'ex-Beatle' Paul Mccartney ..

[andy-hughes]

Still, the media refer to Sir Tumbs-Aloft as 'ex-Beatle ...' and I find it baffling.

Given that there is an entire generation for whom The Beatles are a cultural footnote, but were not alive when the band last played or recorded, and that anyone who remembers the Beatles knows who Paul McCartney is - why do the media still insist on this pointless tag?

You never see 'Rolling Stone Mick Jagger', or 'ex-Jackson Five Michael Jackson', or even 'ex-Squeeze Jools Holland' - just our Paul.

Why?

[andy-hughes]

Oops - apologies for the typo in his name!

[Sipowicz]

Andy, let it be! ;-)

[aelmpvw]

it's not as if there is another famous paul mccartney

[Chipchopper]

Good question! and why not 'ex wings'
Probably about time to loose the tag, as you say.

[Baldric]

Only a couple of weeks ago

http://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/rolling-stones-star-mick-jagger-2289270

[boxtops]

That's what started him off, that's why, and what's making him particularly rich. Ringo gets the same tag.

[boxtops]

oh look, very similar question here in Related posts http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/ChatterBank/Question1108569.html

[andy-hughes]

boxtops - I know! it may be an 'age' things, but this sort of nonsense winds me up to an entirely disporoportionate degree!!!

[andy-hughes]

trig - "Cause he was in a group that have sold over 2 billion records."

Precisely! Doesn't that rather point to the fact that the world probably knows who Paul McCartney is - without the historical context?

[andy-hughes]

'Put some bush on ....?

Sorry, I need a bit more info on that one.

Speaking of 'bush' - no-one tends to say 'exWailer' Bob Marley do they???

OK, I'll stop now.

[andy-hughes]

Gotcha - thanks!

[Sipowicz]

Moments of pleasure?

[mccfluff]

I guess i could understand him getting fed up with it, as i it detracts from his work from then on

to me he is ex beatle macca, i'd have a problem naming any songs of his after the beatles...

[Sipowicz]

Ex Peter Gabriel collaborator?

[Zeuhl]

It rather implies that he hasn't done anything of merit since - which may well be true.