Sir Paul McCartney confessed that if all the Beatles members had been alive, they would have reunited for the Live 8 concerts, referring to Pink Floyd, who got together to play at the awareness-raising event two weeks ago. George Harrison died in November 29, 2001 and John Lenon died in December 8, 1980.

He told Word magazine: "There was talking of it (reforming), yeah, from time to time (in the 1970s). But again it's the same thing - why? We said: 'We've come full circle. We have a body of work that stands on its own. Why spoil it?'

"It was just talk. It never got that serious. But the interesting thing is that, had it have been now, it might have happened, but unfortunately there's only two of us left.

"You can't imagine John or George, with their view of charity and politics, saying: 'This Live 8 isn't a good idea.' That's the strongest reason for that sort of thing."