But he's a man who doesn't think much about age. As he told Rolling Stone last year: "People say age is a number. It's a big number the older you get. But if it doesn't interfere, I'm not bothered. You can ignore it. That's what I do."

Well, Sir James Paul McCartney, you should not be ignored on a such a momentous occasion. Here's a look at some other milestone moments.

It's been nearly 60 years since McCartney met John Lennon at a church picnic in Liverpool on July 6, 1957. The incomparable songwriting team to be were drawn closer by their shared tragedy — the loss of their mothers at an early age. (When McCartney was 14, his mother, Mary, died of an embolism. John's mother, Julia, died when he was 17.)

He may be known for his bass guitar playing, but McCartney's first instrument was a trumpet, a gift from his dad for his 14th birthday. He preferred being able to sing while playing music, so he traded it for a guitar.