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One Direction, the Beatles: Paul McCartney Warns Against Comparing Boy Band to the Brit Legends

Gareth Cattermole, Getty Images

As British boy band One Direction takes the U.S. by storm, the Beatles' Paul McCartney has some opinions about the group's rapid rise to fame. The veteran rocker shared his advice for the music biz newcomers during an interview with the U.K.'s "Daybreak."

Just a year and a half after placing as finalists on the British version of the "The X Factor," One Direction became the first act out of the U.K. to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard albums chart. The five-piece band is already being compared to their legendary predecessors, the Beatles, but McCartney has warned fans and the music industry against comparing One Direction to "the Fab Four." Why? Well, according to Sir Paul, it's for their own good! He's afraid the sudden comparison will set the lads up for eminent failure.


Hulton Archive, Getty Images

"[The comparison is the] kiss of death," he claimed. "So many bands, they all get called the next Beatles. It puts an awful lot of pressure on them to be the next Beatles," Sir Paul explained.

McCartney cited previous examples of said "kiss of death," recalling, "Oasis were the next Beatles once, if you remember. It's pressure because suddenly you have got to live up to all the things that we did. It was a different time back then."

The Beatles legend did offer an alternative label for 1D, suggesting, "Let's just call them the next terrific band. They're doing well in America. Good."

Do you agree with McCartney's concerns? Tweet us your thoughts @aolmusic!

View Our "Boy Bands: Where Are They Now?" Gallery


Watch One Direction's "What Makes You Beautiful" Video


Watch "One Direction Land First Number One Single"




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susy

There will never be a 'next' Beatles, and bands should stop being promoted as such. The Beatles changed the world with their music, beliefs, style, and charisma. They changed the way we think about each other and ourselves. Their popularity wasn't forced upon us like the PR machines of today. We weren't bombarded with images of them on reality TV or the internet, yet they still became an incredibly important part of our culture. I am not saying there hasn't been any original or exceptional talent since then, there has. There will just never be another Beatles, and there shouldn't be.

April 04 2012 at 4:37 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
David Kalmanir

Lord, I hate boy bands. Manufactured corporate piece of crap!

April 04 2012 at 6:34 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
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