Paul McCartney performed at Liverpool’s Cavern Club yesterday afternoon (July 26th) marking his first return to the venue in 19 years. The original Cavern Club, which was across the street from where the revamped venue now stands, was demolished back in 1973.
Beatlefan reported McCartney and his band performed a 27-song set, with the former Beatle stopping his performance of the Wings classic “Letting Go” to take some fans to task for continuing to take photos and film the gig, saying, “You’ve all been told not to take photos. You’re taking them, and you’re taking them, and it’s putting me off! So, y’know, play by the rules, man!”
During his chat on Wednesday (July 25th) at the Liverpool College Of Art with Pulp‘s Jarvis Cocker, McCartney was asked whom he would choose to work with considering all the musicians he’s played with over the decades: “Of all the ones I’ve worked with, it would be fellow Beatles. It would be John (Lennon) — who was pretty cool — and George (Harrison), and Ringo (Starr). Y’know, having worked with John, so one on one, I got to see his brilliance before the world did. So, y’know, I would get to hear ‘Across The Universe,’ and ‘Julia‘ and some of these songs, y’know, and I’m a big fan.” (Pulse)
Paul McCartney’s setlist yesterday (July 26th) at Liverpool’s Cavern Club:
“Improvisation”
“Twenty Flight Rock”
“Magical Mystery Tour”
“Jet”
“All My Loving”
“Letting Go”
“Come On To Me”
“Let Me Roll It / Foxy Lady”
“I’ve Got A Feeling”
“My Valentine”
“Nineteen Hundred And Eighty Five”
“Lady Madonna”
“In Spite Of All The Danger”
“Things We Said Today”
“Confidante”
“Love Me Do”
“Who Cares”
“Birthday”
“I Wanna Be Your Man”
“Fuh You”
“Get Back”
“Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da”
“Band On The Run”
“Hi Hi Hi”
“I Saw Her Standing There”
“Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (reprise)”
“Helter Skelter”
The Beatles have a long history with Liverpool’s Cavern Club. John Lennon first performed there with his skiffle band, the Quarrymen, playing the then jazz-only club on August 7th, 1957 — three months before Paul McCartney joined the group. McCartney first performed with the Quarryman at the Cavern on January 24th, 1958, with George Harrison making his Cavern debut on February 9th, 1961, which marked the Beatles’ first gig at the venue under their new and final moniker.
Soon-to-be manager Brian Epstein first saw the band play at the Cavern on December 9th, 1961 and decided upon first sight to sign them. Longtime Cavern veteran Ringo Starr played his first performance as a Beatle at the venue on August 22nd, 1962 when the band was filmed for Granada’ TV’s Known The North show. The Beatles made 292 appearances at the Cavern, with their last occurring on August 3rd, 1963. The group had long outgrown the underground cellar venue, with three Top 20 hits under their belts — including two chart-toppers and their latest single — and third Number One — “She Loves You,” in the can and awaiting release.
