Description
Following on from the hugely successful Wings Live, this latest book examines Paul McCartney’s world tour of 1989-90. It begins with an examination of all of McCartney’s live work in the 1980s, and his decision to embark on tour after almost a decade in the studio.
The main body of the book details every single concert of the 102-date tour, and includes reviews of all the known audio and film footage and contributions from fans who attended the concerts. The author argues that a tour is not simply a matter of songs and concert venues but involves matters of presentation, approach and ethics. Paul and Linda embarked on a tour that would raise awareness of the issues facing the plant, and champion the cause of animal rights.
The book traces the growth of the McCartney’s interest in environmental issues in the dying days of Thatcher’s Britain. The book ends with two fascinating interviews – one with the Malcolm Gerrie, the producer of the Channel 4 music show The Tube. McCartney performed live on the show on numerous occasions in the 1980s and even served pints of beer in the pub adjoining the TV studio!
The other interview is with Jonathon Porritt, who wrote a lengthy article for the programme of McCartney’s World Tour and remains a pivotal figure in Britain’s green movement. The author discusses Porritt’s relationship with the McCartneys and evaluates the tour’s impact on raising the status of environmental issues among the general public.
Paul McCartney The World Tour is a much more than a book about music – it is a window into the political and ethical preoccupations of the time – refracted through the lens of an extraordinary performer.
