Wings Final Tour – Liverpool 1979
Wings launched their final tour Friday the 23rd of November 1979 with a free concert for pupils of McCartney’s old school, The Liverpool Institute. In the audience was McCartney’s old geography teacher, Bertrand, “Blip” Parker. By this time, he has progressed to being the head teacher of the school.
McCartney dedicated a song to Blip during the concert. Here is a report from the day. You can see Wings performing Got to Get You Into My Life and Mull of Kintyre.
This was followed by further concerts at the same venue up to Monday the 25th of November.
The press reports were generally favourable. Ronnie Gurr from Melody Maker observed a “magical experience” when McCartney performed the old Beatles songs Fool on the Hill and Let it Be.
Laurence Juber’s Memories
I asked the lead guitarist on the tour, Laurence Juber, about the opening gig for my book Wings Live. This is what he had to say:
More Rare Video Footage
Last summer, Beatles video collector Roy Matthews passed his VHS collection for me to transfer to a digital medium. Roy had recorded this interview from the television from 1979. It is introduced by the legendary Granada presenter Bob Greaves. I used to know Bob when I played classical guitar gigs as a restaurant in Sale, south Manchester, in the 1990s.
Royal Iris Boat Trip
On the day after their last concert in Liverpool, on the 27th of November 1979, Wings went down to the Liverpool docks for a photo session and a trip on the Royal Iris passenger ferry – which was probably the inspiration behind the 1964 Gerry and the Pacemakers’ Ferry Cross the Mersey. The event was captured by Granada TV.
Read More
For more information about McCartney’s return to Liverpool on Wings’ final tour, please buy my brand new book Wings Live. The link to purchase the book is below the image.
