On This Day in 1972, Paul McCartney and Wings Played Their First Show—It Was McCartney’s First Time on the Road After the Beatles Disbanded
via AdamBound / YouTube
A New Beginning for McCartney
On July 9, 1972, Paul McCartney and his new band Wings performed their first official concert since The Beatles ended. The event took place at the Centre Culturel Châteauvallon in Ollioules, France, in front of about 2,000 people. McCartney chose this small Greek-style amphitheatre to ease back into live shows, aiming for a relaxed start instead of jumping into big stadiums.
This show marked McCartney’s first European stage appearance since 1966. He said they wanted a modest start: “so this is quite a small, out‑of‑the‑way place, but still get quite a reasonable audience.” The group, which included Linda McCartney, Denny Laine, Henry McCullough, and Denny Seiwell, performed a mix of songs from McCartney’s solo albums—McCartney, Ram, Wild Life—and some unreleased tracks.
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No Beatles Hits—But Plenty of Surprises
The setlist did not include any Beatles songs. Instead, Wings focused on their own material and covers. Songs like “1882” and “Best Friend” would later be officially released in 2018. Only seven tracks from the show appear on bootleg recordings today.
Journalists watched closely as McCartney warmed up his new band. Linda McCartney admitted she was “nervous first half” since they had “no soundcheck, no rehearsal… had to go on ‘cold’.” She added the second half “was much hotter.”
A Laid‑Back European Tour
Instead of traveling in a regular tour bus, Wings used a psychedelic double‑decker that let them feel the sunshine and relaxed vibe of a coastal trip. McCartney joked that putting children on the bus “was not what you’d expect… But we weren’t a normal band.”
McCartney also stressed he wanted to ease back on stage: “I want to know I’m ready if there is a super‑critical audience… I quite like the idea of doing it steadily, building it step by step.”
Foreshadowing a Legacy
The Châteauvallon gigs launched the Wings Over Europe Tour, which would span 26 concerts across nine countries. Those shows helped solidify Wings as a new force in rock and gave McCartney a fresh start after the Beatles.
This first performance laid the groundwork for a successful tour and a new chapter in McCartney’s life. He moved forward with confidence, showing that the beloved Beatle could thrive on his own terms.
Listen to the live bootleg in the video below:
