format will be unfamiliar to a number of the artists, particularly McCartney. The former Beatle will be offering what is believed to be his first acoustic set since a 1991 taping for "MTV Unplugged," which was later released on CD.

As for Young, the shows will cap a brief run of performances that include a Sept. 15 show in Berkeley, Calif., the Sept. 17 Clean Air benefit in Duncan, British Columbia, the annual Farm Aid benefit on Sept. 18 outside Seattle, and McCartney's Adopt-A-Minefield gala in Los Angeles on Oct. 15.

Tickets go on sale September 12 through Ticketmaster.com. $38.75 for lawn and $55.75 for seats

September 8, 2004 -- unconfirmed

The Edge Performs with Macca at Irish Gala

This past weekend (September 4) The Edge performed alongside Paul McCartney at a fundraiser event recognizing the tenth anniversary of Barretstown, an Irish children's cancer organization.

The Beatle and U2 guitarist offered up a version of Buddy Holly's "Peggy Sue" to the 300 guests gathered for the organization's gala ball. (McCartney purchased the rights to all of Holly's music in 1976.) The guitar McCartney used during their performance was later auctioned for EUR 55,000 ($66,434)

September 9, 2004 -- IC Stirlingshire

Sir Paul blows a fuse over pylons

Music legend Sir Paul McCartney has urged power companies to think again over plans to upgrade power lines which pass through Stirling.

He hit out at Scottish and Southern Energy and Scottish Power's plans and blasted replacement pylons as "ugly".

He is the biggest name to have criticized the multi-million pound green energy project which has been undertaken by the power companies. Their plans include the Beauly to Denny power line upgrade, as well as new lines to the Hebrides and windfarms to meet renewable energy targets.

Sir Paul said, "It would be a shame if some of the most beautiful scenery in the world was ruined by a line of ugly pylons. We urge the Scottish and Southern Energy Company to please change their mind."

His comments follow concerns shown by Kenny and Gabby Logan, David Bellamy and Sir Chris Bonington, who have all stated their opposition to the pylons.

SSE recently ended its consultation on proposals with local communities, including Kinbuck which was unexpectedly dragged into the matter after a route for the line was redrawn.

Thousands of responses and letters of concern about the pylons and the plans have poured into SSE, Scottish Power and offices of local authorities and politicians across the country. Stirling Council said recently that 641 responses had been received, months in advance of the full planning application which is due later this year or in early 2005.

SSE is also reassessing reasons for choosing the route and has gone over alternatives which have been suggested.

September 10, 2004 -- CNN

"NO AMPS

Paul McCartney's October benefit for Bridge School in San Francisco may be first accoustic-only set since his MTV "Unplugged" set in1991.

September 12, 2004 -- The Mail On Sunday

Hello....Goodbye

She hated him at first sight - and now Heather McCartney has finally forced out Sir Paul's pot-smoking right-hand man.

Sir Paul McCartney's cannabis-smoking right-hand man has quit amid claims that the star's wife Heather fears he is a bad influence.

Friends say Geoff Baker's relationship with Heather has reached the breaking point two years after she married Sir Paul, 62.

Baker, 48 was Sir Paul's publicist for 15 years but was not on his latest European tour.

Insiders said Heather, 36, did not like him touring with the family because he smokes marijuana.

His last assignment was helping Sir Paul at Glastonbury in June, where Baker and Heather allegedly refused to talk to each other.

A source said, "The major problem was that Heather felt Geoff was a bad influence on Paul. She did not agree with the rock 'n' roll lifestyle and she knew Geoff was already sneaking off for a spliff. She didn't want Paul to indulge in that sort of lifestyle.

"She's very aware of her image as a charity campaigner and anything like that would seriously call her image into disrepute."

Baker, who was close confidant of Sir Paul's first wife Linda, confirmed he has quit as Sir Paul's chief aide and said of his relationship with Heather, "After 30 years of experience, I'm no stranger to experimentation. I don't think Heather shares my liberal views on cannabis. I told Paul that I wanted concentrate on new projects. I'm writing a novel about fatherhood. I have not lost any of my friendship for Paul. I lost interest in the day-to-day process of PR, which is not as exciting as working on a world tour."

Insiders said his departure is an example of how much influence Heather has over her husband.

Sir Paul has changed his appearance, including dyeing his hair, moved out of the McCartney family home in Peasmarsh, East Sussex, and now lives in a Thirties beachside house in Brighton.

His wife has also encouraged Sir Paul to spend time in the US later this month so she can pursue a TV career - she is talking ot CNN about presenting a show.

Baker's only client was Sir Paul but he was replaced as publicist on his European tour last year by London-based PR company The Outside Organisation. A source said, "Geoff was gutted when he was told he wouldn't be allowed on the tour.

"He advised Paul to go to The Outside Organisation when the idea of having another press team was raised, but he couldn't understand why they were bringing in another team when he'd done the job perfectly well for 15 years. He assumed it was because Heather didn't like him very much. After that he became less high profile, which was a devastating blow for him.

"There was always a lot of tension between Heather and Geoff.

"The problem, quite simply, was that they clashed. They never got along, partly because Geoff is part of the old guard. He was very close to Linda and the kids."

September 13, 2004 -- Official Press Release

Paul McCartney and Neil Young will peform at the annual Adopt-A-Minefield benefit at the Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles on October 15.

For tickets and table packages, contact Levy, Pazanti & Associates at (310) 201- 5033.

ADOPT-A-MINEFIELDR ANNOUNCES FOURTH ANNUAL BENEFIT GALA TO SPOTLIGHT GLOBAL LANDMINE CRISIS

Humanitarian Fundraising Event Hosted by Paul McCartney and Heather Mills McCartney Draws Celebrities and Ordinary Citizens Together for an Evening of Music and Meaning

Paul McCartney and Heather Mills McCartney, Goodwill Ambassadors for Adopt-A-Minefield (www.landmines.org), one of the world's leading mine action organizations, announced today it will host the Fourth Annual Adopt-A-Minefield Benefit Gala here at the Century Plaza Hotel on Friday, October 15, 2004. The Gala is hosted each year by the McCartneys to raise awareness of the landmine problem, a crisis that affects over one-third of the world's nations. During its first three years, the gala raised over $2.3 million, and has attracted the staunch support of celebrities and concerned citizens worldwide.

The annual event, which will once again be emceed by Jay Leno, will feature a special performance by McCartney and singer/songwriter Neil Young. Together, these legendary musicians will raise their voices in support of Adopt-A-Minefield's mission to clear landmines, save lives and help mine-affected areas rebuild their communities. Previous Adopt-A-Minefield Benefit Galas have showcased performances by McCartney with talents such as James Taylor, Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys, and Paul Simon. A myriad of celebrities are expected to attend this year's festivities. Among those who were present at previous dinners are Michael Douglas & Catherine Zeta-Jones, Pierce Brosnan, Owen Wilson, Julia Louis Dreyfus, Whoopi Goldberg, David Spade, Rob Reiner, Julia Ormond and others.

"We're proud of this annual Adopt-A-Minefield event. It helps inform the public about the landmine issue and awakens consciousness of the horrors of landmines and the unspeakable human suffering caused by these indiscriminate weapons of war," said Paul McCartney. "With Adopt-A-Minefield's efforts to educate and mobilize concerned people to make a difference, we look forward to the day when these deadly weapons are permanently abolished from the face of the earth," added Heather Mills McCartney.

Adopt-A-Minefield will also honor those who have made a significant contribution to the landmine cause. This year's honorees will be announced in October. Previous honorees include Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones, who donated funds to clear a minefield in Cambodia and raised nearly $450,000 to support emergency demining in Afghanistan.

Other previous honorees include Bobby Muller, president of the Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation, who has championed the ban of landmines around the world, as well as International Baccalaureate Students, who have raised over $140,000 in the past two years to clear two minefields in Cambodia and support survivor assistance programs.

Earlier galas have contributed significantly to Adopt-A-Minefield's outreach and education programs as well as provided the resources needed to clear over 200,000 square meters of land and provide aid to survivors in the organization's program countries: Afghanistan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cambodia, Croatia, Mozambique and Vietnam. These six countries are among the most heavily mined in the world.

For tickets, table packages and more information about the Fourth Annual Adopt-A-Minefield Benefit Gala, please contact Levy, Pazanti & Associates at 310-201-5033.

From A Star-Studded Gala to a Night of a Thousand Dinners This year's gala will launch AAM's annual Night of a Thousand DinnersT (N1KD), which will be held on November 4, 2004. Night of a Thousand Dinners is an international event that urges people across the country and around the world to come together on a single night to enjoy a fundraising dinner or other gathering to help end the global landmine crisis. On this special evening, tens of thousands of individuals will join with their friends and families in their homes, restaurants, community centers and other venues to share food and drink, while raising funds for mine clearance and survivor assistance. Launched in 2001, N1KD events have been held in over 50 countries with tens of thousands of participants, raising over $3.3 million for mine action. Individuals interested in hosting a dinner in conjunction with N1KD 2004 can register online at www.1000dinners.com.

"Both the Benefit Gala and the Night of a Thousand Dinners are models for citizen action, serving as evidence that individuals can make a difference - - people of all backgrounds can come together to solve the landmine problem," said Nahela Hadi, Executive Director of the Adopt-A-Minefield Campaign.

About Adopt-A-Minefield: Adopt-A-Minefield is a program of the United Nations Association of the USA in partnership with the United Nations, Ted Turner's Better World Fund, and the U.S. Department of Statement. The Campaign engages individuals, community groups, and businesses in the international effort to resolve the global landmine crisis. Since its launch in 1999, the Campaign has raised over $ 11 million for mine action and has cleared over 18 million square meters of land. Visit www.landmines.org to learn more.