Paul McCartney and Wings
Paul McCartney formed Wings in 1971 following the breakup of the Beatles. He recruited his wife Linda on keyboards and Denny Laine from the Moody Blues to play guitar. Denny Seiwell joined as the first drummer for their debut album Wild Life released in December 1971. The band name came to Paul during a prayer at a hospital while Linda gave birth to their daughter Stella on the 13th of September 1971. Critics dismissed early albums like Ram and Wild Life as rushed or defensive compared to his previous work with the Beatles. Music press often ridiculed Linda's inclusion despite her lack of prior musical experience. The group played no Beatles songs during their initial university tour to establish themselves as a new entity.
Wings achieved massive success with Band on the Run recorded in Lagos Nigeria in 1973. The album reached number one in both the US and UK charts. It spawned hit singles including Jet and the title track which became a suite of movements recalling Abbey Road side two. Live and Let Die served as the theme song for the James Bond film of the same year. This non-album single became a worldwide hit and remains a concert highlight often accompanied by pyrotechnics. Mull of Kintyre became Wings' only UK number one single and sold over two million copies in Britain alone. It remains one of the biggest-selling UK singles of all time though it failed to chart highly in America.
The Wings Over the World Tour ran from late 1975 through mid-1976 covering Australia Europe and the United States. A four-night grand finale took place at London's Wembley Empire Pool in September 1976. The band added a horn section featuring Tony Dorsey Howie Casey Thaddeus Richard and Steve Howard during these shows. A triple live album titled Wings over America captured performances from Madison Square Garden and Boston Garden. Rockshow filmed during the American leg was released as a concert feature in 1980. The tour included five Beatles songs alongside new material proving their ability to headline major venues globally.
Wings underwent three lead guitarist changes and four drummer rotations throughout its ten-year existence. Henry McCullough joined in January 1972 but left in August 1973 citing musical direction differences and Linda's inclusion. Jimmy McCulloch replaced him briefly before dying of morphine and alcohol poisoning in 1979. Geoff Britton quit shortly after joining in Nashville where sessions occurred at songwriter Curly Putman Jr.'s farm. Joe English won his position via secret audition replacing Britton in New Orleans. Laurence Juber and Steve Holley joined later restoring touring strength until the group dissolved in 1981.
Denny Laine announced his departure from Wings in April 1981 citing lack of future tour plans as the primary reason. His relationship with Paul had become strained over business matters including compensation disputes regarding Mull of Kintyre royalties. Linda's death in 1998 ended any possibility of reunion involving her participation. Paul McCartney shifted focus to solo albums like Tug of War produced by George Martin. Laurence Juber moved to New York after realizing the writing was on the wall for Wings. Steve Holley joined Denny Laine Band releasing a solo album titled Japanese Tears that December.
Wings recorded twelve top-ten singles in the UK and fourteen
in the US during their active years. All nine studio albums reached the top ten in either Britain or America. Founding members reunited occasionally at Beatlefest conventions starting in March 1997 in East Rutherford New Jersey. Denny Laine Laurence Juber and Steve Holley performed together again in July 2007 at Fest for Beatles Fans in Las Vegas. They appeared multiple times between 2010 and 2019 playing songs like Band on the Run and Mull of Kintyre. One Hand Clapping finally released in 2024 captured live-in-studio recordings from 1974 proving enduring interest in their catalog.
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Common questions
When did Paul McCartney form Wings and who were the founding members?
Paul McCartney formed Wings in 1971 following the breakup of the Beatles. He recruited his wife Linda on keyboards and Denny Laine from the Moody Blues to play guitar.
What is the origin story behind the name Wings for Paul McCartney's band?
The band name came to Paul during a prayer at a hospital while Linda gave birth to their daughter Stella on the 13th of September 1971. This event occurred before the group officially began recording or touring.
Which album by Wings reached number one in both the US and UK charts in 1973?
Band on the Run recorded in Lagos Nigeria in 1973 reached number one in both the US and UK charts. It spawned hit singles including Jet and the title track which became a suite of movements recalling Abbey Road side two.
How many lead guitarist changes and drummer rotations did Wings experience during its ten-year existence?
Wings underwent three lead guitarist changes and four drummer rotations throughout its ten-year existence. Henry McCullough joined in January 1972 but left in August 1973 citing musical direction differences and Linda's inclusion.
Why did Denny Laine announce his departure from Wings in April 1981?
Denny Laine announced his departure from Wings in April 1981 citing lack of future tour plans as the primary reason. His relationship with Paul had become strained over business matters including compensation disputes regarding Mull of Kintyre royalties.