Your Wings Concert Experience
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I'm desperate to hear stories! If you can, how much was your ticket?
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I saw Wings Over America in Denver, Colorado on 7 June 1976 at McNichols Arena. Ticket was $9.50. I was 12 years old and we were all amazed at how expensive the tickets were! Back then concert tickets were about $6. We drove up to the arena and the atmosphere was electric! We could see limos and police lights at the back of the arena. The doors were not open yet and a bunch of Hare Krishnas were chanting and dancing. Photos of McCartney were sold outside, black and white, one of him standing singing into a mic, another of he and the band sitting during the acoustic set. We bought them both. When we entered the arena, I ran and looked at the stage from the side, where Linda's keyboards were. I remember seeing all the instruments, and a lot of black curtains hanging behind the stage and over, and speakers above the stage. I have yet to find a photo of the stage from that tour from before or after the concert, would love to see one. We took our seats way up on the second level on the other side of the stage. Some memories that stay with me: McCartney walking on stage, waving and holding his Rickenbacker bass; little red and yellow dots on the audience during Venus and Mars; McCartney greeting the crowd, "Good evening! Welcome to Denver! How does it feel to live a mile high?" McCartney pointing in the air during Magneto and Titanium Man singing "You were the law!" And looking right at me! Or I like to think he was! The stage lighting up with little lights that outlined the risers during You Gave Me The Answer; Paul's dance moves on Silly Love Songs during the horn breaks; walking behind the stage and getting closer during Hi Hi Hi, then watching the laser show during Soily, and the laser forming into the Wings "W" at the other end of the arena. It was an amazing show!
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RMartinez:
I saw Wings Over America in Denver, Colorado on 7 June 1976 at McNichols Arena. Ticket was $9.50. I was 12 years old and we were all amazed at how expensive the tickets were! Back then concert tickets were about $6. We drove up to the arena and the atmosphere was electric! We could see limos and police lights at the back of the arena. The doors were not open yet and a bunch of Hare Krishnas were chanting and dancing. Photos of McCartney were sold outside, black and white, one of him standing singing into a mic, another of he and the band sitting during the acoustic set. We bought them both. When we entered the arena, I ran and looked at the stage from the side, where Linda's keyboards were. I remember seeing all the instruments, and a lot of black curtains hanging behind the stage and over, and speakers above the stage. I have yet to find a photo of the stage from that tour from before or after the concert, would love to see one. We took our seats way up on the second level on the other side of the stage. Some memories that stay with me: McCartney walking on stage, waving and holding his Rickenbacker bass; little red and yellow dots on the audience during Venus and Mars; McCartney greeting the crowd, "Good evening! Welcome to Denver! How does it feel to live a mile high?" McCartney pointing in the air during Magneto and Titanium Man singing "You were the law!" And looking right at me! Or I like to think he was! The stage lighting up with little lights that outlined the risers during You Gave Me The Answer; Paul's dance moves on Silly Love Songs during the horn breaks; walking behind the stage and getting closer during Hi Hi Hi, then watching the laser show during Soily, and the laser forming into the Wings "W" at the other end of the arena. It was an amazing show!
That was GREAT to read! Thanks!
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RMartinez:
I saw Wings Over America in Denver, Colorado on 7 June 1976 at McNichols Arena. Ticket was $9.50. I was 12 years old and we were all amazed at how expensive the tickets were! Back then concert tickets were about $6. We drove up to the arena and the atmosphere was electric! We could see limos and police lights at the back of the arena. The doors were not open yet and a bunch of Hare Krishnas were chanting and dancing. Photos of McCartney were sold outside, black and white, one of him standing singing into a mic, another of he and the band sitting during the acoustic set. We bought them both. When we entered the arena, I ran and looked at the stage from the side, where Linda's keyboards were. I remember seeing all the instruments, and a lot of black curtains hanging behind the stage and over, and speakers above the stage. I have yet to find a photo of the stage from that tour from before or after the concert, would love to see one. We took our seats way up on the second level on the other side of the stage. Some memories that stay with me: McCartney walking on stage, waving and holding his Rickenbacker bass; little red and yellow dots on the audience during Venus and Mars; McCartney greeting the crowd, "Good evening! Welcome to Denver! How does it feel to live a mile high?" McCartney pointing in the air during Magneto and Titanium Man singing "You were the law!" And looking right at me! Or I like to think he was! The stage lighting up with little lights that outlined the risers during You Gave Me The Answer; Paul's dance moves on Silly Love Songs during the horn breaks; walking behind the stage and getting closer during Hi Hi Hi, then watching the laser show during Soily, and the laser forming into the Wings "W" at the other end of the arena. It was an amazing show!
Brilliant you were so lucky to see Wings, of all the concerts i could go back in time and see it would be Wings live, i would rather see that than a Beatles Concert!
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RMartinez:
I saw Wings Over America in Denver, Colorado on 7 June 1976 at McNichols Arena. Ticket was $9.50. I was 12 years old and we were all amazed at how expensive the tickets were! Back then concert tickets were about $6. [snip]
RM - you're my age (or I'm yours!
) and one of biggest regrets in this pretty fortunate life I've had was not seeing Wings when they came through Chicago the week before you saw them. 
Too young to go by myself, parents weren't going to take me and none of friends were into Paul (or even the Beatles for that matter)! Do you mind my asking who you went with? (Older) friends or siblings? Going to *any* concerts at that age was a very big deal, nevermind seeing one of the biggest bands on the planet! I still remember the full page ads in the paper and just being sick - yet also excited! - about the whole thing. I love hearing that others my age made it to those shows because, personally speaking, those years were when my Wings-mania was at its peak. Thanks for sharing your story! -
I saw Wings in 1972, twice
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Anny Rock:
I saw Wings in 1972, twice
Details, please!
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Holly Days:
Anny Rock:
I saw Wings in 1972, twice
Details, please!
First...I am curious about your location!
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Holly Days:
RMartinez:
I saw Wings Over America in Denver, Colorado on 7 June 1976 at McNichols Arena. Ticket was $9.50. I was 12 years old and we were all amazed at how expensive the tickets were! Back then concert tickets were about $6. [snip]
RM - you're my age (or I'm yours!
) and one of biggest regrets in this pretty fortunate life I've had was not seeing Wings when they came through Chicago the week before you saw them. Too young to go by myself, parents weren't going to take me and none of friends were into Paul (or even the Beatles for that matter)! Do you mind my asking who you went with? (Older) friends or siblings? Going to *any* concerts at that age was a very big deal, nevermind seeing one of the biggest bands on the planet! I still remember the full page ads in the paper and just being sick - yet also excited! - about the whole thing. I love hearing that others my age made it to those shows because, personally speaking, those years were when my Wings-mania was at its peak. Thanks for sharing your story!My older siblings are major Beatles and McCartney fans. My sister lives in Denver, and she and my brother were going. She had six tickets! My dad told me NO, but after a lot of pleading he said YES! We drove to Denver on a Saturday, and the concert was on Monday.
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RMartinez:
My older siblings are major Beatles and McCartney fans. My sister lives in Denver, and she and my brother were going. She had six tickets! My dad told me NO, but after a lot of pleading he said YES! We drove to Denver on a Saturday, and the concert was on Monday.
So great on many fronts ... and here's to your dad for finally saying YES!!!
To Anny Rock - my location is obviously a bit of a giggle (though I'd love to be in Amsterdam!!). I'm actually in NYC. So...details, please! When/where did you see the band in '72? Setlist? I'm sure we'd all love to hear. -
KingMacca:
I'm desperate to hear stories! If you can, how much was your ticket?
I saw Wings at Madison Square Garden in 1976, tickets were in the 100 sections of the arena and pretty close to stage. I forget the actual price of ticket but know it was not much compared to concerts today. I was 22 at the time and took my girlfriend who was a big McCartney fan also. I remember getting off the LIRR train and heading upstairs and you could feel the "excitement" of the event from outside the arena with all the people heading in and scalpers everywhere. The opening of "Venus and Mars/Rock Show" was electric and you can imagine the place went nuts when McCartney sang "Long Hair In Madison Square". Just seeing the McCartney on the stage for the first time was incredible !! My girlfriend and I rarely sat down the whole evening and once was when McCartney did the "acoustic" part of concert which included "Yesterday". Crowd was "pumped" the whole evening and was even "into" songs McCartney did not sing the lead vocal. One thing that we both noticed immediately was how much "harder" the Wings songs sounded live. "Soily" was a big highlight even though we never heard the song before due to it "rocked" the place and the laser show was really cool. Finally, I remember we were both so hoarse from cheering/singing all night that we found a street corner that was not crowded after the concert and "made out" for a bit to save our voices - lol
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My first McCartney concert experience was on May 21, 1976...Wings at Nassau Coliseum - Long Island, NY. Being the first New York area show for Paul since the Beatles last tour in '66, the media had a field day. The excitement level of the New York shows, plus the numerous rumors circulating about a possible Beatle reunion made this a major concert event. We were lucky enough to get floor seats not far from the stage. The show in a word was "AMAZING"!! From the very first notes of Venus and Mars through the final cymbal crash of Soily, the atmosphere at the Coliseum took on a wave of Beatlemania. I don't think anyone sat down. Unfortunately, I never had the opportunity to see the Beatles in concert, however I really think I got a taste of what it may have been like on Paul's first U.S. tour!
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I saw Wings May 18 1976 at the Omni in Atlanta. It was ?finals? season, my senior year at TTU in Cookeville TN, about 5 hours from Atlanta. I had a final lab in my major the morning of the 19th, and my plan was to drive to the show, drive back after the show, do the lab gig, drive back to Atlanta for the second show. Three little hippies got into my 1971 mustard coloured Maverick, tag 5C-1964 ? Mom worked at the courthouse and pulled a Beatles related plate for me ? and made the drive to the show listening to Speed of Sound on 8 track, changing the lyrics to ?I look around me and I see it?s getting close ? so close?. We had no real idea of the set list, unlike today when things like that are unavoidable, we had no ?spoilers?, so EVERY damn song was incredible and the place was so excited for the next number. A couple of specific memories were the lights that chased around the platforms for You gave Me the Answer, the floor shaking for Magneto and T Man as everyone bounced, and the acoustic set with near silence in the hall. And when he kicked in to Lady Madonna. Wishing I had not ran out of supplies before Hi, Hi, Hi. And a brand new song to close the night with, and the words ??see you next time? So got back in the car, so buzzed the trip back to TN seemed to take 20 minutes, even with a brief interface with The Law ? but the light WAS yellow - and he actually took the 17 dollars total we had with us! {he was NOT getting the T-shirts, programs and posters!} The next day, up bright and early for my lab ? better living thru chemistry ? and I see the notice my lab has been moved to 4pm. No F-king way to do both, so I did what in hindsight turned out to be a very irresponsible thing; I went to the lab that after noon, and missed the second Wings show in Atlanta. I promised myself that when I ?grow up and get a real life? I am gonna go to as many Macca shows as I possibly can.
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I was at the Nassau Coliseum concert, too. I remember the crowd roaring in amazement at the multiple laser beams that shot across the arena for Live and Let Die (A state-of -the-art effect at the time.) During the acoustic set, Paul took everyone by surprise when, while playing a fast-strumming guitar introduction, he remarked, "This one's a hootenanny ..." And he launched into "I've Just Seen a Face"! The crowd went wild. During the show there may have been some kind of momentary percussion issue and Paul addressed the audience to explain it.. "Do you people on Long Island know what a rhythm box is?" "No, Paul," everyone responded. Paul explained the device which (obviously) kept the beat. Looking back now, I remember people asking me whether I was able to hear Paul <lol> since some folks assumed the noise level would be the same as Beatlemania crowds. I was happy to report to them that every word of every song was crystal clear. A memorable line up of songs, flawlessly performed.
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I remember there were 7,000 people in line at 7am in Kansas City in the cold to buy the 17,000 tickets. That was a month before the show.
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I saw Wings in Chicago in '76. I can remember "sitting in the stands of the sports area...waiting for the show to begin".
Very cool. In those days it was difficult to take pictures in a dark stadium without a flash but I was gonna do it. I had a Nikon with a monster zoom (like Linda) & took photos. We had to "push" the film settings (because of the low light & no flash) to develop them. OMG...that was soo long ago. I need to find those pictures one of these days. I also remember the 2nd hand smoke was very thick. And I of course, remember the fantastic music & voices. The way Linda harmonized with Paul. 
I have a few bootleg cds from that time period & his voice seems soooo high...it's almost funny. But all in all...it was fricken ELECTRIC! When he recently opened with Venus & Mars, I so wished he would have done it 'correctly'. (haha) The way he did oh so many years ago. Totally darkened room only spotlight on Paul. sigh. And I wish he'd do the whole song! -
oobu24:
I saw Wings in Chicago in '76. I can remember "sitting in the stands of the sports area...waiting for the show to begin".
Very cool. In those days it was difficult to take pictures in a dark stadium without a flash but I was gonna do it. I had a Nikon with a monster zoom (like Linda) & took photos. We had to "push" the film settings (because of the low light & no flash) to develop them. OMG...that was soo long ago. I need to find those pictures one of these days. I also remember the 2nd hand smoke was very thick. And I of course, remember the fantastic music & voices. The way Linda harmonized with Paul. I have a few bootleg cds from that time period & his voice seems soooo high...it's almost funny. But all in all...it was fricken ELECTRIC! When he recently opened with Venus & Mars, I so wished he would have done it 'correctly'. (haha) The way he did oh so many years ago. Totally darkened room only spotlight on Paul. sigh. And I wish he'd do the whole song!I never realized you saw Wings -- and at their peak, at that!
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I saw Wings at Olympia Stadium, May 7th. So many memories that are the same as already mentioned. It was my first concert ever and I obeyed the rules of no cameras. Boy was I shocked to see all the cameras there ! & so mad for not bringing mine.
Like someone said things were so different then,just seeing him in person and talking !! omg hearing that accent.... I did bring binaculars with me,so I got to look at him real close God he was so in his prime then. The girl next to me says omg he's sweating ! The binaculars got passed around,so we could all scream at a sweating Paul ! Crying during Yesterday, ( I still cry ) The Silly Love Song strut , his piano playing during Lady Madonna , Paul & Linda during Go Now, My favorite songs were Beware My Love and Soily. I think we are spoiled a bit seeing him tour so much in the last 10 years or so.When he said "See you next time" at the end of the show,it would be 13 years before we saw him in the U.S again. A totally unforgetable experience seeing Paul McCartney & Wings -
audi:
oobu24:
I saw Wings in Chicago in '76. I can remember "sitting in the stands of the sports area...waiting for the show to begin".
Very cool. In those days it was difficult to take pictures in a dark stadium without a flash but I was gonna do it. I had a Nikon with a monster zoom (like Linda) & took photos. We had to "push" the film settings (because of the low light & no flash) to develop them. OMG...that was soo long ago. I need to find those pictures one of these days. I also remember the 2nd hand smoke was very thick. And I of course, remember the fantastic music & voices. The way Linda harmonized with Paul. I have a few bootleg cds from that time period & his voice seems soooo high...it's almost funny. But all in all...it was fricken ELECTRIC! When he recently opened with Venus & Mars, I so wished he would have done it 'correctly'. (haha) The way he did oh so many years ago. Totally darkened room only spotlight on Paul. sigh. And I wish he'd do the whole song!I never realized you saw Wings -- and at their peak, at that!
yeah i was thinking the same thing i wasnt even born yet
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I saw Wings six times in total: 1976 ? Saw two of the three shows at the Chicago Stadium. I remember ditching school (with permission!
) to wait in line with a friend to buy tickets for one of the shows. At the first show, we had seats in the very last row of the mezzanine. But there was an overhang from the balcony above us, which was cutting off the bands' heads, so to speak; when they took the stage, we discovered that couldn't see their faces! Panic! So my friends and I split up, each of us moving around to try and find empty seats that were not blocked by the overhang. I ended up spending most of the show sitting in an aisle, being very still and quiet so as not to bother anyone in the seats who might try to get me booted out. Watched the whole show through my binoculars and loved every minute of it?as already mentioned, the opening notes of "Venus and Mars," and there he was! Paul strutting across the stage during ?Silly Love Songs;? the whole acoustic set with all the guitars; the horns! And ?Soily? was marvelous. On the second night, I had nosebleed seats at the back, but it didn?t matter, because I was seeing Paul again. 1979 ? Saw the three shows in Scotland and also the Concert for Kampuchea in London. Was great to hear all of those ?Back to The Egg? songs live, and see Paul in a more intimate setting (all the shows were in theatres). And horns again! 
And as I?ve mentioned elsewhere on these boards, getting to hear ?Mull? performed in Scotland, with everyone in the audience singing at the top of their lungs, was wonderful.
