Thurs. May 31

You've got to give Paul McCartney credit. Yes, we've always chosen Lennon in the Big Debate, but the man has persevered and continued to make music through Linda's illness and death and now that pending divorce to Heather Mills. This will no doubt set a record for divorce money in Britain. Coincidentally, we were talking to Bryan Ferry lately and he said he held the (dubious) record in England for payment to an ex-spouse, and suggested it might be one reason he made an album of Dylan covers (coming mid-June) and is on tour. McCartney's motives? Well, he is richer than a Saudi Arabian oil baron, so that's probably not it. It's probably something as basic as: Because that's what he does. It's what he knows how to do and loves. On his upcoming (June 5) CD, Big Mac gives it the title "Memory Almost Full." That's cool - a computer-age reminder from PC or Mac (get it! ha!) and a commentary on the passing of time. What's the music like? We haven't heard it either, but we may do so Thursday May 31 at the Hard Rock Cafe, starting at 6 p.m for a listening party. The first 250 people get lithographs (of what we're not sure) and the rest get to ponder the Beatles and wonder, once again, whether the old guy's got it. We've wavered on this, and admit nothing has stuck to us like those old tunes. But we're always interested, and the Hard Rock is opening the doors, early for a sneak peak. Co-promoted by WZLX. Free.

131 Clarendon St., 617-424-7625 hardrock.com