McCartney tells Quebec nationalists to smoke 'the pipes of peace'
Jul 17, 4:41 PM
CALGARY (CBC) - Paul McCartney is telling critics of his upcoming concert in Quebec City to "smoke the pipes of peace."
In an interview with Radio-Canada, the former Beatle said he doesn't understand Quebec nationalists who say his presence is out of place at Quebec City's 400th birthday bash.
A small group of sovereigntist artists and politicians publicly critized McCartney's free concert, arguing his presence is overly "Canadianizing" the city's celebration.
McCartney said his free show on Sunday is about friendship, not politics.
"I think it's time to smoke the pipes of peace, and to just put away your hatchets," he said in the telephone interview. "I think it's a show of friendship. I'm very friendly with the French people I know. I know people of all nationalities."
His sovereigntist critics argue he shouldn't be playing such a prominent show in Quebec City because it would be too reminiscent of the battle between his native Britain and the French in Quebec in the 1750s.
McCartney said that logic means he should never visit Germany because of the world wars that pitted Britain against Germany.
McCartney suggested wryly that it was time to let bygones go. "They won," he said. "What are they moaning about? They won."
"I wouldn't have minded if they lost. It's me that should be moaning, right?" He pauses for several seconds. "I'm only kidding you know."
He said he doesn't pay much attention to naysayers, as a rule, and thinks that "people who are just really nationalistic like that should go watch a DVD or something."
McCartney said he’s been in similar situations in the past.
When the Beatles played Tokyo, Japan for the first time in 1966, he said some people were up in arms about the band's choice of venue - the Budokan - an arena originally built for martial arts.
“People sort of were saying ‘I’m going to commit suicide, they shouldn’t be playing in there,’ you know. I mean, that didn’t last long,” he recalled.
McCartney has never been to Quebec City but said he's looking forward to his visit and hopes to take in some of the sights.
He said he's excited about playing with his band, and although he wouldn't reveal what songs they will play, promised "plenty of hits in there."
His hope is that people say "this was the best night of [their] lives."
"I know I'm aiming high, but why not?" he said.
He also urged all "Quebeckians" to love him, and expressed his hope that he and his band would "conquer Quebec this time."
He said he trusts his French lessons will help.
Organizers are expecting about 200,000 people for the open-air show on the Plains of Abraham.
With files from the Canadian Press
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