Wayne Coyne, frontman of the Flaming Lips, recounted a surreal encounter involving Paul McCartney. During a conversation with The Guardian, Coyne shared that he often has awkward interactions with celebrities. He recalled meeting McCartney at a festival around 1993. McCartney, accompanied by his wife Linda, arrived backstage unexpectedly, and Coyne ended up on stage with him. McCartney, possibly assuming Coyne was part of his entourage, didn’t seem to mind his presence. Coyne stood behind McCartney as they watched Neil Young perform, with Coyne more interested in observing McCartney than the performance itself.
Coyne noted a personal observation about McCartney, mentioning his ear appeared “crusty,” attributing it to the rigors of travel. This moment was interrupted when McCartney offered him a “big joint.” Despite not being a regular marijuana user, Coyne took a puff, reasoning that the chance to smoke with a music legend like McCartney was a rare opportunity. Reflecting on the experience, Coyne described it as amazing.