Intro:
Since EAR CANDY is also a pop-culture magazine, we decided to cover an “incident” regarding Paul McCartney that I recently found on you-tube. Audrey McCombs, a 19 year old college student from California was brought onstage during Paul’s concert in Halifax to have her arm autographed. But this was not just any autograph – you see, she was holding up a sign that said, "Paul - Will you sign my arm so I can get it tattooed on?" And yes, she did get it tattooed after the show.

I recently talked to Audrey about her “appearance” with Paul onstage. And, since I was curious about what makes the current Paul/Beatles fan “tick”, I also asked her love of the music.

E.C.: When did you become a fan of Paul McCartney? Are you also a Beatles fan, or just a Paul fan? Why does his music appeal to you so much, compared to the other contemporary music that is out there today?

Audrey: When I was 11, Wingspan came out, and I found Paul to be my absolute favorite. I'd say I'm actually more of a Paul fan - there is more stuff to discover because it hasn't been catalogued like Beatles stuff. I just bought the Suzy and the Red Stripes single on vinyl the other day. I like knowing more about Paul than most people, something to specialize in. I like Paul's music more than the things nowadays because it seems more sincere; he writes it all himself, plays most all of it himself, knows how to produce and the like. Oh, and he can play more than 4 chords!

E.C.: Wow, I am impressed – Suzy and the Red Stripes? I bought that on 45 in the late ‘70s! Without going into specifics, I’ve found a treasure trove of unreleased material via the internet (not only music, but DVD’s as well). I guess you also collect Paul’s (dare I say) “unofficial” discs?

Audrey: Oh yeah, I just had to backup a bunch of files last night, my hard drive is 220 gigs, and I only had 1.36 gigs left. My favorite thing I've got is a collection of bootleg Beatle stuff on colored swirled vinyl.

E.C.: Do you have a preference for Paul's Beatles music or his solo music?

Audrey: I think Paul's writing in The Beatles period is superior to the stuff he wrote after - BUT, there is at least 2 gems on every McCartney album, songs easily comparable to the Beatle days. I have been trying to answer the question of which I like better for a few years now - I still can't answer.

E.C.: Most Beatle fans have a story about the "eureka moment" when they knew they were a fan - do you have one?

Audrey: Well, my cousin played me Lucy in The Sky with Diamonds when I was 9 years old, and I thought I had discovered some unknown band...but of course it ended up being The Beatles. Anyway, I decided from that moment on that I would try and find out every possible thing about them. All the vinyl, around 100 books and 200 gigabytes of bootlegs later, I'm still working on it.

E.C.: Talking about books and vinyl, etc – do you also collect Beatles stuff, or primarily Paul?

Audrey: Both; I'm telling myself to go in order, like get all the Beatles stuff first, then Paul, then George etc. But it never seems to go that way. There's too much Beatle and Paul stuff for me to even get started on the others! I've just gotten about 30 issues of Club Sandwich as well, magnificent stuff! I wish Paul would do that again, it's wonderful!

E.C.: When did you first see Paul in concert? Is the 2009 tour the first time you've seen him?

Audrey: The first time I saw Paul McCartney was November 7th 2005 in San Jose. I had begged my family to let me see him in Oakland on his '02 tour when I was 12, but it was too much money. From that day forward, I saved every penny I had for the next time he came around. I saw him in San Jose and the next week in Sacramento.

E.C.: How many times have you seen him?

Audrey: Atlanta this past weekend was my 5th time - I met some wonderful ladies there, one whom was on her 35th show, and the other was on number 52! She saw Wings 16 times on the '76 tour - she's my hero!

E.C.: OK, you’ve got me beat – only seen him 4 times (Once in 1990, twice in 1993 and the Atlanta show of his 2009 tour). Now let’s talk about the tattoo. When did the idea come to you and how did you set about making the plan into a reality?

Audrey: Oh dear...I think it was about 3 or 4 years ago I got the idea. I saw Paul at Coachella, and there was a kid with a sign in the front that said "Can I have your guitar pick?" and Paul was joking and said "No it's mine!", but after the show he gave it to him! So I thought "...well, maybe in my wildest dreams it'd come true!" So when the Halifax show was announced and it was a general admission show, I thought "What the heck, I'll go!" and made a sign, got it laminated in case it rained, and carried it all the way to Halifax.

E.C.: What did it say on the sign you made? With the Halifax show being general admission, you had to be there really early? Because I imagine that you had to try and be as close to the stage as possible?

Audrey: My sign said "Paul - Will you sign my arm so I can get it tattooed on?" I slept overnight at the gates with about 25 other people, half of them were French Canadian, and I couldn't understand a word, but we had lots of fun! But when the time came around for the gates to open, there was a mad rush of course, and the run was probably half a mile long - I could’ve gotten 1st row way too his left or right, but I had done that at Coachella, and I thought the center would be better. So 2nd row center is what I got!

E.C.: So, you got up front and were holding your sign – did Paul notice the sign right away?

Audrey: Well, I held it up during Calico Skies because I knew he talked about how distracting signs were after the song. I play guitar myself, and it is a tough one to sing and play at the same time - anyway, he looked up after the 1st verse, and I could see him reading it, and he got a really confused look on his face! At that point I knew he was going to talk about it...he kept looking at me for the rest of the song!

E.C.: Did one of the assistants come get you before Paul announced it from the stage? What did he say to you?

Audrey: Well, I was listening to him talk, and all of a sudden 2 security guards were at the rail and beckoning for me to go over! Brian Riddle, Paul's main security guy is in charge of that kind of decision, came over and led me to the stage. I don't really know what order it all happened in, I was so pumped with adrenaline at that point.

E.C.: Did you think it would actually happen? (Paul signing your arm?)

Audrey: You know, I don't think I did - the most I was expected was for him to talk about it...which would've made my day completely, but for him - Sir James Paul McCartney - to pull ME onstage, where I gave HIM a hug...I never, ever EVER would've guessed for it to happen!

E.C.: Weren’t you worried that it would smudge off?

Audrey: After the whole signing, they took me to the medic tent because I was freaking out. They actually put a bandage on it so it wouldn't smudge, but when I took it off the next day it had actually soaked some of the ink up. I still have the bandage.

E.C.: What did the tattoo artist say? Did he like the idea?

Audrey: The artist was booked for 5 months solid, and I had texted my friend while in the Toronto airport to see who was open on a Sunday in Hunboldt County. She called the place and told the story, and the artist said "I'll do it, I've got to be a part of this, and I can't let some bum give her this tattoo!" He was really great, very friendly, and refused to tattoo me unless we were listening to the Beatles. My friend had to go out and buy a CD! The name of the shop is 'Skinsignia'

E.C.: Are you planning on seeing any more Paul shows in the future?

Audrey: Unfortunately, I am unable to make it to Dallas...and there are small rumors that he'll come to the west coast in late October/early November...in which case, I'm going to have to tell my professors that my mom is getting married in whatever city he's playing in and I have to go see her.

E.C.: Finally, the only thing that I would have had Paul add to his autograph would be the phrase, “Come see me in concert anytime!” Ha ha, a permanent pass to his shows?

Audrey: Well, Paul's people know me now, and all I'd have to do is show the arm and you'd think they'd let me in right? I wish!