Nobody expected our Rock & Roll heroes from the ‘60’s would still be touring in their 80’s! Paul McCartney turned 80 on June 18th, 2022. It was on April 28th, 2022, when he opened his “Got Back” tour in Spokane, Washington.
(Photo Colin Mulvany / The Spokesman-Review)
According to a report in Rolling Stone, McCartney played a long set of Beatles, Wings, and solo songs to an enthusiastic sold out crowd. The band included some of the musicians he’s toured with for years, plus a horn section. The Covid pandemic kept Paul from touring for over two years, and he was obviously ready to get back to it.
In a first, Paul McCartney’s solo tour included him singing with John Lennon. The Director of the Get Back documentary, Peter Jackson, had provided a video of John Lennon singing his part of “I’ve Got A Feeling”, with the vocal isolated. That way, Paul and the band performed the song live, with John behind them on a large screen singing the “Everybody had a hard year.” section of the song.
Paul also saluted George Harrison by singing “Something” using a ukulele George had given him. And to complete The Beatles connection, Paul and his wife (“everyone knew her as Nancy”) recently went to dinner with Ringo Starr and his wife, Barbara.
Rolling Stone provided this song list (click to enlarge).
Let’s face it, Paul McCartney doesn’t need to tour to push his music or to make money. He tours because he loves performing.
Update: (June 25th, 2022) Paul McCartney headlined the Glastonbury Festival for a set that lasted well over two-hours. He had a couple of surprise guests. The Foo Fighters’ Dave Grohl joined Paul for “I Saw Her Standing There” and “Band On The Run”. Then Bruce Springsteen joined for “Glory Days” and “I Wanna Be Your Man”. All three artists performed the Beatles song “The End”.
Update: (July, 2022) At 82, Ringo Starr is again touring with his All-Starr Band. Unfortunately, some of the concert dates had to be postponed due to members of Starr’s band testing positive for Covid. Again (Sept. 2022), Ringo had to cancel shows, because he had Covid.
