Paul McCartney fears grief over his wife's death may prevent him from performing live ever again, a British tabloid reported Friday.

"I might not be able to get up on stage again," the former Beatle told The Sun. "I don't know whether I can go up there and sing, thinking about Linda." Linda McCartney died in April at the McCartney family's Arizona ranch after suffering from breast cancer. She was 56.McCartney said he had been invited by Chrissie Hynde, the lead singer of The Pretenders, to participate in a string of concerts next year highlighting Linda McCartney's crusade for animal rights.

But The Sun quotes McCartney as saying he will "play it by ear. If I can manage it, then I will. But I've said that if I can't, she'll just have to forgive me."