Wings: A retrospective on the band post-Beatles
In the wake of The Beatles’ dissolution, Paul McCartney formed Wings, embarking on a journey that would achieve notable success in the music industry, reports BritPanorama.
Had they emerged without the Beatles legacy, Wings would likely be celebrated as one of the UK’s leading musical acts, boasting five consecutive albums that topped American charts, over 50 million in album sales, and the record for the best-selling single in Britain with “Mull of Kintyre.” Regardless of McCartney’s past, Wings made significant waves in the industry.
Wings: The Story of a Band on the Run, a comprehensive 500,000-word oral history, serves as a testament to their contributions, countering the narrative of under-appreciation surrounding the band.
While credited to McCartney, the work largely reflects the efforts of editor Ted Widmer, who had access to archival materials and interview footage from the upcoming documentary Man on the Run, despite not being allowed to review the film. This collaboration imbues the book with depth and a broad cast of characters, including lesser-known anecdotes, such as McCartney providing backing vocals for the Sex Pistols’ “Pretty Vacant.” However, it also underscores certain omissions, including an avoidance of criticisms directed toward Linda McCartney and a downplaying of familial tensions with the Lennon family.
Beginning with the aftermath of The Beatles’ breakup, the narrative highlights McCartney’s struggles in forging a new path. Describing his early uncertainty, he recalled, “What do we do now? In truth, I didn’t have any idea.” The absence of a precedent for handling the breakup of a band as monumental as The Beatles left McCartney to find his own way forward.
The early period involved a retreat for the McCartneys to a secluded farm in Scotland, allowing McCartney to regroup creatively after the fallout of The Beatles’ dissolution and to begin crafting new music. His initial solo efforts, particularly the albums McCartney and RAM, achieved considerable chart success, with the former reaching No. 1 in the US.
Despite rough reviews, which led McCartney to contemplate the end of his career, a venture into forming a new band was on the horizon. Inspired by a Johnny Cash television performance, McCartney turned to Linda and proposed, “Do you fancy being in a band?”
This new musical venture was built around the couple’s collaboration, though Linda had limited musical experience. The pair established a group, bringing in musicians Denny Laine and Denny Seiwell, and ultimately coined the name Wings, inspired by a moment during the birth of their daughter Stella. McCartney explained, “Because of the emergency, the vision of an angel with big wings came into my mind. I thought ‘Wings: that’d be good.’”
Wings would eventually form a unique identity, navigating the shadow cast by The Beatles while constantly being judged against their legacy. This journey included a grassroots tour across small venues, which culminated in their first live performance on 9 February 1972 at Nottingham University.
