The Missing Glasgow Wings Concert

If you've been following along with the posts about the American girls that followed Paul McCartney and Wings around the UK in May of 1973, then you will know that most of the girls in the story did not see Wings perform in Glasgow because they thought they might get stabbed and because of issues with the train.  One girl went ahead to Glasgow and wrote her story in the Summer 1973 issue of McCartney Lovers and Friends.


Since most of the girls didn't make it to the Glasgow concert (primarily because their train passes had run out), and I did, I thought this would be a good concert to report on.  Of course, being a glutton for punishment, I couldn't let myself miss out on even one concert!  The songs he sang and the clothes he wore were the same as the other concerts, and since I'm sure you've already read the full details on such matters elsewhere in this newsletter, I won't go into it all over again.

We picked up our reserved tickets at the box office and the seats we had were fairly good (left center) -- but we used Marie's tickets instead since they were a lot closer (front left).  While we (Madeline and I) were waiting for the concert to start, two groupies with tight silk pants and lots of makeup kept wandering up and down the aisles.  They were obviously stoned out of their minds and of all things one of them came over to me and sat right down on my lap!  I nearly died!  Then she said, "May I sit on your lap?"  I imagine I had a look of my face like Iw as going to be ill and I tried to push her off, but by that time one of the security guards came over and got her.  That's the first time anything like that had happened to me at a concert! 

I think this was one of the liveliest audiences of all.  It was like a time bomb waiting to go off.  But the security was very tight.  If someone even stood up (Paul got a standing ovation when he came out) he or she was in trouble.  They were pushed down immediately.  Later I found out from a boy how much trouble they've had with concerts in Glasgow so that was probably why.   I read in a newspaper that performers in Glasgow that did anything on stage that was dirty -- even words to a song, would be arrested.  Good thing we didn't have to visit Paul in jail!   I guess what we'd heard about the people being rough was true.  The same guy said, "So you can imagine with someone like Paul doing a concert why security was so tight."

During the first part of the show, a girl sitting right behind me yelled, "Paul!"  That got his attention and he looked over and pointed.  I Was right in his line of vision, so that was nice.  Once Paul walked over to Linda while still playing his bass and whispered something to her.   That got a shriek from the audience and a skipped heartbeat for me.  "Hi Hi Hi" -- people were screaming for that song all night.  "This is the one that got banned so anyone with sensitive ears out there better get out -- fast!  (Just for the record, no one left).  Up until the end of that song, people were still being forced to stay in their seats.  But during "Long Tall Sally" there was no holding the crowd back, though they keep on trying.  The whole theater went insane and I had a lovely view while standing on my seat.  Then Paul, seeing that the audience only had the chance to unwind during one song did "Long Tall Sally" one and a half more times.  It was really beautiful.  Oh, the way that man moves -- that brings to mind that he did a nice little swivel before "Hi Hi Hi" again -- God!  Also, raised his arms several times exposing quite a lot of "midriff" which I didn't enjoy at all. 

When he went off stage that crowd just wouldn't calm down so he came out again and the announcer said, "They say he's the greatest so let's let him know it!"   They really brought the roof down and Paul looked so proud.  Then he thanked everyone again and said he'd see them next time.  The police would not let us wait around the theater so we walked to the hotel we heard he was staying.  however, we'd been misinformed and two Scottish boys took us over to the Albany Hotel where he was staying. 

He was already inside but we were lucky enough to get there just as he was walking out from the elevator to the dining room.  We had a perfect view of him from the glass windows and he waved to us all.  At one point a man came out of the restaurant and asked us if we were waiting for Paul and we said yes.  So then he said, "Well, you're going to have a long wait because he hasn't even had his soup yet!"  One of the Scottish boys tried really hard to get me in but it didn't work.  Finally, we gave up and decided to leave around 1:30am.  (The police had made us move across the street anyway).  Then two Scottish girls helped us make our way back to our hotel.  Before I end this fabulous bit of writing I just want to add how really great all of the concerts were.  Paul had never sang or played better and I came home a real believer in Wings also.  Paul is really on top again -- this time with Wings -- and this is only the beginning for them!

George Harrison talking about George Harrison

My least favorite Ringo look

Who else can agree with me on this one?

Japan and John

Hey Ringo, Nice hat

WIngs fans head to London 1973

More fun times with the American fans from the McCartney Lovers and Friends club found in the Summer 1973 issue of the fanzine.


Paul flew down from Scotland on May 26.   Sil, Angela and I saw Paul at his house. He said hello and all that and he looked really tired.  Sil made this huge blanket where she had embroidered "Wings" -- it was really beautiful.  She gave it to Rosie who gave it to Paul.  He didn't see it until the next day but really flipped over it!  He was going to put in on the organ that night, but for some reason, he didn't. 

I came out with a real winner:  "Are you as tired as we are? ha!"  He said, "Tired as YOU are??!! Tireder!!"  The show was fantastic.  We were just about in the middle.  For some odd reason, I was the only one in the section that got up and clapped.  It was okay though because Paul pointed at me and grinned.  Three of us saw Paul again the next day.  I gave him some flowers from all of us.  This went on for a while and he said, "Hey!  Thanks for the flowers, Luv!"  We were walking down the street and Linda was driving.  They beeped the horn at us all the way down the black and as they turned the corner.  Paul had his head hanging out the window, waving at us. 

That night the three of us got in to the pit, which was the best place to be because it was directly in front of the stage and you could move around and not get killed.  It was the photographers' pit and you needed a pass to get in, but we just made like we belonged.  Goldie and Robin (our friends from New York) had arrived that morning and they were there too which was lucky for them since it was their first concert!   Anyway, it was really great, because you could bop around without worrying if you were going to get smashed. 

At the third and final concert in London, we were al lin the pit again and this time Ann came and also Sarah and Vicki.  It was a great ending.  As I told you, Sarah is a real comic and when Paul went into his bit about "My Love" he looked directly at us and shrugged his shoulders and smiled as if to say "can't do anything for you up here!"  Well Sarah puckered up and his eyes nearly popped out of his head and he was laughing really hard.    By this time, we were really desperate!  During "Live and Let Die" Linda would sort of raise her arm in the air to the beat so we did it to -- only on time.  Talk about raised eyebrows! 

So much happened, it's hard to put it all down on paper.   At the end of the show, Robin came over to me and told me there was a party.  I was really out of it,. and I do not remember this happening.  She told me later that I just kept saying, "I know, I know, but I'm going backstage."   Some of the girls saw Paul from this window later.   But that night we all went to the Cafe Royal on Regent Street near Piccadilly where the party was.  Around 1am, who should come walking down the street but Paul and Linda.  Paul sporting a yellow suit with short sleeves and Linda with a halter top and Frankenstein shoes.  Oh yes, Paul had his pants tucked into his brown suede boots.  Anyway, this weirdo stopped him as he went in, telling him about this "beautiful place" somewhere.  It was very strange with PAul that night -- he's a true Gemini.  Oh yeah, to complement his outfit, he had gone home and painted his thumb yellow and had put on red, while on a few others he painted them half red and half dark blue (By the way, Linda usually wore red on a few fingers, blue on one, and green on the other).  I'm sure this was to impress the other people at the party.   He stood at the door for a while, talking to John Entwhistle from The Who.  Denny Laine got Goldie and Robin and some of their friends into the party at midnight.  We got there late.  If we had only arrived earlier we could have gotten in too.   I hope that Goldie and Robin will write a column about the party. 

Paul's chauffeur was there.  We were pretty aggravated by this time, so I said, "Well, you want to take us home now?"  Much to our surprise, he said yes!  He was really a nice guy.  Paul had hired him just for the weekend.  He usually works as David Bowie's chauffeur and bodyguard.  He showed us Paul's "Macca" jacket, which was in the trunk.  We all loved that jacked and were certainly excited to see it!  Each of us even tried it on.  That was nice.   Well, that was the en f our few weeks in heaven.  None of us know how quiet to digest the whole thing.  I just can't wait for the next tour! 

Casually getting George's autograph

Lyric Sheet

High in the clouds with Paul

Lucky Days!

Standing around

Yoko and John in Japan

Taping Session in Seattle

Two kids and a wife

Wings head to Scotland in 1973

Our friends from McCartney Lovers and Friends now follow Wings to Scotland on the 1973 tour.  This was published in Summer 1973 issue of McCartney Lovers and Friends 

We were in Scotland for two days -- the countryside is really beautiful.  It was strange to really see the fog come from the ground.  I was quite disappointed with the city of Edinburgh.  It was really gloomy and the "castle" was a big let down.  The people are very strange and obviously don't like intruders.  there were two concerts that night.  

We saw Paul arrive on the bus, looking particularly gorgeous as he was unshaved.  He had a radio with him and he bent down and looked at us and started dancing off the bus!  He hopped off and got swarmed by the autograph hounds.  Linda gave us a big smile and a hello.  Paul continued to bop on in, and Linda stopped to sign autographs.  He looked back to see where she was and saw her signing and said, "Linda!  Come on!!"  She went in fast.  

That night we had front row seats in the balcony for both shows.  At one point during the "dance" part, this girl started to faint.  So, a guard picked her up and put her on the stage.  She started dragging him over towards Paul instead of going off to the side.  Suddenly she gained consciousness and she grabbed Paul from the back, digging into his chest and making him fall back.  He pushed her off then the guard and Dave picked her up by her hands and legs and dragged her off.    We saw her later talking with friends and the "poor girl" was so excited that she had to sit down and cry all over again.

We saw Paul at the hotel that night.  We were the only ones there, but when the bus arrived, out of the nowhere 20 people arrived and he was swarmed.  There was a show in Glasgow the next day, but our train passes ran out, so we had to get back to London.    We were hesitant about Glasgow anyway because we hear a lot of stories about it being rough.  If they don't like you there, they get you with razor blades!  I was going to ask John (one of the roadies) to give me a ride down to London from Glasgow, but he arrive din their van with the other roadies and some groupies, so I didn't.  (If any of you are wondering about groupies and Mr. Mac-- forget it!  No chance!).   

We got back to London the next day.  One of us went to the show in Glasgow, so I will leave it to her to review it.   

Classic Ringo and Barb

What do you call that hat?

"Make that out to your #1 fan...."

I used to use me hands (He used to use his hands)

Paul and Linda discuss life on the road

Chicago taping session

I was able to match these photos up to the taping session in Chicago, Illinois on August 12, 1966 because of that couch.   

Last drag

Super Bear

July 11, 1980

Just think -- Barbara was Ringo's new girlfriend at the time of this photo and it was first time she met Paul and Linda.   

Meet, greet and chat with the Beatles

Pics on the train

Snapshot

One wild party

Reception for the Beatles' Cartoons on July 25, 1965