Paul McCartney has admitted the importance of hallucinogenic drugs in the history of The Beatles.

However, McCartney told The Daily Telegraph that drug use is not essential for bands to push themselves forward.

When asked how important LSD and marijuana were to the group's work, McCartney replied: "Um, er, probably quite important. It was a development thing.

"It's difficult - I think the answer is quite. It certainly made us stretch further than we might otherwise, from Rubber Soul onwards.

"But I have the problem now - now that things have got a bit out of control - of not wanting to be seen advocating it. â€™Cos we did some pretty good work before that, as well. It's not a requirement."

Of touring while being a father to a 6-year-old, he added: "I don't work when I have my little one. Iâ€™m actually on the road very much half the time.

"So when I do tour, I'm kind of hungry, and the gigs are normally quite choice - it's Hyde Park, or it's the Isle of Wight, or it's Coachella, or it's Hampden Park.

"The thing is, when I am on tour, it's very visible, and people say, 'God, you're so busy'. I'm actually not. Compared to how The Beatles used to tour, it's skiving off. Itâ€™s like saggin' off school."

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