McCartney’s Ego Allows One Track For Sandy Relief

Insiders are blaming Paul McCartney's vanity for only allowing one-track to the charity collection, 12-12-12: The Concert For Sandy Relief. McCartney -- who according to our sources would only perform if he was the closing act of the night -- played one of the longest sets of the night, performing an eight-song set, including a new song, "Cut Me Some Slack" with the surviving members of Nirvana.

Despite the high profile spot, McCartney only allowed his performance of the Beatles' 1968 "White Album" classic "Helter Skelter" to be included in both the digital and CD versions of the charity compilation. A source told The New York Daily News: "Egos are also to blame for there only being one Paul track. He didn't like the way he sounded and would only approve the one on the album. A shame, because 'Blackbird' was so beautiful live! It's unfortunate that celebrity ego can tarnish even a concert for charity."

One of the highlights of McCartney's recent shows has been a gut-spilling rendition of "Helter Skelter," which McCartney's band had to persuade him to finally perform live. McCartney recalled the Beatles' legendary 1968 session for the track: "We just tried to get it louder -- "Guitars -- can we have 'em sound louder! The drums louder!' And that was really all that I wanted to do, make a very loud raunchy rock and roll record with the Beatles -- which it is. We did it so long and so often, that on the end of it Ringo (Starr) did have blisters."