Sir Paul McCartney and his brother Mike are opening the doors of their childhood home to undiscovered musicians to write, perform and gain inspiration.
20 Forthlin Road in Liverpool is where Sir Paul and John Lennon wrote hits such as I Saw Her Standing There and When I’m 64.
The house which is now owned by the National Trust will be home to The Forthlin Sessions, where artists picked by Mike McCartney and local partners will have the opportunity to write music and play in the exact same spot as the Fab Four.
Mike McCartney said the home is a ‘house of hope’
Speaking to Sky News, Sir Paul’s younger brother Mike said: “This house to me, is a house of hope. And I hope it will be for the young people that come through the doors.”
Mike witnessed the rapid success of his brother and his friends and he said the house was key in all of that.
Speaking from the parlour of the house, he said: “I would be in the other room learning photography, but whilst I’m doing all that I could hear guitar noises coming from this room.
“In there were what turned out to be two of the world’s greatest songwriters, McCartney and Lennon. They were rehearsing from a school book on the floor, that’s why this house is so unique.”
Sir Paul and Lennon honed their skills in the house
From playing the piano in the living room to rehearsing in the bathroom because of the acoustics, much of The Beatles’ magic was manufactured in the terraced council house.
The creativity within its four walls has influenced artists across the world for decades and will continue to for generations to come.
“I think it’s a brilliant idea,” said Mike. “Inviting young people to this house and giving them the opportunity of doing the same as us, coming from nothing and seeing where it takes them.”
One of the artists who has been performing in the house is Liverpool-born Esme
“All this is to me is a lovely little home where love came from.”
When asked what he missed about the house, Mike became very emotional.
He said: “That is a very simple question to answer: my mum. As soon as I say that word, I go.”
The programme means artists like Esme, born and bred in Liverpool, will have the opportunity to flex their creative skills in the home where it all began for The Beatles.
Esme told Sky News: “Whatever you create, write or play in this space will always be something really special.
“Obviously, The Beatles is a massive part of the music history in Liverpool and there’s such a connection to it.
“So to be able to come here as an unsigned artist from Merseyside, you just feel really connected to that history.”
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