![When a Fan Tried to Sell Paul McCartney’s Germs](https://townsquare.media/site/295/files/2015/04/Paul-McCartney.jpg?w=980&q=75)
When a Fan Tried to Sell Paul McCartney’s Germs
One enterprising Paul McCartney fan decided to take a sad bout with the flu and make it better in April 2003 by offering the ultimate eBay rarity: some of the former Beatles star's germs.
Londoner Ian Mears posted the auction after claiming to have spent time with – and then caught the flu from – McCartney just before the star had to cancel a concert due to illness.
"I believe this is the same strain of flu and effectively his virus," Mears told the Daily Star. "I had no cold on the Saturday, then on Sunday I spent most of the afternoon with Paul, and by Tuesday I too had a cold."
There were those who were willing to cough up some cold hard cash for McCartney-infected mucus. A handful of bids actually arrived before the auction was removed by eBay. The highest at the time amounted to $1.83 – nothing to sneeze at.
How, you may be asking, did Mears intend to pass along these germs, had the sale gone through? The old-fashioned way, of course: "The highest bidder will receive a resealable bag that I will cough into," said Mears. "Or if preferred, they can have a plastic container full of mucus."
Paul McCartney Albums Ranked
See Paul McCartney in Rock’s Craziest Conspiracy Theories
More From Power 102.9 NoCo - KARS-FM
![When John Lennon and Paul McCartney Were on ‘The Tonight Show’](http://townsquare.media/site/295/files/2013/05/Stroud-Express-Getty-Imag.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Tommy Chong Wants to Get High with Paul McCartney](http://townsquare.media/site/295/files/2013/03/Tommy-Chong-and-Paul-McCartney.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Paul McCartney Mistaken for Street Busker in New Orleans](http://townsquare.media/site/295/files/2013/02/Paul-McCartney.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![This Day in History — Paul McCartney Released From Tokyo Jail After Nine Days](http://townsquare.media/site/390/files/2013/01/2635629.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Paul McCartney Joins John Paul Jones for London Show](http://townsquare.media/site/295/files/2012/09/Paul.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Paul McCartney to Return Catalog to Streaming Services](http://townsquare.media/site/52/files/2012/09/Paul-McCartney-Cameron-Spencer.jpeg?w=980&q=75)
![Paul McCartney Restores Historic Motown Piano](http://townsquare.media/site/52/files/2012/08/Paul-McCartney2.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Paul McCartney Live Special Headed to PBS This Fall](http://townsquare.media/site/52/files/2012/08/PaulM.gif?w=980&q=75)
![Paul McCartney Gets Birthday Wishes From PETA U.K. Animals](http://townsquare.media/site/52/files/2012/06/McCartney.jpg?w=980&q=75)