McCartney Turns 70, Shows No Sign Of Slowing Down

He celebrated his birthday in private Monday, perhaps resting up between gigantic gigs this summer. But he shows no sign of slowing down as his music is passed on to generations too young to have seen him in Wings, much less the Beatles.

Once a pot-smoking counterculture rebel, “Sir Paul” is very much part of the British establishment now, closing Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee concert earlier this month with a mix of favorites that included a raucous “All My Loving,” one of the Beatles’ first smash hits.

He’s also preparing for a featured role as the final act at the July 27 opening ceremony of the London Olympics – just another global audience of a billion or more for one of the most popular performers in pop history.

Even McCartney may be a bit nervous for that one, but he won’t be short of material: Consider a back catalog that includes “Yesterday,” ‘‘Eleanor Rigby,” ‘‘Penny Lane” and a few dozen other classics, including perennial crowd pleasers “Let It Be“ and “Hey Jude.”

It’s been a strong year for McCartney, who in October married his third wife, dark-haired American heiress Nancy Shevell, closing the book on his failed union and messy divorce from second wife Heather Mills. His first wife, Linda, died of breast cancer in 1998.