Paul Flies High on Dazzling Set of Wings (Wings 1975 Australia Tour)

 Paul Flies High on Dazzling Set of Wings

By Bryan Patterson

The Age

November 14, 1975

    Paul McCartney and his group, Wings, gave a dazzling display of high-decibel rock at the Meyer Music Bowl last night, and didn't have to push too hard for the approval of a capacity crowd.

    The band had the amplifier switches full out, and although some of the vocals were warped by the wattage, the four musicians, plus a brass quartet, held the audience with impeccable musicianship.

     McCartney has been hailed as one of the greats in contemporary music. His performance confirmed the description, shifting effortlessly from bass to piano, 12-string guitar, and organ. He had the audience dancing in the aisles with a spirited set of songs from his latest album and old Beatles favorites like "Lady Madonna" and "Yesterday." The old songs revealed that time and his experience of playing with HIS group have sharpened the already vast McCarthy [sic] technique.

     The highlight was when he took over the keyboard from his capable wife Linda, and sang, "My Love," "The Long and Winding Road" and a few rockers from his Venus and Mars album, recently released in Australia. 

    He was aided by spectacular stage effects, smoke and pink bubbles rising from behind, and crystalline harmonies from his tight combo. Denny Laine, a former member of the British group Moody Blues, had some particularly good segments on electric and acoustic guitars, piano, and vocals. He sang a number recorded by his old group, and the audience, composed of people old enough to remember the past era, gave him the reaction he deserved.

     Henry McCulloch [sic] also held the group together with some fine guitar breaks, although he seemed out of his depth when playing bass guitar.