Startling Arrest of Paul McCartney: Nine-Day Imprisonment Caused by Public Eye's Unforgiving Judgment
Headline: Paul McCartney's 1980 Marijuana Arrest in Japan: A Turning Point in His Life
In January 1980, Paul McCartney, a globally renowned musician, found himself in an unexpected situation when he was arrested at Tokyo's Narita International Airport for marijuana possession.
The incident, which occurred on the 16th of the month, was a significant one. McCartney was held in custody for approximately nine to ten days before being released without charges. Despite this, the arrest marked a brief disruption at the start of his Japanese tour and brought attention to Japan's strict drug laws and enforcement.
During his detention, McCartney was housed within a four-by-eight cell at the Drug Supervisory Center, awaiting further questioning. He was seized by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and led away in handcuffs, an experience he later compared to the film "The Great Escape."
McCartney's fellow inmates and guards reportedly took a liking to him, but the incident left him embarrassed and reflecting on his actions. He felt it was a result of his own stupidity. John Lennon, his former Beatles bandmate, expressed concern but also found the blunder ridiculous.
Lennon allegedly told his housekeeper that McCartney should have had someone else carry the marijuana if he needed it. The marijuana, which had a street value of 600,000 yen, was not hidden but was among McCartney's clothes and other essentials.
The planned Wings tour was cancelled due to McCartney's arrest, a loss that amounted to almost 100,000 tickets sold and a financial loss of 100 million yen. Wings would never tour again, with McCartney becoming a confirmed solo act after Denny Laine's departure.
Despite the incident, Japan warmly welcomed McCartney back in later decades. Years later, McCartney cited the arrest and his sense of responsibility as reasons for giving up marijuana, especially as a parent. By 2012, he declared he had stopped using cannabis for the sake of his daughter, stating that growing up and having children made him reconsider his drug use.
In the 2000 documentary Wingspan, McCartney reflected on the incident, suggesting he might have been framed. Linda McCartney visited him after six days and brought books, clothes, and sandwiches, but was not allowed to see him in the detention centre.
Today, McCartney continues to tour in Japan, having returned multiple times in subsequent years. The 1980 Japanese marijuana arrest was a brief yet impactful event in McCartney's life, underscoring Japan's zero-tolerance approach to drugs and eventually influencing his decision to quit marijuana.
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