Sir Paul McCartney pays tribute to Joe Cocker in a heartfelt statement

Los Angeles - Sir Paul McCartney has paid tribute to Joe Cocker.

The Beatles star whose hit With A Little Help From My Friends Joe famously covered  sent a heartfelt message to the Sheffield-born singer who passed away, aged 70, this past Monday at his home in Colorado after battling lung cancer.

He said in a statement to the Mirror newspaper: "It's really sad to hear about Joe's passing. He was a lovely northern lad who I loved a lot and like many people I loved his singing.

"I was especially pleased when he decided to cover With A Little Help From My Friends.... it was just mind blowing.

Check out a video of Cocker performing With A Little Help From My Friends:



"He totally turned the song into a soul anthem and I was forever grateful for him for doing that.

"I knew him through the years as a good mate and I was so sad to hear that he had been ill and really sad to hear today that he had passed away. He was a great guy, a lovely guy who brought so much to the world and we'll all miss him.