Expert: Elizabeth - 3/18/2007

Question
Hi Elizabeth,

I have read in various sources that Mal Evans cowrote Fixing a Hole with Paul.  Is this claim solely based on Evans' diary?  Do you believe it is true?  If so, do you know what his contribution was and how much he was paid?

Thanks,
David

Answer
If Mal wrote any of Fixing a Hole, he definitely didn't get any money for it.  Lennon/McCartney haven't even received publishing royalties on that song since 1969.

Mal's diaries have never been read by anyone but Mal.  It was said that they could have been published, but they've been lost for decades.

A lot of people in the Beatles circle claimed a lot of things, some of which conflict with each other due to fading memories.  Writers and journalists making up facts doesn't help either.  Maybe Mal helped write it, maybe he didn't.  I can't recall Paul ever saying anything on the matter, and my copies of his official biography, "Many Years from Now," which would be the mostly likely place to find info on it, seem to be missing right now.  If I find anything, I'll get back to you.