Hey Hey Hey -- Wings in Kansas City

 

I didn't see another concert until Kansas City which was really decided at the last minute when my mom (who lives in Kansas) offered me a ticket!  Somehow she'd managed to get a couple of 2nd row loge seats (which were actually sitting on the floor - they were added rows) equal with 7th-row seats so I couldn' stay no to that!  I arrived in K.C. early on the morning of the 29th after having taken another night flight and was met at the airport by my parents.  After catching a few hours of sleep once again, we drove into downtown K.C. in search of Kemper Arena.  We found it without much trouble but never did find the airport Paul was supposed to be arriving at. 

The concert in my opinion was the best of the 8 I saw so I'm not going to complain much anyway!  My mom went with me and came out wishing she could make Denver, too.  So goes the power of McCartney charisma.  It brought to mind the poem I've often read with the lines "Tossing his hair, grinning his grin, waving his hand, moving his guitar, until you couldn't breathe, right .... and your mother looked strained and never again asked you what you saw in him."  From the minute Paul walked onto stage everyone, at least in our area, stood and so we remained standing for the entire show.  The crowd absolutely loved him and wasn't shy in letting him know, which is what he really picks up on, so I think that's why he put on such an exceptional performance.  He had on the same outfit as in Houston, only minus the necklaces and with blue satin lapels instead of pink.   Linda had on a blue jersey dress which had gathered around the hips, a scarf around her neck, and knee-hi boots.  At one point during the first part of the concert, Paul started singing "Kansas City" which, of course, got a big rise out of the crowd.  Just before "I've Just Seen a face" started Paul reverted to his English introduction of the song by saying "does anybody like a bit of skiffle?"  Then catching himself and observing the crowd's perplexity, he added, "Don't' know what it is, do you? Well, it's country style."  

Then after the song, he kicked his foot high in the air which he also did after several of the rockers.  As the concert progressed, I kept noticing the sweat on his face -- his hair which was all fluffy on top and parted -- his knees and the Beatles smile he kept flashing to the audience.  At moments like that it was like having a '66 Beatles film superimposed over this live '76 concert  After another song, "Lady Madonna" I believe Paul especially hyper -- saluting, giving the peace sign, the thumbs-up sign, thrusting his fist in the air, and scratching his head.  Then whenever he'd switch from piano to bass or vice versa he'd turn around and say "Hi" to the audience in the back of the stage.  He also had a habit that night of pulling his pants up and tucking his shirt in which wasn't exactly a repulsive sight.  By the time the concert was nearing it's end, his air was absolutely soaking wet.  what a performance he had given and how the crowd had appreciated it!  It was like a mutual love affair Paul's love of performing versus the crowd's love of him as a performer.  Paul and Linda walked off stage with their arms around each other after the first encore and then after the 2nd encore someone threw a little whit heat on stage which he proceeded to put on and it was just too cute for words!  

After the concert as I waited for some of the crowd to clear out I saw Madeleine and a few minutes later Barb, Joanne, and Richie so we talked for a while and then we went outside to wait for Paul to leave.  Shortly before Paul came out, Barb pointed out Robert Ellis to me so I went over to say hi to him and was greeted with a kiss, which sort of took me by surprise.  IT was nice talking to him and having at least someone acknowledge that I was remembered.  It was more than I could say for the rest of Paul's entourage!  Soon after I returned, Paul's limo drove out and as flashbulbs went off, I was able to catch a clear view of him smiling and waving as he tried to look in all directions.  After he'd gone I never saw people clear out so quickly.  

Seeing Wings in Houston

 

The continued story of Doylene following Wings on the Over America Tour of 1976 from the May/June 1976 issue of McCartney Ltd. 

Luckily, the next morning, Cindy was able to find a late flight out of Houston for us with the help of a travel agent, but we had to change planes and couldn't get one later at 11:00 which meant we'd have to leave the concert early, but that would certainly be better than missing it altogether, so we were on our way.  We arrived in Houston just shortly before the concert was to began so we grabbed a bite to eat and some film and then made our way to the Summit.  the three of us were among the last in but somehow we ended up in front of the center stage anyway, so for a while at least after the concert started it was absolute heaven.  I was separated from Mary Ann and Cindy almost immediately by the pushing crowd but luckily the direction I was pushed was close and closer to the stage, so I ended up with my position during the first set with PAul on bass but then things started getting crazy and I was nearly killed but those first few songs were worth death.  

This is where I really noticed how slim he'd gotten and how good his hair looked -- longer on top with it cut just above his ears on the side and touching his shoulders in the back.  He was wearing another new outfit, same pants, but this time with a long-sleeved suit length black jacket which had gold (and silver) sequins across the shoulders, pink satin lapels in the front, and a black knit top underneath.  Plus around his neck was a were a Sings and a Speed of Sound necklace.  I only had the opportunity to take about 18 photos before my arms were pinned down by the very enthusiastic crowd but what I got for fantastically close including a couple of him looking right in my direction. 

Then it was mayhem!  Paul asked if we were having a good time once and I gave him a dirty look!  Then Denny and Jimmy finally asked the crowd to move back, but of course, no one paid any attention; not even when Paul later repeated the request himself.  I also remember yelling "YES" when Paul came to his "does anybody know what a rhythm box is" line but if I'm lucky that was lost in the roar of the crowd.  I really remember visual things from the concert much more than audio, probably because I was lucky enough to get so close for once.  So forgive me if that's what I've tended to dwell on here.  I had to start making my way out of the crowd during "Magneto" or "My Love" bu that was a long tedious process so it wasn't until during "Time to Hide" that we actually went walking out of the building.  I finally got to the lobby and walked the length of it a few times before Mary Ann and Cindy and I finally found each other!  It was so hard to walk out just before "Beware my Love" but at least we'd gotten to come and see most of the show.  Finding the car (where our suitcases were) in that maze of a parking lot was another nightmare though nothing compared to what lay in store for us at the airport.  Between having to go thru security 100 times and fighting with people and forgetting my suitcase on the first plane after it was already locked up, the trip home was a real barrel of laughs.  We couldn't believe all this crap actually happened to us in one night, but as always, looking back, it was worth it...but never would I have gone through it for anyone else!

Wings in Fort Worth (1976)

This story written by the sweet Doylene was from the May/June issue of McCartney Ltd. 

Paul's long-awaited American tour, finally got underway May 3rd in Ft. Worth, Texas, and I'm sure that everyone who caught any of his shows will agree with me that it was well worth the wait.  It had been a long time (10 years!) since any tour had created such excitement or received so much coverage from the press and it must've been a very sweet success to Paul after the long, hard battle he'd fought to have Wings accepted. 

We (Cindy, Marry Ann, and I) arrive din Ft Worth at 2am on the morning of the 3rd and were met at the airport by George, Barb, and Joanna who took us by the hotel where the band was staying (in Dallas) and then drove us back to our motel in Ft. Worth.  After a few hours of sleep, we were off to the Community Center and were later joined there by Madeline (fresh back from the European tour!) and a group of girls from Ohio and Indiana.  As time passed the anticipation of seeing him again began to build steadily so that by the time he arrived with Linda and the kids in a large red car (yes, he was driving!) the knees were more than a little ready to tremble!  My first thought was that I'd never seen him look so good.  He was wearing the same shirt he had on when he posed for the photo with me in Glasgow and his faced was so tan.  He also looked thinner (not that he was at all heavy before) which became even more apparent when we saw him in concert and his hair was neatly layered and shiny.  As I said, he'd never looked better.  He looked so happy, too and I honestly think he went slowly on purpose so that people could take photos which I proceeded to do when he was right in front of me.  

After he pulled in, everyone was having the typical reaction -- ear to ear grins that couldn't be wiped away and knees that had forgotten how to hold themselves steady.   It is absolutely incredible what that man can do to people by just being in their presence. A girl later said in Kansas City that he was one of God's chose people and I truly believe that.  We passed the time until the concert by trying to eat and then made our way back to the TCCC.  Luckily, Cindy, Mary Ann, and I were able to swap our original $8.75 tickets for $9.75 ones in the loge so after the doors were opened we were all set to enjoy Paul's triumphant opening night.  I really had no idea how much more exciting his U.S. shows were going to be, as compared to his British ones.  I wouldn't have thought it was possible but I guess maybe it had a lot to do with this being the first time Paul and the American audience had had to get off on each other in 10 years!  The anticipation was incredible!  Paul played that hand tot he fullest, too by walking out onto a darkened stage so that it was just that much longer before people could see him.  

Then a dim light, smoke, and bubbles encircled him as he began the opening cars of "Venus and Mars" but it wasn't until "Rock Show" that the bright stage lights came on so that he could be clearly seen.  But once again, it was worth the wait.  He had on black satin pants with a matching black and white satin waist-length jacket which was definitely a vast improvement over the British tour outfit.  The lighting for several songs also proved to be a lot classier.  The first he spoke to the audience was after "Jet" where he came out with a hearty "Howdy Texas!" in his best Texan accent.  Then he went directly into "Let me Roll it" which he needed with two consecutive "Oh yeah's" said in the distinctive McCartney style, of course.

Then he continued on with "Now I'll hand you over to, ah, this is Denny Laine here"  (at which point Denny chimed in with "Hi, how are you Dallas?) "and this is Spirits of Ancient Egypt."  The end bit on this song was particularly good with Paul really getting into his bass.  Next Pau;l turned introductions over to Jimmy with "This is Jimmy" and Jimmy finished it with "Howdy! Nice to be here after the delay.  We're gonna carry on with a song I wrote off Venus and Mars, It's Medicine Jar."  This number went down really well with the crowd as always and after it as over Jimmy announced, "We're going to switch here.  Paul's gonna go on piano."  and then he said hello to the people up back.  Settled at the piano Paul went into a beautiful rendition of "Maybe I'm Amazed" with the painting of a candle used as a backdrop.  He received tremendous applause for that one and then announced his next song "Call me BAck Again" as being off the Venus and Mars LP (at later concerts he usually added that it had been recorded in New Orleans).  It was usually around this song that he threw in a lot of "alright, alright" said in that same voice used as the intro to "Listen to what the man said" on the LP.  

The first Beatles song of the evening was introduced by Paul with, "Listen if anyone feels like having a stomp around or urge to surge...I'd like to hear you clapping your hands or doing something similar.  It's an old tune, this one."  Not unexpectedly the familiar opening bars of "Lady Madonna" brought a great round of applause from the crowd who continued clap along throughout the song -- which finished once, then went into again to the delight of everyone there.  Then he slowed down the tempo and went into the hauntingly beautiful "Long and Winding Road."  (which he usually introduced "Now that we've speeded you up, we'll slow you down" but he let it go without intro on this first night.  I don't think the flawless voice he displays on this song could ever be equaled by any other performer.  Next, Paul turned us over to Linda with "I'll turn you over to my Mrs. now."  (later in the tour adding "and friend.") to introduce the next song -- take it, girl."   Linda carried on with "This next one was written for a British citizen #007, it's called 'Live and Let Die.'.  As everyone knows who read any of the press clippings or been to any shows this song was the show stopper as far as stage theatrics were concerned.  The end of the first verse was met by explosions which were followed by strobe lights and climaxed again with explosions.  This was the thing the American audience, in particular, seemed to really go for.  So with this song, he managed to satisfy that taste without ever having to sacrifice the music because of it. yes, for this tour had thought of everything. 

After the excitement of the last number, there had to be a change of pace so it was here Paul announced, "This is where we have a sit-down and play our acoustic guitars awhile."    "Picasso's Last Words" and "Richard Cory" passed without introduction, then for "Blue Bird" came the so familiar "Does anybody know what a rhythm box is?"  (by now it's a household word) to which he added, "Well, this is it" as the rhythms began.  Next "I've Just Seen a Face" which he   brought  on with "Anyone fancy a stomp?"  Then finally there was "Blackbird" and "Yesterday"-- always the sentimental moments of the evening.  As "Yesterday" was ending I heard a guy behind me exclaiming "Oh God that was beautiful" which pretty much summed up the feelings of everyone as they stood to give him a ten-minute ovation.  If I remember right he held the guitar above his head and flowers were thrown to him -- if not the first night it certainly occurred on most following nights.  The next song was "You Gave Me The Answer" which Paul almost always dedicated to Fred Astaire (or Gene Autrey as in Atlanta and Tucson) but he went straight into it without intros in Ft. Worth.  This is one song where the new lighting was really dramatic, the whole area below the piano, and Paul flashed on like a red theatre marque with yellow lights outlining.  

Denny introduced the following song "Magneto" by saying "This next one is from Venus and Mars and it's all about some comic book characters you grew up with" and alikeness of them was used as a backdrop.  "Magneto" was followed by "My Love" with Paul, "Listen, we want to do a song for all the lovers in the audience -- I've think we've got a few here tonight!"  with him added a "Wo! Let me hear you say Wo."  Listen to What the Man Said with Paul saying, "Let me hear you clapping and stomping to this one."  He usually introduced the latter by saying it was one you could shake your bums to but he was a bit subdued this first night I guess.  After the song was over Paul paused to say, "As a lot of you probably know this is the first night of our tour."  (mucho applause) so listen I wanna tell you were just having a good time, you know?  So we hope you are too!"  "Let 'em in" was next with Paul saying,  "A tune from our new album "Speed of Sound."  It was almost unbelievable the way the sound of the record was duplicated on stage for this one -- from door chimes to the marching snare drum that Denny carried onto the stage.  ?At this point, Paul took up the bass again and Denny introduced "Time to Hid" by saying, "This is another one from the sam record -- whatever you call it -- it's s song which I wrote."  I really, really loved this one in concert.  It was exhilarating and it was a real joy to watch and listen to Paul's bass playing on it.  He was into it all the way.  Next came "Silly Love Songs" with Jimmy introducing it as "another one from the new album" to which Paul usually added "and our current single."  This turned out to be another real treat.  I'd always thought it was a nice song but I had no idea how exciting it could be in concert.  But, I'll tell you when he started strutting back and forth across the stage whenever there was an instrumental bar the old blood pressure rose another couple degrees!  IT was incredible! now all I needed to totally drive me pas the point of no return was for Paul to launch into "Beware my love" which I decided was my all-time favorite song the first time I heard it.  That's exactly what he proceeded to do, with a "Listen, if any of you feel like getting on your feet and bopping that's okay by us."  Then leave out the first few bars he started right off with the "Wo, wo, wo, no-no, NO!" and I was gone.  I couldn't believe it--one my 30th concert and I still couldn't get used to him or stop the tears from coming to my eyes.  The song kept building, through, too -- it's one of the most climactic songs I've ever heard until, by the end, Paul was just letting out one scream after another.  

Then finally it was over and I could almost breathe again.  It was here that Paul paused to say, "alight, alight, alight, tonight" several times and then went on to say, "I suppose you've noticed these fellas standing in back of us, well, I'd like to introduce them to you," which he proceeded to do starting with Thadeous (when the audience applauded Paul asked for more because Thadeous loved it!), then Howie, Steve (introducing him as the hometown boy) and Tony ("last and sometimes least!").  Then Paul added "They're going to help us do the next song, "Letting Go!"  I still don't mind that song in concert at all, either!  Really so much more dynamic on stage than on record, which is what can be said about ALL Paul's material actually.  Finally, or should I say before we knew it, Paul was saying, "Listen, we're getting near the end of our show, here, so listen, you've been a lovely audience, that's for sure.  It's been a pleasure to play here in Texas, let me tell you."  And with that, they began "Band on the Run" accompanied by the film of them making the cover of the album.  Then they left the stage to thunderous applause which seemed to go on forever.  Finally, they returned for the first encore which was "Hi Hi Hi" and was introduced by Paul with a "Feel like rocking a bit?"  Then they were gone again for another round of seemingly endless applause.  But everyone knew they ere going to return one more time as the house lights were still down and there was eerie green smoke beginning to rise from behind the stage.  The final encore turned out to be "Soily" and the new lighting for it was another addition which was most striking.  After the group returned to the stage, they played a long instrumental intro, and then as the vocals began a beam of light was projected across the total length of the stadium's ceiling and smoke came oozing out over it, making all kinds of marble patterns as it went.  All the lighting was still green except for a red spotlight on Paul.  It was a fantastic concert!  Then the band left the stage for the last time with Paul and Linda being the last to leave as they walked off stage with their arms around each other. 

A couple other points of interest that happened during this concert but that I've forgotten in just with sequence include a guy running up on stage to shake hands with Paul ( I have a movie film of them).  also, there are a lot of sound effects used off and on during the show -- a voice saying "everyone is so suspicious" and a pig grunting!  

After the show, we hung around the theater a bit and finally ran into Sarah, but still being a bit "hungover" from the concert we didn't have much opportunity to communicate intelligently!  We hadn't planned to see the Houston concert, only Ft. Worth.  But after that performance, we KNEW we had to do it.  So I looked up Kay, who had told me she had one extra ticket earlier, bought it, and vowed that we'd find two more tickets and a late flight out of Houston the next day.  With that decided, George took us to the band's hotel again and this time we had something to eat in the restaurant where Joe English, Robert Ellis, and others were dining.  Then it was back to the motel, supposedly to sleep, but someone Mary Ann, Cindy, and I ended up listening to almost the entire tape of the concert so it was quite late before we finally did! 

Paul Interview with Steve Peacock 1976

 

In this interview Paul McCartney talked to Steve Peacock about his career as a Beatle, and Ex-Beatle and a Wing.  He discussed (among other things) the offer of 25 million The Beatles have received to get back together, effect the breakup of The Beatles had on him, his reasons for forming another group, and the fun you can have dropped clues into song lyrics. 

Steve Peacock is senior editor of the British magazine Street Life in which this article first appeared.  It then appeared in the August 1976 issue of Gallery.   I found it in the May-June issue of McCartney Ltd. 

Peacock:  Is this the first album where you felt confident enough in the group to call it a Wings album rather than Paul McCartney and...

Paul:  Well, I would have done it before...if fact we did do it before with the first album which was called Wings Wild Life, but around that time you'd get people saying, "Who's Wings? Oh Paul McCartney's new group..." so it just became a bit daft calling it Wings.  It was totally underplaying my thing.  I was trying to underpay it a bit because ..well, it'd never been Paul Mccartney and the Beatles.  I wasn't used to it. 

Peacock:  Can you tell me about the first track, "Let 'em in?"

Paul:  It was half written with Ringo in mind actually.  He asked me to write him a tune and there was that one and another one.  In the end I told him I was nicking it and he could have the other one.  I just got this idea for a song about someone knocking on the door, someone ringing the bell, and then in the middle I got into the idea of naming people, just sort of symbolic of a crowd coming in... Sister Suzie, Brother John .  who's Brother John?

Peacock:  I was wondering...

Paul:  Whoever you want it to be really, Uncle Ernie?  Keith Moon flashing, I suppose, but the trouble with talking about things like that is .. that's you've got to make an excuse for it all after.  someone says, "What did you mean by that?" And really I don't know.  It just comes into your head.  Brother Michael -- that's obvious -- that's my brother Michael!  Auntie Jin -- I've got an Auntie Jin, Brother John -- that could be whoever you want. 

Peacock:  Do you get fun out of the thought that people are ging to sit down trying to work out the meaning behind lyrics like that?

Paul:  It would be great if I wasn't the ultimate authority on it.  It would be just like "Match of the Day" watching them all go around delving into who is the Walrus or Brother John is.  I mean, to me Brother John is John Lennon, or Linda's got a brother called John.  I suppose it's anyone's brother John, but to me it's John Lennon.   But not in any weird way.  It just came out like that.  So rather than hide it or change it, I left it.  But now, they're  going to ask me.  That's the only problem, that's the reason it's not so much fun as it could be, because there's always someone coming up saying "What did you mean by..." or "Linda' s Venus, you're Mars -- right?"  Wrong, they're planets, remember?

Peacock:  Do you ever take things out because they might be misinterpreted?

Paul:  No, I don't think I ever do that, because normally when it's writ itself then it's writ.  I don't really much around with it too much.  It's like most things -- you do a painting and think it's not quite right so you do it again and it's worse.  Like a record -- you can go on beyond the right take, but it's never better.  No, I don't take things out for that reason, in fact I'd leave things in because people were going to talk about them.

Peacock:  Do you often sit and listen to your own records?

Pauil:  Hardly ever.  I listen to old stuff, and I'm always amazed at how good is is.  "My God, did we really do that?"

Peacock:  Are you usaly satisfied with your staff at the time you finish it?

Paul:  I nearly always think I could have done it better.  But then again you're faced with the thing of why should I go telling you when I'm dissatisfied?  I should really -- for all the people -- be saying, "I'm awfully satisfied and it's really lovely, Steve, and I hope you're all going out to buy it.

Peacock:  You were quoted in Paul Cambaccini's interview in Rolling Stone as saying you were always the one in The Beatles who'd be nice to journalists.  Were you always conscious of that?

Paul: I'm less conscious of it now than I used to be.  It just sort of came natural to me.  My family's a bit that, a bit, "come in love and have a cup of tea."  It's been drilled into me since I was a kid.  I suppose I was naturally the PR one, perhaps because John would be telling then to eff off and I wouldn't want to leave it like that because Iw as in the group too and I didn't want them to go ff and write, "This bloody group's terrible."  I'd try to smooth it out, which I think is pretty natural thing to do.   You sometimes get too smarmy an image -- people tend to think, "Oh Jesus, he's too good to be true, this one."  In fact I'm not like that, but what happens is I tend to leave it until I get too much and then if I turn around and tell someone to fuck off, I really mean it.  It's serious then.  It's just dirrerent personalities, how you're brought up I suppose. 

Peacock:  Did it become a strain trying to live up to that image?

Paul:  No more than it is for anyone else to live.  If I have a bad day I normally try to keep out of the way, because I know I'll just go and lay bad vibes on everyone.  I try to have a quick chat with someone to get me out of it.  But just being in the public eye is something where you realize that once you get to a certain point there just isn't any turning back.  I remember thinking to myself once, say I'd had enough, what could I do?  And I couldn't do anything really.  The best I could do was like Greta Garbo and say "I want to be alone."  In wich came of course they're all following you around, and it becomes even worse then.  Like Jackie Kennedy -- they really get the shots then. I figured it was  better to just stand there and give 'em what they wanted.  And once you've decided that, it's not much of a strain.  It's when you can't make up your mind whether you're going to be a public figure or whether you're just going to go live at the farm...

Peacock:  There was a time when you did shy away form all publicity.

Paul:  Yes.  Well, I had to with the breakup of The Beatles.  It just affected me so much.  I couldn't come to every press conference and cry.  I'm just not that kind of person.  That was just my natural way -- to get away., clear my head and think what I was going to do.  It was like unemployment, suddenly being unemployed.  It's like if your job folded tomorrow the worst thing that could happen would be to have some guy come up and poke a microphone in your face and say, "Hey Steve, what do you fell about it?"  Unless it's your mother or somebody, you just don't want to talk to them.  I just had the feeling then that anything I could say would be -- well, I wanted to spare everyone that.  And me.  Selfish.  I just didn't feel like walking around telling everyone my troubles.  I suppose it's a good story but....

Peacock:  Naturally, people are curious about what's happening in a think like that.

Paul:  Yes, but it's like the play, John, Paul, George and Ringo.  People say it's a good  evening out and I ought to go, but they can't quite understand what it would be like for me to go to see the thing.  George went, and walked out, presumably  because of the way I would have felt -- there YOU are, up on stage.  It's just different when it's you.  Everyone else can go and have a great evening, but it's like reading a book on yourself or whatever.  It's just funny when it's you. Unless it's really perfect, really right -- if there's one mistake in there, which there is in that thing, I know I wouldn't be able to stand it. 

Peacock:  Even if they'd come to you -- and John and George and Ringo and said, "Okauy, tell us how it was,"  they probably wouldnt' have made a play you could watch.  

Paul:  Because we'd have all given then a different story.  They took it largely from press cuttings, I think:  legends.  They only way I was ever going to go to that thing was that about halfway through I was going to get up and start arguing with the me on stage.  That was the idea, but I never got up the gall to do it.  I was going to start shouting when they got to a bit  I didn't agree with. 

Peacock:  Do you resent the fact that they did it at all?

Paul:  Not really.  I used to hang around stage doors and stuff.  I know what it's like if you're in a play and you're making some money with it and it's a nice play to be in and people like it.  It don't mind.  You can't knock it.  The only thing is when they try to make it into a thing which is going to go down as The Truth about The Beatles.  Like Stigwood -- seizing the opportunity as always, thank you Robert -- wanted to make it into a film, so I told him he'd better send me the script.  and then I really decided I just couldn't have that.  All of us agreed actually.  It wasn't just me objecting to b being cast as the villain.  Everyone agreed that it wasn't anything like how it really was.  It's the legend.  It's "what the papers say."

Peacock:  A good yarn if it was about another group?

Paul:  Yes.  Well if it had been it could have gone on as long as it liked.  But the fact that it was about us and we're still alive and we've got to live with it is the problem.  It's like someone decided to rent your house while you still had to live in it. 

Peacock:  Could you watch the movie Let it Be these days?

Paul:  I haven't seen it for a long time, but I like it.  All the official stuff we've gone, I've got no complaints, even if it shows me in a funny light or whatever. 

Peacock:  Because to me, that shows The Beatles disintegrating as you watch. 

Paul:  Oh yes, that was the beginning of the end.  The film of the beginning of the end.  But because that was shot  by us and we knew perfectly well what was going on, that's okay.  Anybody else trying to portray that would be different.  It 's easier to accept your own mistakes than other peoples.  It's like I was talking to John on the phone the other evening and we were talkingabout re-packages, and he was saying that in the United States they want to re-package all the old Beatles stuff, but they want to use American mixes.  He was saying that I should get it together because I'm over here, to see that they get the official versions that we as The Beatles sat around and mixed in London.  All the little spin-offs and Capitol re-mixes and stuff is just what we don't want, because they distort what we actually did.   For historical reasons we want to get it down as right as possible.  It's never going to tell the whole story.  There's only four of us that know the whole story, and we're beginning to forget it.  Anything that was genuine, anything that we did, I stand by.   It's all the other spin-offs, all the things that got it al little bit wrong, that start to get up your  nose. 

Peacock:  Talking of re-packaging, how do you feel about "Yesteday" being back in the charts?  You don't think it's a bit cheeky to put it out just as you've got a new record coming on?

Paul:  Oh no.  I don't get into all that.  It's gone for me, that whole period is gone and I don't really see any point in hanging on to it, trying to control it.  I'm pleased that it's out because I'm always pleased to hear any of my tunes on the radio: j ust the other day I "Tomorrow" by David Cassidy, "Here There and Everywhere" by Emmy Lou Harris, and "Hold me Tight" that was just going out to the studio.  I love that, and "Yesterday" is like another of those to me. I pretty much stand by everything I ever did -- even something like "Mary Had a Little Lamb" which wasn't one of my best and in doing that you don't dump on yourself too much, you don't get too down.  I think that's the worst thing really, to do something and not be able to accept it, to keep having to thrash yourself for having done it. 

Peacock:  Do you actively enjoy going on the road?

Paul:  It has its disadvantages, like everyone knows.  It can get a bit sordid at times.  But I like it.  I like playing to an audience.  I like singing with a group.  We've come through what I think is the hardest period for a group, which is getting your act together, and now it's just down to either you like the music we play or you don't.  I don't do it for money.  I don't do it for the fame.  I do it to have a sing, really b because I enjoy it.  and I'd never play my bass otherwise -- you can't sit playing bass, the kids dont' want to hear a brilliant bass riff.  I do it because I like it really, it's not that I need to.  This is the embarrassment about the Beatles offer, because it sounds so bigtime of me to say, "I'm not really interested in 25 million or whatever.  It's not particularly that I dont' want to do it, the main thing about that offer is that I haven't heard anything form anyone about it.  I've just read the papers like you have.  People have said to me, "Well you'll have to do it.  Won't you?  You can't go turning down that sort of money."  But to me there's more to it than that.  It's a group that's broken up for Christ's sake.  What do they want us to do?  Reform just for money?  I think that' s a bit sordid, for what the Beatles were. It's a bit like puppets, isn't it?  I like to thnk that The Beatles came back together, if they ever did, because they really wanted to -- musically.  That's the only reason I'd ever do it.  Like I'm always saying, I'm not against it, but not being against it and going and doing it are two different things. 

Our last full day in England

 

This fan encounter was written by Pat D. adn was in the Jan/Feb issue of McCartney Ltd.   The photograph of Paul and Linda was taken on October 3, 1972 -- so two days after the story. 

About 20 to 3 on our last full day in England, Sunday, October 1, 1972, I had one of my urges and that was to go to EMI, so we managed to hop an underground for St. John's Wood.  We finally found ourselves walking over to EMI.  There were some girls we knew so we learned Paul had been due that morning but never showed.  I began looking down the street remembering what I had heard about his car and how you just couldn't miss it.  When I suddenly saw it coming, about a block away.  It knew it was it.  We had been there for just about 5 minutes and now so was he.   They drove in and I went inside the gate a bit.  Some guy went up to Paul as he got out of the car and began talking.  Linda got out and came around to the back of the car and smiled and said hollow then went over to Paul.  She was wearing a long skirt and a long-sleeved sweater, and what later turned out to be the top of Paul's suit.  Paul wore grey pants and a light-colored printed shirt.  I kept snapping pics and Linda would look over at us and smiled and waved.  Then they went in.  Boy was I shaking.  He looked so good just like on the Flip Wilson Show -- on better. 

Around dinner time a lot of people came out.  I guess they were recording in one of the other studios.  They were all staring at Paul's car and touching it.  Once a lady stopped and asked who was recording.  WEndy said "BCLT" (initials for bacon, cheese, lettuce, and tomato) and she asked if they were American or English and if they were any good because she had never heard of them. 

Somehow night and 10:30 came.  By then there were three groups of girls.  We were still inside the gate by our tree and on the left, as they came out, Paul was just bouncing away.  As they passed, Linda said, "goodnight girls."   Paul bounced on.  Then he turned and said, "good evening girls."  When they got to the car, Paul looked back at us as if to see if we were still looking (we were) and Linda stopped behind the car and bent to pick up some leaves and said she liked to "smell the leaves."   AS they were pulling out, Paul kept looking over and making sexy faces.  I am glad British cars are on the side they are, or else we would not be able to see him.  As they were driving off Paul tooted the horn and waved.  Lurvery way to end a trip to England.  Oh by the way, he was wearing the suit coat. 

Looking Back I had a dream

I always love it when I can find the story of a photo taken by a fan.   So I was thrilled when I got the April/May/June 1972 issue of McCartney Ltd fanzine and found the following story, because I could match it with photos.   From the story, we know the photos were taken on August 19, 1970.   

However -- I want to put a warning before I post the photo.   I don't want you all commenting about how these girls stalked Paul and invaded his privacy.    Yes, they did invade his privacy by going to his farm.  However, Paul didn't seem to mind with them.    We have to look at these stories through the lens of 1970 and not 2018.    And we need to accept that this is what happened.    If you agree with it or not -- this is what happened.    Because I know these ladies are still active in the Paul McCartney fan world, I am going to put their initials instead of their full names.    Personally -- I love the guts the girls in the late 60's and early 70's had.   I dont know if I could have walked eight miles to see Paul at his farm.  

Looking Back I Had a Dream

By L.W.

Published in McCartney Ltd

April/May/June 1972

When K.M., J.F. and I set out for London in July 1970, we were all very doubtful that we would see Paul.  That is why we planned on seeing him … no matter what!  Here is our wild story about our encounter on meeting Paul on his farm in Campbelltown, Scotland.

We all set out for Scotland that cool Wednesday morning in London on August 18^th.  You should have seen us – it looked like we hadn’t slept for weeks but there was hope and excitement in the air, so we carried on.

Arriving in Glasgow airport sent chills down my whole body!  However, I was not aware of the hours of traveling ahead of us.  There was a half hour ride to the bus terminal from the airport by taxi, plus a five and half hour ride by bus to Campbelltown itself.  A funny thing happened at the bus terminal thought.  There was a young ticket man at the counter and when we replied that we wanted to go to Campbelltown, he looked me straight in the eye and said, “Americans going all the way up to Campbelltown just to see Paul!!!”  My face flushed and I asked him how did he know.  He said that there were quite a few foreigners going up there for the same reason.  We also learned in amazement that the fare was 58 shillings and now we saw our spending money getting lower and lower.  We had a three-hour wait so we decided to tour the dingy seaport city of Glasgow.  Needless to say, I hated it but I was really surprised to see a Woolworth’s there in the heart of the town!  ( I wish I had more money, sweaters were so cheap).  Hours seemed like days but the bus finally left and we were on our way!

The scenery in the highlands is breath-taking, especially the purple mountains in the background overlooking the Lake Loughlomin (where the famous monster is).  We were really relieved when we finally got to our stop.  Speaking for others as well, we really couldn’t believe we were in the famous village of Campbelltown!  I had made reservations (from London) for our hotel (the Argyll hotel) but having only 63.10 each left to our names we couldn’t afford to stay there two nights as we had planned.  Being very tired and weary after our long trip, we tried to look for a vacant room in the area before checking our hotel.  We went to this particular one and was told they were all filled up but we could come back the next day and she would have a room for us then.    She asked us if we wanted to stay in her living room but we were afraid that we would be intruding too much.  We walked over a few blocks where the hotel was and signed in (everyone kept looking at us like they knew why we’re here).  At this point, K and I got a little giddy and acting stupid.  I guess Paul get to us that way.  Anyway, we got to bed early that night for the big day ahead of us.  A rooster woke me up the next morning so we got up and headed towards the main dining room.  We were the first ones there.  We were starved and the food was atrocious so we grabbed some rolls and bread from surrounding tables and stuffed them in our bags.  It was then that we went back upstairs, packed our things and checked over.  We went over to Kathy’s room and still didn’t know which way to go to Paul’s farm.  It was about 9 a.m. now and Kathy was surprised to see us so early.  As soon as we put our things down, we asked Mr. Ashley the direction to Paul’s farm.  He gave us a map and told us (warned us) that it was a long walk (close to 8 miles) but we didn’t care.  It was then that I was about to chicken out but thanks to K’s reassurance we started walking up and down the big hills.

 After about 2 hours of walking, we spotted a farm from a distance that looked like Paul’s (from the photos) but we learned from the workers that “High Park Farm” was another two-hour walk!  It was now about 12:30 and we finally came to this fork in the road Mr. Ashley had mentioned.  The three of us didn’t like the looks of those cows.  It was the strangest thing I ever saw – al the cows were literally staring at us.  There were two men working form a distance and they waved to us as if to say “come on, Paul’s farm is this way.”  I was shaking all over with nerves.  So many things kept on passing through my mind like what Paul would do seeing us “invading” his privacy.  We then hit “Low Park Farm.”  Paul’s neighbors are the MacDougalls.   We heard lots of strange things from kids in London about him.  Upon walking up to his farm, MacDougall greeted us with a shotgun in his hand.  Talk about being scared.  We were literally on the verge of a nervous breakdown at this point.  MacDougall was drunk and dirty and alongside of him was his dingy wife.  We greeted them with a “hello there” and he looked at the lot of us in a “pirate” manner and asked us what we were doing up there.  We tried to explain that we wanted to give these presents to Paul.  We were rudely interrupted by his heavy Scottish brogue saying, “Aye, that’s what they all say…”  I was getting a bit annoyed now because our hearts were to see Paul not have a chat with a drunken farmer.  After answering a few questions he finally let us go and we were now entering Paul’s land! 

 At this point, we were afraid of our shadows, never mind the sheep.  We were all silent now.  I suppose they were all thinking back on the first time they saw Paul.  It was my second time now.  We finally hit the top of the hill and saw HIS farm below us.  I was really surprised to see it.  How in the world Paul could live in such a run-down place such as that one.  When we hit the gate that said,  “Keep Gate Closed” we were all wondering if we should go up to the house and knock?  Thinking back now, I laugh at what we must have looked like.  We must have looked like the cowardly lion, the Tin Man and the Scarecrow walking down the yellow brick road to see the Great Wizard of Oz!  Our heads at a downcast, we walked to the house.  I was the one that was greeted by a pair of muddy boots near the house.  THERE WAS PAUL!  I swear, I wouldn’t have ever recognized him if it weren’t for those eyes of his.  I greeted him with a very soft, “Hello Paul” and he said hello to us and before we could say anything else he told us (very nicely mind you) “..you know I don’t like anyone coming up here!”  I explained (at this point it looked like I would be the spokesman for the group) to Paul, “Paul we’re very sorry,  but we just had to see you before we left for the States.”  Paul then asked us, “Where are you from then?”  We all chanted in flat unison “New York.”  Paul gave us a half smile and then I broke in and said, “Oh here Paul (giving him the presents) there are for you.  We were going to buy Linda some flowers, but we are dead broke.”  It was then I got my good look at him.  His hair cut short, he had a 5’clock shadow (needed a shave badly), he had on a blue flannel shirt, with a pullover red sleeveless sweater, very baggy trousers tucked inside these big boots of his.  But we still love Paul all the same. 

 The conversation shifted over to Martha when she made her grand appearance.  She decided that I was her first target and jumped right on me.  Now I had a skirt on and that is the worst thing to wear when going up to a farm.  Paul kept staring at my legs – not that I’m any Liz Taylor but it was embarrassing.  Then Martha wanted to be friendly with K and tried to jump on her.  K ran around J (J who stood there in amazement) and I whispered to K (what seemed like a whisper) “K don’t be afraid!”  Paul replied, “She’s (Martha) not afraid of you!”  I smiled at Paul and he in return stared at me.  That was then that our attention for a minute was drawn to the house at the side.  Linda appeared.  I was worried that she would start shouting and yelling at us.  Paul turned to her, nodded his head to her to signal to her to go in the house and said, “It’s alright!”  He then turned to us and gave us another one of his famous half smiles.  It was then J asked if Mary was in the house.  Paul gave J a simple “Yes” answer.  When J asked if we could see her, he gave a simple “no”  (He wasn’t nasty –still nice).  K asked then if he was going back to London.  Strangely, Paul asked us, “Have you been around the house?”  I don’t know how that ended but I was glad it did.  I then asked Paul if he was still writing.  Paul looked at me a bit mixed up and J said, “Paul, you know … writing!”  Paul looked at me in a “sexy” way and said, “I’m always writing.”  We were running out of things to say so remembering what K said before we saw him.  I said, “Paul would you mind if we take a picture? Paul replied “just one”.  J asked if Linda could get in the picture also and Paul replied: “I’m not posing.”  So we all clicked at the same time.  I practically banged my camera in my face  I was so damn nervous. 

 Unfortunately, we ran out of things to say (really what could we talk about especially after that court mess with Apple?).  We were all looking at each other and Paul said in a long paul between each of the last words.  “Well…cheerio.”  I wanted so bad to go up to him and hug him, and I wanted to tell him how much I loved him.  Of course, I couldn’t.  As we walked up his muddy path, we wanted to turn around and wave but we were still so nervous so we didn’t.  Paul’s workers drove us down to the village.  I can’t describe how I love him, maybe that’s what they call love….

A big Kiss for Paul

Manchester Piccadilly Hotel

By Susan Dilorenzo

McCartney Ltd. 

Fall/Winter 1979/1980

I’d brought a Hershey’s Chocolate kiss to give to Paul.  It was a large bit of chocolate in a pink box with large blue lettering that read “A Big Kiss for You.”  I’d tried getting close enough to give it to him before but unfortunately the opportunity never presented itself.  Tonight I was bound and determined for results!   I was contemplating just what I’d say as we sat in the lobby of the hotel.  He’d used the elevator yesterday and we expected him to do this again today.  He surprised everyone by using the stairs (to our right) and in less than a second, we flew over to the stairs.  It was myself, Doylene, Marie, Barb, Mary Ann, George, Shelia and Mar.  As if we alone weren’t the equivalent of a crowd, well, you know how it is when Paul enters onto the scene.  Everyone under the sun materializes.   He was on the escalator then in front of us, so we just hopped on too! 

  The award winning ham we all know and love was waving and posing for everyone at the bottom of the escalator.  Once he laid his head on the railing with his arms out and pretended to be sleeping.  Linda had gone on ahead, which she’d been doing the whole of the tour.  Doylene hopped off the escalator and her camera case dropped.  She spent the next few minutes chasing it down the pavement.   He started to walk down the tunnel to the coach and it was here I decided was the moment of truth.  Paul had been signing autographs so when I trembled up to him he smiled at me and stopped walking and poised his pen.  I held the chocolate kiss out to him and asked, “Paul, could I please give this to you?”  He smiled and looked me in the eyes and replied, “You sure can” and looked down to take it from me and then looked up at me again, continuing to look me dead in the eyes.  It was like this through the whole encounter and it was divine!  He has these magical light brown eyes.  Schmaltzy but so true!  I explained why the box was marked on one side.   It had been in my camera case at the show on the 28^th and forgetting, I stood on the case to see Paul better.  “I accidentally stepped on it at the concert trying to see you but I wanted you to have it.  I’m sorry.”  You’d expect him to burst out laughing, but on the contrary.  He was dearly charming and so very sincere.   He replied, “Well, don’t you worry about it.”   I took a step back and smiled and looked down and he walked away.   I couldn’t move.  I watched him walking away with my hands to my mouth, half laughing from blissful hysteria when I see Paul look down at the kiss, reading the print on the box.  He stopped walking and turned around and looked at me.  He smiled at me, that all knowing smile, and winked. 

  Then continued outside.  Further up ahead Marie had asked Paul to sign a mounted photograph of hers.  He signed it on the mount at the top and she said, “Oh Paul---I know beggars can’t be choosers, but I wanted you to sign it at the lights.”  He drew an arrow to the lights and smiled at her, “How’s that?”

I found my feet finally and charged outside, my chin dragging the pavement.  He’d already got on the coach and I heard Barb call out, “Susie, he’s looking at it!”  I ran next to her to get a  look and he was saying something, showing it to Laurence, who was sitting across from Paul and Linda.   Laurence looked at it and smiled and Paul set it on the table and leaned back.  He closed his eyes for a second and then popped back up in his seat, opened it, closed it and sat back.

Someone in all that confusion, Barb got his autograph too, which I had missed.  Mary Ann took a picture to capture that moment.  It is nice to have snaps of the memories. 

Wings in concert

I really enjoyed typing out this story this afternoon.    I can only imagine how much fun this group of friends had traveling around England together and seeing Wings concerts in 1973.     This story was written by Doylene for McCartney Ltd and had no  photographs included with it, so I tried to find some to add to the story.

Wings in concert (part 2)

By Doylene

McCartney Ltd. November/December 1973

The Liverpool concerts (two in the same night) were definitely a highlight of the tour.  Before going to the first one we made a trip to the Cavern – something I had wanted to see since it was going to be closed and torn down in about ten days.   The whole club was much bigger than I’d imagined but the actual place where the Beatles had performed was very small and exactly as I’d pictured it.  We didn’t get to stay there as long as we would’ve liked to, as it was nearly time for the concert to start.  As we were all waiting for Paul to come out for the first concert, the crowd began spelling out Wings letter by letter.  Also must mention that shortly after I was seated (in my beautiful 4^th row seat), I spotted Paul’s Dad and Step-mother seated in the first row!   Then the concerts began and I enjoyed it so much.  Paul kept throwing his dad special looks and before the concert was over, his step-mother was kneeling in the aisle beside me, clapping right along with the kids!  Then Pal did something that really cracked me up.  Naturally Paul had heard the audience spelling out Wings before the concert so thinking he’d be really clever he introduced “Wildlife” as an earlier song by Wings---he spelled it wrong!  And somehow I sort of doubt that he meant to do that on purpose.  The concert ended with me standing on my chair again and catching three Frisbees sometime while I was up there.  A concert like that can really drain you and when you have two in one night—well it is was hard to take! 

The one that followed was even more exciting—being that everyone seemed to be wound up right from the beginning.  He came out in a different outfit—the longer style jacket in black and red checks (more of a flannel type jacket as worn in the pub scene of the TV special).  For this concert we had third row seats so the view was even better.  Right after the concert had begun this guy with a movie camera started filming the audience and he kept aiming that stupid thing straight at me!   I tried to ignore him, but he must of found the look on my face as my eyes followed Paul around the stage quite interesting.  I hope he had a good laugh.  Just before Paul began “Little Woman Love,” he started to say the audience was welcome to clap along but before he could get it out the audience was bursting into applause.  Well, that brought the greatest expression to his face and he started saying “No..no…no… I mean the kind of clapping that you do with the music!”  And so went the concert with everyone going completely insane by the time he was into the rockers.   I was on top of my seat again and we all kept going down like dominos but climbing right back up.   People were on top of people shoulders.  After one encore of “Long Tall Sally” the audience was not about to let Paul go and he didn’t want to stop anymore then they wanted him to.   So, he came back for yet another encore, which surprised us all!  Incredible to say the least!  But the night wasn’t over yet.  Almost everyone else was waiting by the rear door entrance for Paul but having been fooled several times before; I decided to wait out the front.   It paid off!  As I was waiting there a bobby who had been standing on the corner told me to wait right where I was because Paul would be coming out the front shortly—but he asked me not to tell anyone else.  Then almost before he had gotten that said, sure enough Paul came walking out (in a gorgeous silver and black jacket ) and seeing him so close lke that nearly shocked me to death.  I was expecting but still I wanted desperately to say something to him but I couldn’t.  I just stood by his car—paralyzed.  There was hardly a soul around except one guy who asked Paul for an autograph (which he gave).  In spite of the fact that my tongue was tied like an idiot, it was good to see him so close and without the teenyboppers crawling all over him. 

Wings Backstage---is this the shirt she was talking about?

The next concert was in Leeds, but we decided we’d keep our room in Liverpool and come back on the train after the concert since it was only a few miles between the cities.  But what we hadn’t figured was no train leaves Leeds after 11pm, so we ended up spending a very miserable night in the Leeds train station, but the concert made it worthwhile.   We had special guest tickets (which came as a great surprise!) so we got to sit in a balcony directly overlooking the stage instead of on the floor with no reserved seats.   WE got quite a look from a couple roadies who were guarding the balcony stairs when we’d showed them our tickets like, “How did you manage that?”  Just before the concert started, Paul walked across the floor where the people were sitting instead of making his entrance from the backstage which gave the people on that side of the floor a thrill!  Then the concert started and I really enjoyed the view, especially when Henry opened his big mouth after the first few songs and everyone on the floor ran to the stage----looking like some kind of a stampede!     Just before the rockers began he gave me my thrill of the day by telling everyone to “clap and shake a bit” and then demonstrated by swiveling his hips from side to side.  I almost lost my grip on the railing there and fell through!  I was already tripped out due to the fact that I was sitting directly next to the amplifiers.  I could actually reach out and touch them, that close.  Anyway, it was quite a night.  Afterwards, I picked up my poor trampled poster and was able to get a hold of a RRS t-shirt.  Then we returned to the train station and began that awful vigil. 

Wings in concert in the UK

Back in Liverpool we slept almost through the next day and then we were off to Preston the day after that.  Ann, Marie and James rode with us.   Once in Preston we went directly to the Guildhall where James and Madeleine got to see Paul backstage.   The rest of us missed out.  However I had a second row seat at the concert, so that helped my disappointment! Marie and Ann didn’t have very good seats so we “shared” our seats with them.  It was really a fantastic concert.  Marie and I were going crazy over the looks he was giving us.  Then during “The mess”, we went down to the stage and Marie and I got directly in front of Paul.  That was Heaven for about 2 seconds and then we were crushed mercsiously  (sic) from behind as the other people rushed the stage.   The look of sympathy we got form Linda was really something and it was nice when Paul asked the people to move back for us, too!  At the time I didn’t’ think I’d get out alive but I now believe It was worth it—even if my view of him was mostly from the waist down.  Afterwards we waited for him at his hotel but a lot of good it did us since he was attacked by two girls the minute he stepped off the bus.  They were pulling him down by his hair.   It was really disgusting. 

Paul in 1973--photo may be from Marie Lacey

We left for Edinburgh the next day and had one free day before the concerts.  Two in one night.   When Paul and company arrived at the theatre, he came bopping down the middle aisle of the bus with a radio held to his ear.   Then once they were off the bus they were covered by “fans” again but Linda stopped to say “Hello” to me, which really shocked the heck out of me.  At the first concert we had balcony seats, 2^nd row which wasn’t bad at all.  I loved the way Paul introduced “My love”—adding “Let’s be having you…” after the usual introduction.  At that point we all ran up on the stage and said---“okay!”  Not really, but it’s a thought, right?  Obviously it was more than a thought to this one girl who climbed up on the stage and grabbed him from behind a couple songs later.   The guard pulled her off once but she grabbed Paul again nearly ripping his jacket off.  Afterwards we saw her walking out sobbing and shaking and being comforted by her girlfriends.   At the second show we had the lousiest seats of the whole tour—rear balcony—last row---really bad!  Marie said he  changed lyrics on “Hi hi Hi” making them a little more interesting, but I didn’t catch that.  Maybe I couldn’t hear way up there.  Anyway, we walked to the hotel after and waiting for him.   We were alone until 10,000 people appeared out of nowhere when his bus arrived.  So once again he was mobbed and we were disappointed.

ImageCollect.com/J Stevens  (please do not post this photo elsewhere)

The next concert was at Glasgow and since we were the only ones going, Marie let us use her tickets which were 5^th row seats.  I really despised the town.  The people were rude and the accents were terrible to understand, but the concert was great!   Right from the start the crowd was enthusiastic but the security was something else.  No one was even allowed to stand up!   Guards came along shoving each person down and they were really rough!   Also, just as the concert was starting this stoned little groupie in makeup and glitter wanted to know if she could “sit on my lap” (which she then proceeded to do!).  I always get the strange ones.   Anyways, soon a guard came to my rescue and threw her out.  For once I was glad to see him!   During the concert, Paul walked over to Linda, whispered something to her and they both smiled.  Would have been interesting to know what he said.  Anyway, that got a shriek from the audience.   Finally, at the start of “Long Tall Sally” the guards couldn’t hold the crowd back any longer and everyone rushed down to the front.  And seeing that everyone had a short time to unwind, Paul decided to do “Long Tall Sally” 1 ½ more times!   That was really fantastic.  We started to wait outside the theatre after the concert, but the Bobbies had other ideas and we were sent on our way.  Then we went to the hotel Paul was supposed to be at but wasn’t.   Luckily there as a couple guys there who knew where he was so they showed us the way.  Of course, due to our detour, we missed his arrival, but did get a nice view of him through a picture window as he came out of the elevator for dinner and he gave us a big smile.

Wings London 1973

Audience in London 1973

The next day we began the long trip back to London for our last stop, but three more concerts.   We got there at 6pm after traveling all day and Marie gave us a couple extra tickets for the 1^st concert since it had been sold out when we wrote for tickets.   We had seats in the 26^th row but it wasn’t too bad since we were on the ground floor and had binoculars.   The thing I really remember about this concert is the girl getting on stage and grabbing Paul during “go Now”.  Of course, it had happened before but this time the girl started kissing him and it seemed that it took forever before she was removed.  It was driving me crazy and I kept thinking “My god, someone get her off!”  Strange feeling.   The next day Marie, Sarah, and I decided to be brave  and make a trip to his house.  We all chipped in for some roses and finally he and Linda came walking out just before it was time to leave for the theater.  Marie gave him the flowers while Sarah and I froze in the middle of the street.  Then he and Linda got in the car (the red one) and drove past us beeping the horn at us and waving.   You should have seen his face when he saw us in the press pit that night at the concert!   But Marie had seen someone in the pit she knew so she thought  if she could do it, we could do it, so we crawled in!   Anyway, being in there made it the most enjoyable concert of all!  We had a perfect view of him at al times plus we could move around all we wanted during the rockers.   Then we got another look from him when he did his “My Love” intro about couples.  He looked at us and shrugged like he didn’t know what we could do.  Finally the last day of the tour rolled around and I couldn’t believe it was almost over.  We all decided we had to be in the press pit again, so matter what, since it was our last night and all.  So that where we headed (Sarah, Vickie, Ann and Madeleine joined us this time!)  But it seems a lot of other people had the same idea and it was really crowded in there.  When they started checking press passes I thought we’d had it in but we managed to half-way hide under a tarp thing they had in there.  Anyway, no one bothered us.  Not because they couldn’t see us, but probably because they thought we were suffering enough!  My best memory of this last concert was when he was singing “when the night…” he looked so gorgeous and when he sang “I never will forget the night,” I thought how I’d apply that to myself and never forget that moment.  I also remember exactly how he looked as he was getting ready to leave the stage.  He had a guitar pic in his mouth all the while he was talking and then he raised his arm up to wave goodbye he pulled his jacket up quite nicely.  Also, I have to mention that all during the concert these people in the front section kept yelling for “Yesterday” and finally Paul told them to “Shut up!” which I thought was hilarious. After the concert we went to the Café Royale where a party was being held for Paul.  We waited a long time and then finally we saw him and Linda walking down the street toward us.  Him in a yellow safari outfit with short sleeves.   Then this strange guy ran up to him and starting shoving things in his face so there ended our chances of really speaking to him.  I walked him walk inside the building and someone was kind enough to leave the door open so I stood there looking at him for as long as I could.  That was the last time I saw him.    Then the man acting as Paul’s chauffeur was nice enough to give us al lift home and he even let us take a look at Paul’s clothes which were in the trunk.   Having spotted the “Macca” jacket each of us just HAD to tr it on and that was nice—to be inside something he’d been inside.   The next day I returned to L.A. leaving behind the most wonderful 2 ½ weeks I’d ever spent.  I know I’ll never forget them as long as I live.