Ahead of his upcoming tour dates in Madrid, Sir Paul McCartney is calling on everyone to come together and put an end to cruel bullfights, reports PETA UK. The music legend features on digital screens lighting up the Spanish capital’s most famous street, Gran Vía, with a can’t-be-missed message: “I am Paul McCartney, and I oppose bullfighting.”

Why Sir Paul McCartney Stands Against Bullfighting:

Bulls feel pain and fear just as humans do, but in the bullring, they’re terrorized, mutilated, and barbarically slaughtered in front of jeering crowds.

During bullfights, assailants on horses drive lances into a bull’s back and neck before others plunge banderillas into his back. When the bull becomes weak from blood loss, a matador attempts to kill the animal by plunging a sword into his lungs. A knife is used to cut his spinal cord. The bull may be paralysed but still conscious as his ears or tail are cut off and presented to the matador as a trophy and his body is dragged from the arena.

Sir Paul McCartney is taking a stand against this violence, and PETA is urging compassionate people everywhere to join him.

Read the full report at PETA UK.

In a groundbreaking career which has seen Paul McCartney win countless awards and receive some of the world’s most prestigious honours - today marks a career first as The Royal Mint launches an official Paul McCartney coin.

The coin features Paul’s iconic Magic Piano as well as several references to his record-breaking career - including piano notes personally chosen by Paul, a Höfner Violin Bass guitar and the Wings logo.

The design was officially approved by Paul and marks the first time he has appeared on an official UK coin. The £5 coin collection is available in a range of finishes, as well as coloured editions which brings the Magic Piano to life for fans.  

Says McCartney, "This feels like a huge honour. It’s not anything I would have ever expected to happen when I was a kid."

Paul is one of the most successful British musicians and songwriters of all time. As a member of both The Beatles and Wings, he became a rock ‘n’ roll superstar, but his continued work as a solo artist has cemented him as one of the greatest artists in history. Paul has just completed the South American leg of his acclaimed Got Back tour - which saw him play to over 500,000 people in eight countries. The tour has just started its European leg and will finish the year with home shows in Manchester and London later this month.

Inspired by Paul’s use of pennies as guitar picks in the early days, The Royal Mint has also created a special edition plectrum shaped version of the coin to gift to Paul. The one-off plectrum has been produced using sustainable gold, recovered from e-waste at The Royal Mint’s factory in South Wales.

Rebecca Morgan, Director of Commemorative Coin at The Royal Mint said, “Our coins recognize the greatest icons and events in British history, so it’s fitting that Paul McCartney’s remarkable music career is now celebrated on an official UK coin. What makes this coin extra special is that Paul has been involved throughout the design process. The coin celebrates elements from throughout his solo career, and we hope fans will enjoy the layered references to songs, instruments and bands.”

In early 2025 The Royal Mint will offer fans the chance to own a unique piece of history, auctioning a signed, gold edition of Paul’s coin. The bespoke gold coin weighs five kilos and took over 250 hours to make, including three days of hand polishing. It was signed by Paul during his 2024 Got Back tour in Paris and will be auctioned alongside four silver five kilo editions.    

The Paul McCartney collectable coin is available as limited-edition precious metal proof finishes, Brilliant Uncirculated and colour versions. To view the full collection, visit The Royal Mint’s website, prices start from £15.50.