## Summary of News: Paul McCartney's Stolen Bass Guitar Saga to Be Told in New Documentary **News Title:** Paul McCartney’s Stolen Bass Guitar Saga to Be Told in New Documentary From ‘Super/Man’ Producers (EXCLUSIVE) **Report Provider:** Variety **Author:** Elsa Keslassy **Published Date:** September 4, 2025 --- ### Overview A new feature-length documentary, titled **"The Beatle and the Bass,"** will chronicle the epic and enduring mystery surrounding Paul McCartney's stolen Höfner bass guitar. The instrument, purchased by McCartney in 1961 for £30, vanished in the early 1970s and was recently returned to him in 2024, after **51 years**. The documentary is produced by Passion Pictures, known for the BAFTA-winning Sundance hit "Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story," and will be distributed globally by Fremantle. ### Key Information and Findings * **The Documentary Subject:** "The Beatle and the Bass" will delve into the detective story behind the disappearance and subsequent recovery of Paul McCartney's original Höfner bass guitar. * **Timeline of the Mystery:** The bass was bought by McCartney in 1961 when he was an 18-year-old in Hamburg. It was instrumental during the early days of The Beatles. It disappeared in the early 1970s, leading to its presumed permanent loss. The bass was returned to McCartney in **2024**, after **51 years** of being missing. * **Key Figures Featured:** * **Paul McCartney:** Will be featured in the film, expressing his desire to have the instrument back due to its sentimental value. He stated, "I think anything that’s nicked, you want back, especially if it has sentimental value. It just went off into the universe and it left us thinking, where did it go? There must be an answer…" * **Mike McCartney:** Paul's brother. * **Klaus Voormann:** A friend and artist who knew The Beatles from the beginning. * **Elvis Costello:** A collaborator. * **Fans, experts, and journalists:** Involved in "The Lost Bass Project," which tracked down, rescued, and restored the bass. * **Production Details:** * **Director:** Arthur Cary ("Surviving 9/11," "The Last Survivors"). * **Producers:** Passion Pictures (in association with Footprint Media Partnership). * **Executive Producers:** Emily Jeal and Hamish Fergusson. * **Associate Producers:** Scott Jones and Naomi Jones. * **Global Distribution:** Fremantle. * **Broadcaster:** BBC Arts, as part of BBC Arena's 50th Anniversary. * **Significance:** The documentary is highlighted as an "emotional and uplifting story" that offers a "fresh perspective on music history" with direct access to McCartney and those who witnessed The Beatles' rise. It celebrates the "enduring power of music and storytelling." * **Related Project:** Paul McCartney is also the subject of Morgan Neville's Amazon Prime Video documentary "Man on the Run," which focuses on his post-Beatles career. ### Numerical Data and Context * **£30:** The price Paul McCartney paid for his Höfner bass guitar in 1961. This was a significant amount for an 18-year-old at the time, indicating the value and importance of the instrument even then. * **51 years:** The duration the bass guitar was missing before its return in 2024. This emphasizes the long-standing nature of the mystery and the remarkable recovery. * **2024:** The year the stolen bass guitar was returned to Paul McCartney. * **1961:** The year Paul McCartney purchased the Höfner bass guitar. * **Early 1970s:** The period when the bass guitar vanished. * **50th Anniversary:** The documentary is announced as part of BBC Arena's 50th Anniversary celebration. ### Notable Trends or Changes The news highlights a trend of documentaries focusing on the personal histories and significant objects associated with iconic musicians. The recovery of a long-lost, sentimental item like McCartney's bass guitar provides a compelling narrative arc for a documentary. ### Risks or Concerns No specific risks or concerns are mentioned in the provided news article regarding the documentary itself. ### Financial Data No material financial data is presented in this news report. The cost of the bass (£30) is historical and related to the object's origin, not the production or distribution of the documentary.
Paul McCartney’s Stolen Bass Guitar Saga to Be Told in New Documentary From ‘Super/Man’ Producers (EXCLUSIVE)
Read original at Variety →The epic story behind Paul McCartney‘s stolen bass guitar, which was returned to him in 2024 after 51 years, will be told in a new feature-length documentary directed by Arthur Cary (“Surviving 9/11,” “The Last Survivors”).Titled “The Beatle and the Bass,” the documentary is produced by Passion Pictures, which won this year’s BAFTA with the Sundance hit “Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story,” for BBC Arts.
Fremantle is handling global distribution. The documentary is announced as part of BBC Arena’s 50th Anniversary alongside “Turner: The Secret Sketchbooks” (also produced by Passion Pictures) and LS Lowry’s “Lost Tapes.”Popular on VarietyThe detective story charts the saga of McCartney’s original Höfner bass guitar whose disappearance 51 years ago became one of rock ‘n’ roll’s most enduring mysteries.
McCartney, who will be featured in the film, said, “I think anything that’s nicked, you want back, especially if it has sentimental value. It just went off into the universe and it left us thinking, where did it go? There must be an answer…” he said.The documentary will also boast interviews with others who are personally connected to the bass, including McCartney’s brother, Mike; as well as friend and artist Klaus Voormann, who knew the Beatles from the start; and collaborators such as Elvis Costello; along with fans, experts and journalists behind The Lost Bass Project who embarked on a mission to track down the bass and rescue and restore it.
McCartney had bought his beloved Höfner bass in 1961, when he was an unknown 18-year-old, in Hamburg for £30. It was by his side throughout the birth of the Beatles but in the early 1970s, it vanished, and it was thought to be lost forever.Emily Jeal, Passion Pictures’ head of feature documentaries, said, “From its beginnings, we knew ‘The Beatle and the Bass’ was exactly the kind of distinctive, emotional and uplifting story that we love to tell.
”“Working with Arthur Cary and BBC Arena to bring the unforgettable story of Paul McCartney’s lost bass to the screen is a true privilege,” Jeal said. Ceire Clark, Fremantle’s VP of non-scripted acquisitions, said, “This remarkable story takes us on a truly global journey, spanning decades and continents.
”“The documentary offers a fresh perspective on music history, with access to McCartney himself and those who witnessed the Beatles’ rise from the very beginning,” Clark said, adding that Fremantle was “proud to be part of a project that celebrates the enduring power of music and storytelling to connect people around the world.
”“The Beatle and the Bass” is a Passion Pictures production, in association with Footprint MediaPartnership. Executive producers are Jeal and Hamish Fergusson. Associate producers are Scott Jones and Naomi Jones.McCartney is also the subject of Morgan Neville’s Amazon Prime Video documentary “Man on the Run,” which premiered at Telluride and looks at his career post-Beatles fame.
