Paul McCartney, often perceived as the most genial member of The Beatles, could be "bolshy" and was resistant to financial constraints during his solo career, according to his former manager Richard Ogden. Ogden, who managed McCartney's solo career from 1987 to 1993, details these experiences in his new book, "Bigger Than The Beatles."
During their time working together, which included overseeing five solo albums and two tours, Ogden reportedly clashed with McCartney over finances and artistic direction. Ogden claims McCartney would dismiss concerns about tour losses by stating, "Paul McCartney doesn't lose money!" and asserted at an early meeting, "I don't work to budgets, I don't need to."
Ogden, who was recruited by McCartney's brother-in-law John Eastman after previously managing Polydor Records, took on the role when McCartney was recovering from less successful projects like the film "Give My Regards To Broad Street" and the album "Press To Play." Ogden's initial assessment of McCartney's solo work was that it lacked strong material, and he informed McCartney that none of the 20 tracks he had written were strong enough for a single release. This frankness, according to Ogden, was met with surprise from McCartney's wife, Linda, who noted that "no one ever spoke to him like that before."
Further conflict arose over the release of a greatest hits album, "All The Best!" Linda's father, Lee Eastman, initially advised against it, deeming greatest hits albums as being "for has-beens," yet the album ultimately achieved triple platinum status.
The 1989-1990 world tour, known as the New World Tour, was also a source of contention. Despite good ticket sales and media reception, Ogden alleges that McCartney verbally abused him in front of Linda and the band, expressing dissatisfaction with the success not being sufficient. McCartney also reportedly had a "visceral dislike" for the notion of performing for financial gain. When informed in February 1993 that spending was excessive and the tour was losing money, McCartney reacted with anger, shouting the same phrase, "Paul McCartney doesn't lose money!"
Disagreements over the tour's financial viability led to a heated meeting in New York involving John Eastman. Ogden recounts McCartney becoming furious with both himself and Eastman, even telling Eastman he was "not half the man your father was" before ordering them out of his sight. Reflecting on the incident, Ogden asked Eastman why he tolerated such treatment, to which Eastman replied that John Lennon had been far more difficult to manage.