Video: 'Paul McCartney & Wings In Gothenburg, Sweeden - ITN News - 11 August 1972'
(Wednesday, August 11, 1972) — Former Beatle Paul McCartney and his new rock group, Wings, arrived today in Lund, Sweden, for a concert after paying $1,800 in combined fines for possession of cannabis.
McCartney admitted in a statement to Gothenburg police that he and his wife, Linda, had been sent the drug by a friend in England for use during their Wings Over Europe Tour.
Following their performance last night at the Scandinavium Hall in Gothenburg, Sweden, the P.A. system was abruptly cut off by the police who were waiting to question Paul, Linda, and Wings’ drummer, Denny Seiwell, about seven ounces of marijuana that customs officials had intercepted.
Amid scenes of confusion backstage, caught in pictures by the tour photographer Joe Stevens, the three, along with Paul’s secretary, Rebecca Hines, are taken away for questioning at police headquarters. They were later arrested on charges of drug possession and Paul & Linda were fined the equivalent of $1,200.
After three hours of questioning, they confessed to the police that the cannabis they smoked was sent to them daily by post from London. Paul, Linda, and Denny admit, according to authorities, that they smoke hash every day and are almost addicted to it.
But, according to John Morris, a different set of events took place at police headquarters. “Paul, Linda, and Denny did admit to the Swedish police that they used hash. At first, they denied it but the police gave them a rough time and started threatening all sorts of things.
The police said they would bar the group from leaving the country unless they confessed. The drugs were found in a parcel addressed to Paul by customs men.
Lots of people send drugs to the band. They think they are doing them some kind of a favor, instead, it causes all this kind of trouble.
It was simply a case of pleading guilty, paying the fine, and getting out of the city. As far as we are concerned, the whole business is finished.”
An unnamed member of Wings, though, is heard to playfully remark: “The police acting against us was an excellent advertisement… our name now flies all over the world.”
