Paul McCartney says that his former bandmate, John Lennon, was deeply troubled.

In an interview with Billboard, Macca claimed Lennon's "whole life was a cry for help."

"Looking back on it, John was always looking for help. He had [a paranoia] that people died when he was around.

His father left home when John was three, the uncle he lived with died later, then his mother died.
I think John's whole life was a cry for help," said McCartney.

Sir Paul adds that the band's album Help! marked a turning point of sorts for Lennon and the band.

"He didn't say, 'I'm now fat and I'm feeling miserable.' He said, 'When I was younger, so much younger than today.'

In other words, he blustered his way through. We all felt the same way."

Help!, the band's fifth studio album, marked a departure from their straightforward pop rock days.