WINGS FUN CLUB - recollections?
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I became a member of the Wings fun club in February 1974 and quickly managed to obtain all the A4 printed newsletters issued during 1973 so I'm now the proud owner of every letter/magazine/Club Sandwich issued from 1973 to the clubs closure 25 years later. I always preferred the early friendlier newsletters / magazines to the more fawning hype styled CS's of the 1980's. It was only in the 90's when Mark Lewisohn became involved that the CS's became interesting and readable again. Memorable 'club' moments? Attending the 'Take It Away' video shoot, the 'Docklands' playdate and receiving a signed 'Tug Of War' lp from Paul after a competition I contributed was used in an issue of CS. I also remember a telephone conversation with Sue (from the fun club) discussing a question i'd posed regarding the snippet of 'Big Barn Bed' which appears on the 'Ram' (reprise). I don't think she ever did understand what I was on about.
I've occasionally wondered what became of Lucy, Claire and Nicky who use to run the original Paul McCartney & Wings Fun Clubs in the first year or so? 
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Great thread Martin
I joined in around 1982 and was so excited when I received my first Club Sandwich. It was so big too!! A gigantic newspaper! In later years they bought the size down to a more manageable one.LOL I can't remember how much the membership was but £3 springs to mind but I think it must have been more than that, can't remember. With my first one I had some stickers and a badge (maybe a poster) and also a fold-out list of Paul's albums which was really lovely. I would so look forward to receiving each issue and would sometimes even sit in the window wondering whether it was the lucky day that the postman would deliver me my next issue I wrote to Sue who I think was the editor quite a lot and had some lovely replies from her, often written on promotional postcards for various albums. When I told her I was getting married she sent me a best wishes for your wedding message She was very approachable which made it all seem even more special. I wrote a Word Seach and had it published in one of the issues which made me so happy!!! 
The whole personalised feel and atmosphere of that magazine was fantastic, we'd see pictures and read articles on Linda and Paul and what they were doing and news about the latest releases. We could read articles from Geoff Baker and Carla Lane about animal and green issues. It was packed with information and I don't think that anything will ever surpass the feelings that that magazine gave from a fan "feeling part of something" point of view. I've kept all my old Club Sandwich magazines and it's been a while since I got them out and sat and looked through them all. Maybe it's time to go and have another look -
I hope Paul reads this and will revive the real Fun Club. Seemed to be Linda's baby.
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wings4ever_VZlA:
i am a wings fan I was born in 1975 so i did not have the chance to be in that club
I was born in 1974, but became a member for my 15th birthday in 1989
I loved the club, but being a northerner i never received any of the exclusive offers to be in london gigs or filming - i read recently that they just used to mail those bits to people local 
But other than that i LOVED the club. And the go veggie issue was amazing, brilliant - i hope it helped convince some paul fans to go veggie, i was already veggie but used that to show people some facts. And the linda tribute issue.. i cried, i still cry, she was a wonderful woman and an inspiration to me. -
I got invited to some of the filming bits but due to a family member who was ill I wasn't able to go. It was reading the articles in the GoVeggie issue that finally converted me to being a vegetarian
The Linda tribute issue was beautiful, I wish she was still alive -
I was a member starting in the late 70s to the finish.Being a member in the states was tough for me.I was always moving and the fan club had a tough time with my current adress!Our issues arrived later than uk residents recieved theirs and Im guessing that we were not invited to the video tapings.I wanted to attend the taping so bad!Ive still got most of my issues and membership cards,I wish I still had the club sandwich binders!!!One time,Sue sent me an autographed Mccartney postcard!!The Russian lp was a nice treat too!Its understandable why its all over,but sorely missed!!
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I remember getting a free fan club 10th row ticket for the 1993 mccartney New mexico show in las cruces and not able to get away from my job to go!!!
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I remember being invited to a showing of Rockshow and the idea was that our screams and cheers would be dubbed onto the soundtrack and used as the crowd. It was in London at a movie theartre. also I had a poem published in the club sandwhich. I dont rember all of it but it went like this When I listen to wings i never feel low just watch my expression change to a glow letting go a rocker by far but not as fast a medicine jar Nowords must be the best but like us all I love the rest Love in Song another fine song with Wings in command you can go wrong ( its in the wrong order and a few lines missing ) I was about 13 when i sent it in and that was a long time ago
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The tickets that were made available to me through the Fun Club were not free, but they were good seats.
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I loved the London Town edition it has some great pics of the recording sessions
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i had a montage photo printed in gallery corner - see halfway down this page! http//www.wingspan.ru/magazines/cs/cs52/page16.html
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Very nice. Congratulations!
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8 DAYS A WEEK:
I remember getting a free fan club 10th row ticket for the 1993 mccartney New mexico show in las cruces and not able to get away from my job to go!!!
Sorry,I remember now you had to pay for the tickets ,but they were cheap!
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They were cheap, compared to todays prices. I have a poster of the gig in Boulder and tickets were $31.50.
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I remember being sent the Russian album
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I was a member from almost the beginning until the club went defunct after Linda's passing. My biggest memory was getting the Club Sandwich magazines, which were (and remain) incredible! I still have each issue, lovingly preserved. Some of the photos in there were fabulous and rare. People who never grew up without the Internet can't imagine the thrill of getting these magazines. News on Macca was not an everyday occurence like it is today. There might be a reference to him in Time or Newsweek, or a TV show now and again, but that was it. These magazines were your connection to Paul's upcoming albums, singles and possible tours. The club would also send out foldable posters once in awhile, buttons and stickers. I think the most thrilling part was getting row 7 tickets to Paul's '89 tour just because I was a fan club member. That was the best dividend of all! I just remember walking home from school, anticipating the next Club Sandwich. They usually arrived mid-month and I would be obsessing over their arrival date for days in advance. Those magazines were thrilling to receive and lovingly pour over each page.
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Here was the format of Club Sandwich magazines, most of these are later issues. The earlier issues were larger and I think much better:
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Candace:
People who never grew up without the Internet can't imagine the thrill of getting these magazines. News on Macca was not an everyday occurence like it is today.
yeah....and wasn't it better for it?
I think there's too much info available these days and its its kind of ruined the 'mystique' aspect of Paul ( and every other artist for that matter) and his music. I use to spend hours listening to the radio just to hear that first play of a new single.........now you can hear it on-line as easy as turning on a tap. The fun (and the anticipation) of being a fan has long gone ......... a bit like the Wings Fun Club really. -
I'll always miss the Fun Club. It's good to have the Club Sandwich magazines to be able to look back through and re-live those early memories of being a Paul fan. At least the memories will always be there.
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I agree completely. I also think IPODs, cell phones and all the rest has compromised life. It was better before all these things. With Paul, it's especially true. Anticipation is what whets the appetite and instant gratification never helped anyone.
