A Beatles Associate Said Paul McCartney Seemed to ‘Enjoy’ John Lennon’s ‘Discomfort’ After His Drug Bust

In 1968, police raided John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s home and arrested the couple. Police found drugs in the house, landing Lennon in trouble and putting The Beatles as a whole under media scrutiny. After the bust, Lennon and Ono sought refuge at Paul McCartney’s home. Their attorney said it seemed to him as though McCartney enjoyed the uncomfortable position Lennon was in.

Paul McCartney seemed to relish in John Lennon’s discomfort

In 1968, Lennon and Ono met with attorney Martin Polden while at McCartney’s house. McCartney offered them a place to avoid attention, but Polden said he also seemed pleased by Lennon’s discomfort.

“I think in a sense Paul was enjoying a bit of John’s discomfort,” Polden said in the book All You Need Is Love: The Beatles In Their Own Words by Peter Brown and Steven Gaines. “I think that’s a bit unfair because everyone was rather shocked by it.”

At this point, McCartney and Lennon’s relationship had deteriorated. They argued more frequently, McCartney did not like Ono’s constant presence, and Lennon resented the way McCartney treated her. 

Martin Polden was surprised John Lennon sought refuge at Paul McCartney’s house

Because of the tensions between Lennon and McCartney, Polden said he was surprised when he had to go to McCartney’s house to meet with the couple.

“It’s interesting that John went to Paul’s house for shelter because Paul hated Yoko, you know, through all that,” Polden said. “But I guess in the time of need … there was nowhere else to go.”

Going to McCartney’s home didn’t even protect Lennon from public attention. When Polden arrived, people were swarming the home. 

“I couldn’t get in because there were girls outside. It was impossible. There were always hordes of people,” he said, adding, “I couldn’t get into the house. I had to go away and telephone. I said, ‘Look, please let me in.’ They came out to the gate. One of the minions.”

The bassist got into legal trouble for drug possession in later years

Though McCartney avoided getting in trouble for drugs while in The Beatles, he was busted several times after the band broke up. In 1972, McCartney traveled to Sweden with Wings. There, he, his wife, Linda McCartney, and his drummer, Danny Seiwell, were arrested for cannabis possession. They each faced a fine, but no jail time. 

Just one year later, McCartney landed in trouble for growing marijuana on his farm in Scotland. He said he got the seeds from a fan, and planted them without knowing what they were. Still, he received a fine. 

McCartney’s most serious arrest occurred in 1980. He traveled to Tokyo on tour, where customs agents discovered half a pound of marijuana in his bag. Because of the amount of the drug, McCartney faced the possibility of jail time. Luckily — and likely due to his level of fame — he only spent nine days in jail. 

Four years later, McCartney was arrested again, in Barbados this time. Once again, he paid a fine.