Paul McCartney Breaks Silence: The Painful Birth of Wings Revealed
Mia Reynolds, 2/28/2025Paul McCartney opens up about the tumultuous beginnings of Wings in his upcoming book, "Wings: The Story of a Band on the Run." He reflects on his struggles post-Beatles and the band's unexpected evolution from mediocrity to musical success, chronicling their journey with honesty and charm.
In the hazy aftermath of The Beatles' dissolution, Paul McCartney found himself adrift — a musical titan suddenly untethered from the very foundation that had defined his life. Now, more than fifty years later, McCartney is ready to share the raw, unvarnished story of his phoenix-like rise from those ashes in "Wings: The Story of a Band on the Run," a sweeping 528-page chronicle set to hit shelves this November.
"I was depressed. You would be. You were breaking from your lifelong friends," McCartney reveals with startling candor about that turbulent period, acknowledging his descent into what he calls "the bevvies" — a temporary solace that quickly lost its charm. "It was great at first, then suddenly I wasn't having a good time."
Rather than retreating into the comfort of superstardom — and he certainly could have assembled an all-star lineup with a few phone calls — McCartney chose a path that seemed almost deliberately designed to court failure. He formed Wings with his wife Linda, who had never performed professionally, alongside drummer Denny Seiwell and former Moody Blues guitarist Denny Laine. It was a decision that raised more than a few industry eyebrows.
"We were terrible," McCartney admits with disarming honesty. "We knew Linda couldn't play, but she learned, and looking back on it, I'm really glad we did it." That raw authenticity — choosing growth over immediate gratification — would eventually become Wings' secret weapon.
The journey from those humble beginnings to stadium-filling success wasn't a straight line. Their first albums landed with more of a whimper than a bang — "Wild Life" (1971) and "Red Rose Speedway" (1973) received lukewarm receptions. But everything changed with the release of their James Bond theme "Live and Let Die" and the career-defining album "Band on the Run."
The creation of that landmark album reads like a fever dream — two band members quit just before recording was set to begin in Lagos, Nigeria. "I think everyone was blissfully happy until they were asked to go to darkest Africa," McCartney recalls with characteristic wit. "It was like, you know, we'll come to rehearsal next Monday — but Africa? Are you kidding?"
The upcoming book — co-created with historian Ted Widmer — promises more than 150 photographs, many previously unseen, documenting everything from impromptu university performances to that infamous mugging in Nigeria. It chronicles Wings' evolution through various lineups and their triumphant "Wings Over America" tour, which marked McCartney's first U.S. performances since The Beatles.
"Starting from scratch after The Beatles felt crazy at times," McCartney reflects in the book announcement. "There were some very difficult moments and I often questioned my decision. But as we got better I thought, 'OK this is really good.' We proved Wings could be a really good band."
The timing of this literary venture isn't coincidental — it's part of a larger Wings renaissance that includes the theatrical release of "One Hand Clapping," 50th anniversary editions of classic albums, and an upcoming documentary from Academy Award-winning filmmaker Morgan Neville. Even Hollywood is taking notice, with reports of Sam Mendes developing four Beatles biopics, suggesting the enduring cultural impact of McCartney's musical journey.
Through nine Wings albums and countless adventures, McCartney transformed what could have been a footnote in rock history into a testament to artistic reinvention. The band that began as an uncertain experiment would go on to create enduring classics like "Mull of Kintyre" and "Band on the Run," proving that sometimes the greatest achievements come not from playing it safe, but from having the courage to start again.
