More than 40 years after his Beatles bandmate John Lennon was assassinated, Paul McCartney is opening up about one conversation he had with the legendary boy band’s late frontman that shocks him even to this day.

During a recent episode of the McCartney: A Life in Lyrics podcast, Paul recalled that Lennon was more concerned about his legacy than he was about actually dying. “I remember him saying to me, ‘Paul, I worry about how people are going to remember when I die,’” McCartney shared. “And it kind of shocked me. I said, ‘OK, hold on, just hold it right there. People are going to think you were great, you’ve already done enough work to demonstrate that.’” 

Paul McCartney also spoke about being John Lennon’s “priest” when it came to advice. “Often I’d have to say, ‘My son, you’re great, don’t worry about it,’ and he would take it. It would make him feel better.“

The Beatles bandmates notably met as teenagers while at a church festival in Liverpool, England. At the time, Lennon was part of a band called The Quarrymen. Shortly after their introductions, Lennon invited McCartney to join the group. A few years later, the duo formed the iconic British boy band. 

Paul McCartney Stated John Lennon Had a ‘Really Tragic Life’ 

People reported earlier this year that Paul McCartney spoke about his former bandmate and friend John Lennon at the 2023 Tribeca Festival. While looking through Beatles photos with Conan O’Brien, McCartney spoke about Lennon’s vulnerability and rumored anxiety over the years. 

“I don’t know about the anxiety, but the vulnerability is very true,” McCartney stated. The musician also said Lennon had endured many “minor tragedies” during his short 40 years of life. He pointed out that Lennon’s home life was rough, with his mother not being “decreed” to not be good enough to raise him and his father abandoning him when he was 3 years old. 

“So that’s not too wonderful,” Paul McCartney continued. “It made me realize why he had that vulnerability. I always admired the way he dealt with it because I’m not sure I would deal with the stuff he through that well.” 

The photos that McCartney and O’Brien looked at were put on display at the UK’s National Portrait Gallery in London. McCartney had stated the pictures bring back a flood of special memories. “Which is one of the many reasons I love them all,” he added. “And know that they will always fire my imagination.”