Sir Paul McCartney defended his first wife Linda as he attended the Q Awards on Monday (October 25).

The former Beatle made a special appearance at the event to collect the Classic Album prize for Wings’ ‘Band On The Run’.

Sir Paul said the band’s third record, released in 1973, was a “struggle to make” because The Beatles were still “a hard act to follow”.

"As they were about to leave to record the album, two band members left the band and then when they arrived in Lagos - where it was recorded - they were mugged and lost the tapes,” he said.

"Linda was getting slagged off for being in the band. I was getting slagged off for letting her in the band. But we finally got it together on this album."

Sir Paul added: “This one’s for Linda.”

Linda died in 1998 following a battle with cancer. The couple, who married in 1969, had four children together.

(Gigwise)