A little piece of Beatlemania came to Hollywood on Thursday, Feb 9, Paul McCartney was honored with a walk on Tinseltown’s storied Walk of Fame, watched by hundreds of screaming and jostling fans.

Police blocked off Vine Street near the intersection with Hollywood Boulevard, as the crowds swelled across the broad boulevard in front of the iconic cylinder-shaped Capitol Records building. McCartney, in Los Angeles ahead of the annual Grammy awards show this weekend, paid tribute to the “three boys” - John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr, who helped make him famous.

“Way back in history, in Liverpool when we were kids and we were listening to Buddy Holly and all the rock ‘n’ roll greats, I would have never thought.. the day would come when I’d be getting a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

“That was like an impossible thing to happen. But here we are today, and it’s happening. But I couldn’t have done it without, certainly, three boys - so I want to say thanks to those guys, John, George and Ringo,” he said. And he added: “I couldn’t have done it without them, so I want to thank those guys and bless them for being in my life.”

McCartney, who has just released his latest album Kisses on the Bottom, was joined by fellow ageing rocker Neil Young outside the Capitol Recordsbuilding, where staff lined the balcony to watch the star-unveiling ceremony.

McCartney’s star, which joins those of his band mates, is the 2,460th on the Walk of Fame, a long stretch of Hollywood Boulevard and adjoining sidewalk which celebrates entertainment stars from over the decades. Fans had gathered for hours for good viewing spots at the ceremony, although many had to strain to see anything as the crowd swelled out across the street for the early-afternoon event, AFP reported.