Paul McCartney will sign copies of his new album, appropriately titled New, in HMV's flagship Oxford Street store at 3pm on Friday 18th October.
Talking to NME ahead of the signing, he speaks of his love of record stores and his sadness at their decline.
"There's a romance to them and it's a pity whenever any record store closes, though I realise it's inevitable in the download age." explains the former Beatle. McCartney recalls his experiences of going to the stores in his childhood and clearly looks back at those times fondly, he goes on "They felt really luxurious when I was growing up, that idea of being able to hear a record in listening booths by yourself.
"You'd pretend you were going to buy a record, then say "Nah, I don't want it', even though you'd secretly written down the words to the song you'd just listened to."
Watch: Preview video for New by Paul McCartney
Not all of his memories are so well preserved, however. There is a blue plaque outside the historical site commemorating the Beatles recording a demo in the store in 1962 that led to them signing with EMI. When pressed on this, McCartney claims that has no recollection of this ever happening. Casting doubt on the famous session, he admits "I hate to say it, but I really don't remember us recording there. From what I recall, our first demo was cut at Decca's offices, then at Abbey Road... These stories get confused over time."
HMV re-opened at the famous address of 363 Oxford Street last month after a 13 year absence from the site, which was until recently a branch of Footlocker. Whether or not The Beatles did record there in 1962, Paul McGowan, who is overseeing the reinvention of the store, is planning on there being plenty of live performances in the future. The second floor has been converted to a live soundstage and there are plans for bands to play there frequently.
One thing McCartney hopes to avoid during his signing session is the scourge of what he calls "bounty hunters", people who bring album sleeves for him to sign with the intent purpose of selling them for profit. Explaining that they will get short thrift, he explains "I'll say to them, 'Oh, you play the vinyl all the time, do you?', because I know they're just going to put them straight on eBay. Meeting people who actually like what I do is much nicer."
Below: McCartney plays Times Square
