Paul McCartney Recalls Setting Fire to a Condom in an ‘Act of Defiance’ with Ex-Beatles Bandmate Pete Best

**Paul McCartney Remembers the Hilarious Hijinks That Led to His Deportation from Germany**

Musical icon Paul McCartney recently recounted a rather unexpected escapade from his formative years as a Beatle in Hamburg, Germany. In a guest appearance on the web series **Chicken Shop Date**, hosted by Amelia Dimoldenberg, he shared a humorous yet eyebrow-raising anecdote involving a condom, a nail, and a rather shabby accommodation.

Reflecting on his time with Pete Best, the original drummer of The Beatles, McCartney described the dismal conditions of their living arrangements in Hamburg. “We were rooming together. It was really dingy, cement walls. It was terrible,” he remarked. The duo’s frustration prompted a spontaneous act of defiance against the unimpressive lodgings where they were staying.

As McCartney recounted, the pair found a nail protruding from the wall of their cramped quarters. In a moment of rebellious silliness, Best pulled out a condom he happened to have with him, and the duo set it ablaze in a misguided attempt at both humor and protest. “So as we were leaving… there was a nail on this wall, so as an act of defiance, Pete had a condom on him. And so we took it out and we lit it,” he explained, much to Dimoldenberg’s surprise.

In what might be considered an amusing twist of fate, McCartney joked that the condom “goes up quite well” when ignited. He cheekily suggested to Dimoldenberg that one hasn’t truly lived until they’ve burned a condom, igniting laughs as well as raising eyebrows. Nonetheless, the burning rubber did not go unnoticed and ignited a series of consequences that the young lads certainly hadn’t anticipated.

At that time, McCartney, Best, and their fellow bandmates—George Harrison, John Lennon, and Stu Sutcliffe—were residing in a makeshift living space at the Bambi Kino, a run-down cinema owned by Bruno Koschmider, who also managed the Kaiserkeller club where they were performing. The band’s lodgings were described in Barry Miles’ biography *Paul McCartney: Many Years from Now* as “three airless dressing rooms which had not been cleaned since the long-ago days when the Bambi functioned as a real theatre.”

McCartney recounted the quirky experience of sharing their toilet facilities with cinema patrons. “It was at the back of a cinema, and you used to get patrons coming in to where our toilet was, the cinema toilet,” he reminisced. It painted a vivid picture of a time that was as chaotic as it was amusing and filled with the camaraderie that characterised McCartney’s early experiences with the band.

Despite the lighthearted nature of the prank, Koschmider was not amused and promptly reported the duo for attempted arson. The aftermath was swift; McCartney and Best found themselves incarcerated for three hours before being deported back to England. Their mischief had earned them an unexpected return home, marking an early chapter of their storied career.

Best, who is now 84 years old, was later dismissed from The Beatles in 1962, paving the way for Ringo Starr to take over the drumming position that would ultimately lead the band to unprecedented heights. McCartney has, of course, continued to thrive as a solo artist and musical icon.

In a reflective moment during the interview, McCartney shared insights about his recent work. He has just released his first album in over five years titled *The Boys of Dungeon Lane*, which draws inspiration from his childhood in Liverpool and his formative experiences with his fellow Beatles. “People say, ‘Well, why do you still write songs?’ And it’s just because I love it. I’m addicted,” he explained in a recent interview with *The New York Times*.

McCartney’s ability to infuse nostalgia and personal storytelling into his music remains a cornerstone of his artistic identity. As he stated, “Out of a black hole comes forth milk and honey. And it’s so great, the feeling.”

This blend of humour and profound reflection about his past clearly illustrates that McCartney has not only maintained his zest for music but also cherishes the memories that shaped him both as an artist and a person. With a career spanning more than six decades, McCartney continues to captivate audiences, reminding us not only of his musical genius but also of the lighter moments that peppered his journey.