Paul Plays Liverpool
On Sunday February 24th 2002 Sir Paul McCartney took to the stage at the Liverpool Empire Theatre for the first time since 1975. He arrived unannounced at the very end of a 2800 sellout concert to celebrate the life of George Harrison that was expected to raise thousands of pounds for cancer charities a day before what would have been George's 59th birthday.

The first half of the concert was dedicated to the sixties, featuring bands such as The Ivy League and The Merseybeats, but the highlight of the first half was the arrival on stage of Liverpool's newest awesome foursome " The Blue Meanies ". They were given one spot in this extremely tight bill. However at the end of She Loves You as they took their bow the crowd could not believe or accept that that was it, the entire theatre called for more ( this happened only once that night ) and the lads returned and did From Me To You. Ralph Mc tell, Steve Harley, George tribute Hari Georgeson all took to the stage followed by Shali Shankar a Disciple of Ravi Shankar. It was of course heavily rumored that Paul would appear and we all hoped but as the concert drew to a close and the finale took place most had accepted the worst and headed for the doors, what a mistake.

I actually stopped one couple, as by now I KNEW that he was coming they really did not believe me but afterwards it was tears all round. Previously as I was moving around the theatre taking photographs, two things happened. I had already noticed that there were three empty seats near the mixing booth, the next time I passed they were occupied....by Mike McCartney, his wife Rowena and Heather Mills, Pauls wife to be. At the same time a local press photographer pulled me to one side and said " follow me or you are going to miss out " so off we went to the footlights.

As the compere brought proceedings to a close one stopped the other informing him that there was some old drunk outside who was determined to do one last song. At this point on walked Paul thumbs up and as cool as usual, can you imagine the reaction of the crowd ? Several thousand cheers, tears and sighs of relief. Just Imagine Sir Paul McCartney ON STAGE IN LIVERPOOL .......Magic. He then began to talk, saying " When I heard that there was to be a tribute to George I just had to be here. I have so many memories of him, so many. When I am driving through Speke ( Pauls childhood district ) I see my old house and his, we were such good friends from so long ago. I used to get the bus at Ardwick Road and he was the stop after me. we used to have half an hour on the bus to talk about music and guitars and stuff like that, I knew him before I knew John and Ringo he was a good lad".

Paul then admitted to being unprepared as he began to sing " Yesterday " unaccompanied with a specially adapted lyric.

Yesterday..... why He had to go I don't know, HE wouldn't say.

To see the worlds most recorded song performed by it's creator in his home town on such an emotional occasion was very very special. They tell me that people in America are about to pay three million Dollars for Paul to perform.....all we had to pay.... was attention, and It wasn't difficult.

R I P George Harrison. Love One Another.

Steve Barnes. Feb 2002

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