On This Day January 16, 1980 Paul McCartney was arrested and jailed in Japan for possession of marijuana on this day in 1980.
The musician had landed at Tokyo’s Narita airport with the rest of his band, Wings, his wife Linda and their four children prior to a short tour of the country when the drugs were found in his suitcase.
McCartney was arrested, handcuffed and questioned for an hour by narcotics control officers. It was then decided that further questioning would take place the following day.
Paul McCartney Arrival in Japan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B148ToOlQ7w
It’s really very silly. People certainly are different over here. They take it so very seriously. Paul is now in some kind of detention place and I have not been allowed to see him. As soon as they get someone nice like Paul, they seem to make a field day of it!I’ll never come back to Japan again. It’s my first trip and my last!
“It’s all a mistake,” McCartney protested, as the NCB agents handcuffed him. He was taken to the Drug Supervisory Center for interrogation. Within 11 hours, the Wings tour was canceled and McCartney found himself squeezed into a 4-by-8 cell in a Tokyo prison.
He was soon visited by the British vice-consul, who told the former Beatle that the sentence could be up to eight years.
“My first night was the worst,” McCartney said. “I couldn’t sleep. I was frightened about the possibility of not seeing my family for years.”
After nine days, he was finally released without charge and deported to England. The 11 concerts that Wings were expected to play were cancelled, leading to a compensation bill of £1 million for the musician.
Paul McCartney leaves Japan – New Tokyo Int’l Airport – January 25, 1980
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7uJpPZwago
Paul McCartney and Wings Rehearsals for Japan Tour –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrGrBTGWnxI
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Sources:
http://home.bt.com/news/world-news/january-16-1980-paul-mccartney-arrested-and-jailed-in-japan-on-drugs-charges-11363954636465
Paul McCartney is arrested in Japan for marijuana possession
