Post Back to the Egg Period Question
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Having just seen Rockshow, there were a few things that really stood out to me. They were: *how happy and satisfied Paul and Linda seemed on stage and touring' *what a great chemistry Paul and Denny had vocally; they harmonize great plus they broke up songs where each one took turns on lead (i.e. Spirits of Ancient Egypt, Picasso's Last Words) *how the live versions in almost all cases were better than the studio version *how Wings were as much Rock as Pop. They were not a soft Band. Now we all know that Joe and Jimmy left Wings in the middle of Londontown. While they were a big loss, you are talking about Paul McCartney and he could have his choice of very talented replacements which Paul and Denny did. With the new Wings lineup, they finished Londontown and Back to the Egg. Both albums had plenty of material to provide a great new tour with plenty of new songs that could be done very well "live". From interviews I had seen around BTTE, Denny seemed to like the roll as sort of the Band Director freeing up Paul to concentrate on writing. Looking back on how good of a band Wings were, the timing seemed perfect for an follow up tour 3 years after Wings Over America. As we know, Japan was the first stop on the tour and then Paul got busted for drugs putting a screeching halt to the tour. My question is: *Even though, the Japan bust put on a damper to their immediate plans, why didn't Paul just postpone the tour and take Wings to the US, Canada, Europe etc. It might have taken 6-12 months to get the new dates but it certainly was doable. The Band was certainly ready to go. It seems to me that this was another of those "missed opportunities" for Paul. In my opinion, they could of had a setlist equal to Wings Over America. In fact, it would be a nice exercise to come up with the kind of setlist they could of had. Those rockers from BTTE and can you imagine an acoustic set with I'm Carrying, Don't Let It Bring You Down etc. Can anyone come up with the definitive reason why Paul decided to disband Wings before they took the opportunity to do another World Tour. Some theories that come to my mind for Paul's decision are:' *Did Paul and Linda decide after the drug bust to put a halt on touring for family reasons since their kids were still relatively young. *Did Paul and Linda's apparent drug use have anything to do with their decision to stop touring and disband Wings. While I, of course, respect their decision, I think it is a shame that Wings Over America 2 didn't occur. I think that both Londontown and BTTE were criminally underrated and Paul/Denny already proved that they could make live tracks even better than the studion versions. Can anyone fill me in as to why Paul suddenly disbanded Wings and didn't do a tour to follow up to BTTE and Londontown.' Yes the Japan thing was a mistake that Paul made, but they still could have just postponed the tour for a few months and then go to America. Any ideas.
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I think after the 76 US tour the band again played some dates in Europe, Yugoslavia? Venice...London? Maybe someone can clarify that... In 1980 Wings were supposedly going to Australia and the United States after Japan. It's fairly well known that Denny wanted to tour more regularly from 1977 > Paul and Linda had other ideas, and as we now know, Linda revealed to friends she was tired of touring and Wings, to some extent. The only other tour Wings did was a series of dates in the UK, in 1979. I think many things gradually eroded Wings, and if I remember in Wingspan, Paul might have said something along the lines of the 75/76 world tour was their peak and that by 1980 they'd really done what they set out to do. I really liked BTTE and I sorta felt that Laurence and Steve energised the band. What a shame that 1979 configuration of Wings never got to do a follow up album.
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I've often wondered what a Wings tour would've been like 1980 on, which is why I love listening to some of the last rehearsals from that time. Here's one, for example:
Also, I'm sure John Lennon's passing had a lot to do with Paul's disinterest in 1980 (as that's what delayed Tug of War). -
Wings did 4 nights at the Royal Court in Liverpool to start his tour in November 1979. If I remember rightly the last one was a free concert for school kids and family and friends. I remember the queue for tickets seemed miles long. Apparently the Royal Court was struggling to keep open and he performed there as a bit of a favour. Presumably this was the tour that would have taken him to Japan. I think the culmination of the tour (the Japan drug bust) provided a natural break and allowed him the opportunity to disband Wings at that time. This would have been something that he was contemplating in any case. Wings was a performing band and without touring there was no need for the band. He didn't subsequently tour for many years after 1980 so there was no purpose in keeping the band. The death of John Lennon would have influenced his decision as well. Lennon's death must have been a significant event in McCartney's life and his and his family's security / well being would have been a consideration to stop touring.
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From an interview at the time of the Wingspan docu:
When he emerged (from prison), he had had time to reflect and realised that the post-Beatles experiment of taking his family on the road with Wings was over. 'It wasn't fun anymore and the bust definitely sort of cemented that. It was like, "Oh God, who needs all this?"' 'The band was very annoyed with me because me being busted had blown one of their big pay days. Nobody was too happy with me at the time. 'Everyone had told us, "Don't take drugs to Japan".'
And I remember reading somewhere (but I can't remember where) that Paul said that he might subconsciously have taken the drugs into Japan, because he didn't really want to do that tour. The singles off of "Back to the Egg" weren't exactly big hits, and by the time the "smoke" from the Japan/drug incident had settled, BTTE would be considered an "old" album and touring to promote it would not make any sense. So I think it's natural, that the tour didn't continue. Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-40715/My-jail-nightmare-Sir-Paul.html#ixzz2WBiF1uMb Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook
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As well as the valid issues highlighted in the previous posts, Paul wasn't happy musically with the 1979 UK tour and Linda was getting fed up with being in the band and touring as well. In her late 30's with four kids aged between 16 & 2,I can't say that I blame her. It's a pity that Japanese fans lost out.....again, but as far as Australia and the US were concerned,Wings had succesfully played those countries already.
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Not only that but if you watch Wingspan and read other interviews, Paul was pretty half-hearted about Wings when he put the final lineup together after London Town. It was a "I have to find a new guitarist and drummer AGAIN?!" type of weariness and frustration. In his own words, as bad as the Japan bust was, it was the out he needed to disband Wings (even though it didn't become official until a year later).
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B J Conlee:
Having just seen Rockshow, there were a few things that really stood out to me. They were: *how happy and satisfied Paul and Linda seemed on stage and touring' *what a great chemistry Paul and Denny had vocally; they harmonize great plus they broke up songs where each one took turns on lead (i.e. Spirits of Ancient Egypt, Picasso's Last Words) *how the live versions in almost all cases were better than the studio version *how Wings were as much Rock as Pop. They were not a soft Band. Now we all know that Joe and Jimmy left Wings in the middle of Londontown. While they were a big loss, you are talking about Paul McCartney and he could have his choice of very talented replacements which Paul and Denny did. With the new Wings lineup, they finished Londontown and Back to the Egg. Both albums had plenty of material to provide a great new tour with plenty of new songs that could be done very well "live". From interviews I had seen around BTTE, Denny seemed to like the roll as sort of the Band Director freeing up Paul to concentrate on writing. Looking back on how good of a band Wings were, the timing seemed perfect for an follow up tour 3 years after Wings Over America. As we know, Japan was the first stop on the tour and then Paul got busted for drugs putting a screeching halt to the tour. My question is: *Even though, the Japan bust put on a damper to their immediate plans, why didn't Paul just postpone the tour and take Wings to the US, Canada, Europe etc. It might have taken 6-12 months to get the new dates but it certainly was doable. The Band was certainly ready to go. It seems to me that this was another of those "missed opportunities" for Paul. In my opinion, they could of had a setlist equal to Wings Over America. In fact, it would be a nice exercise to come up with the kind of setlist they could of had. Those rockers from BTTE and can you imagine an acoustic set with I'm Carrying, Don't Let It Bring You Down etc. Can anyone come up with the definitive reason why Paul decided to disband Wings before they took the opportunity to do another World Tour. Some theories that come to my mind for Paul's decision are:' *Did Paul and Linda decide after the drug bust to put a halt on touring for family reasons since their kids were still relatively young. *Did Paul and Linda's apparent drug use have anything to do with their decision to stop touring and disband Wings. While I, of course, respect their decision, I think it is a shame that Wings Over America 2 didn't occur. I think that both Londontown and BTTE were criminally underrated and Paul/Denny already proved that they could make live tracks even better than the studion versions. Can anyone fill me in as to why Paul suddenly disbanded Wings and didn't do a tour to follow up to BTTE and Londontown.' Yes the Japan thing was a mistake that Paul made, but they still could have just postponed the tour for a few months and then go to America. Any ideas.
I have a pretty good quality "boot" of 1979 Wings concert and it pales in comparison to 1976 WOA in quality IMO. Could be due to change in lineup of Wings but don't see even with time if they could have done better.
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hmmmp.
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Rehearsing 'With a little luck' for the Japanese tour http//
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ewanme:
Rehearsing 'With a little luck' for the Japanese tour:
That's fantastic....I am so fond of this song, wish Paul would play it live one day!
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yankeefan7:
I have a pretty good quality "boot" of 1979 Wings concert and it pales in comparison to 1976 WOA in quality IMO. Could be due to change in lineup of Wings but don't see even with time if they could have done better.
Agreed. I think the 1979 tour did have some awesome moments (the return of "Let It Be", the only time "Goodnight Tonight" was played live with the band, the opening version of "Got to Get You Into My Life", the additions of "Twenty Flight Rock". "Mull of Kintyre", and "Coming Up", and even "Wonderful Christmastime"). But overall, it certainly is no Wings Over America/The World. That was magical!
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LetMeRollIt89:
yankeefan7:
I have a pretty good quality "boot" of 1979 Wings concert and it pales in comparison to 1976 WOA in quality IMO. Could be due to change in lineup of Wings but don't see even with time if they could have done better.
Agreed. I think the 1979 tour did have some awesome moments (the return of "Let It Be", the only time "Goodnight Tonight" was played live with the band, the opening version of "Got to Get You Into My Life", the additions of "Twenty Flight Rock". "Mull of Kintyre", and "Coming Up", and even "Wonderful Christmastime"). But overall, it certainly is no Wings Over America/The World. That was magical!
Thanks guys for all the feedback to my questions. There were probably several reasons that Paul and Linda decided to disband Wings and not proceed with a 2nd big tour like WOA. Certainly Linda (and maybe Paul) being tired of touring with having a growing family might have been a significant factor. But maybe the biggest factor is what you are suggesting above...that Paul didn't feel the "magic" that he had with the 76 Band. Maybe the new guys weren't the "live" players that Jimmy and Joe were. Or Maybe I just overrate Back to the Egg but I really think the BTTE/Londontown albums had the groundwork for a great tour. Like WOA based its tour on Band on the Run, Venus and Mars and At the Speed of Sound, I think BTTE and Londontown plus the good singles at the time could have had the basis for an equally great setlist and subsequent album. A lot of people don't really like BTTE so maybe I am wrong but I really see them for great potential "live" cuts. Just a dream at this point, but here's a "made up" 1980 Tour Setlist that I would have loved to witness and hear. 1980 Imaginery Setlist We're Open Tonight / So Glad to See You Here (potential great opener) Getting Closer Again, Again, Again (Denny on Lead) Arrow Through Me Good Night Tonight Daytime Night Time Suffering With a Little Luck I've Had Enough Take It Away (I see that Paul had actually had this written in 1980) Got To Get You Into My Live -he was performing this on the 79' mini tour Live and Let Die Coming Up Acoustic Set Every Night (he was doing this on the 79' mini tour) Million Miles / Love Awake Don't Let It Bring You Down I'm Carrying I'm Looking Through You Two of Us And I Love Her Girls School Lucille (I believe he was doing this on the 79 mini tour) The Mess Band on the Run Old Siam Girl Let It Be (He was doing this on the 79 tour) Maybe I'm Amazed 1st Encoure Rochestra To You Spin It On 2nd encore Mull of Kyntire I Saw Her Standing There Hey Jude Going back to 1980, Paul still was in his peak vocally. This would have been in my opinion a dream setlist mixing in the recent (BTTE, Londontown, new singles, classic Beatles, early Solo and Wings hits)...Around 34 songs. Anything close to this would have been an awesome setlist in my opinion. Unfortunately, it is only a dream.
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good stuff.
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Wings pics from October 1980(?) http//www.giginjapan.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/paulmcwings-whenrains.jpg
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Probably early 1981 http//lukashaisha.blogspot.co.uk/2011/04/all-those-years-ago-recording-sessions.html
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Paul was also tired of what he felt was the "routine" of Wings. You can see it in the "making of album" interviews leading to TUG OF WAR. London Town: (paraphrasing) "Well I wanted to do something different because I was bored so we recorded on a boat" Back To The Egg: (paraphrasing) "Well I wanted to do something different because I was bored so we recorded in a castle." McCartney II: (paraphrasing) "Well I wanted to something different because I was bored so I made my own tape loops" Tug of War: (paraphrasing) "It was very fun and different to be able to use whoever I wanted on each track".
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so basically Paul and Linda was completely WINGED out by this period. THEY had enough LOL
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That's how it seems. I'm mapping out a timeline for a book and you can see the moment where Paul totally checks out of Wings in 1980. Japan didn't end the band, but after that Paul was moving forward with other projects before cutting the cord in 1981.
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Just a thought that suddenly occurred to me: Could the involvement of George Martin have anything to do with it? I thought Wings still rehearsed the next album after the drugs bust (or was that before, I don't know off the top of my head). George Martin came around and he and Paul McCartney agreed that they should try to make the best possible album (which must have appealed to PMC, because he saw his success and sales falling) with the best possible people. And that sort of cancelled out the Wings members by definition. McCartney II as a solo-album was never intended as a cancellation of wings, as it was recorded way too early for that. But it might have contributed to PMC's general feeling that he didn't need/want the other guys for making an album
