The Story Of Paul McCartney’s 5 Pseudonyms

Published Mar 14, 2023 By Dowell De Los Reyes

via PAUL McCARTNEY/YouTube

Paul McCartney is a legend in the music industry and has made a significant impact with his contributions to The Beatles and his solo work. However, it is not widely known that he has also used several pseudonyms throughout his career.

Paul McCartney has used several pseudonyms throughout his career, each with its own story and significance. These names allowed him to experiment and explore new musical styles without the pressure of his well-known name. Though some of these aliases may not be well-known, they serve as an interesting footnote to the career of one of music’s biggest icons.

Here’s a look at the stories behind five of his most notable aliases.

Percy Thrillington

In 1977, McCartney released an instrumental album titled Thrillington, which was a reworking of his 1971 album, Ram. The album was credited to Percy Thrillington, and it was not until years later that McCartney revealed himself to be the mastermind behind the project. The pseudonym was an inside joke, based on a pun of “Paul McCartney” and “perpetual thrills.”

 

Bernard Webb

In 1967, McCartney wrote a song called “Woman” for Peter and Gordon, a British pop duo. However, he did not want his name to be associated with the song, as he believed it would detract from its commercial success. As a result, he used the pseudonym Bernard Webb, which was a combination of his father’s name (Jim McCartney) and his mother’s maiden name (Mary Patricia Mohin).

 

Apollo C. Vermouth

In the 1970s, McCartney and his band Wings recorded a few instrumental tracks that were never officially released. The tracks were credited to a fictitious band called “The Country Hams,” and McCartney used the pseudonym Apollo C. Vermouth as the drummer for the band. The name was a play on “apricot jam” – a reference to the fruit preserves that McCartney enjoyed eating.

 

Clint Harrigan

In 1959, Lennon and McCartney formed a band called The Quarrymen, which later evolved into The Beatles. However, before The Beatles, McCartney played in a skiffle band called The Vikings. For this band, he used the pseudonym, Clint Harrigan. The name was inspired by his love of western movies, and “Clint” was a nod to Clint Eastwood.

 

Paul Ramon

In the early days of The Beatles, McCartney used the pseudonym Paul Ramon when he played guitar. The name was inspired by one of his heroes, American musician Paul Ramon (born Ramon Santamaria), who was a prominent jazz and Latin percussionist. McCartney adopted the name as a tribute to his idol and used it for a few early recordings with The Beatles.

It was also used to check in to hotels incognito. The Ramones were inspired by the name and used it for their band.