Musician Paul McCartney was born on June 18, 1942, in Liverpool, England. In 1957, he met John Lennon through a mutual friend and joined the Quarrymen, the band that would become the Beatles. He initially played guitar, but took over as bassist when the bassist left. He debuted with The Beatles in 1962 with "Love Me Do." He subsequently wrote many of The Beatles' signature songs, including "Yesterday," "Hey Jude," and "Let It Be." He announced his departure from The Beatles in 1970. After the band's disbandment, he pursued a solo career, and in 1971 he formed and led Wings. He subsequently toured Europe and around the world, achieving great success, but in 1980 he was arrested in Japan for illegal marijuana possession. This arrest led to Wings' disbandment the following year. He later resumed his solo career and remains an active musician. Last month, he visited Japan for his fifth solo concert, but canceled all performances due to a viral infection and returned home. He was knighted by the Queen of England in 1997 and awarded the Legion of Honor, France's highest honor, in 2002. He is also recognized by the Guinness World Records as the "most successful composer in the history of popular music." In 1969, he married photographer Linda McCartney, but she died in 1998. He remarried human rights activist Heather Mills in 2002 and divorced in 2008. He remarried American Nancy Shevell in 2011. His daughter is fashion designer Stella McCartney.