Paul McCartney Live 2025 – Story, Songs & What’s Next
Paul McCartney Tour is back on the road in late 2025 for his Got Back tour, sparking huge demand. In July he announced 19 North American shows (Sept 29–Nov 25) – his first extended US/Canada run since 2022. The trek kicks off Sept. 29 in the Greater Palm Springs area and wraps with a two-night Chicago finale. Even before tickets went on sale, the excitement was palpable – McCartney sold out three surprise, 575-seat shows at NYC’s Bowery Ballroom in February 2025.
Billboard praised those concerts as “a bit of a religious experience,” and NPR lauded Paul’s effortless skill and boundless “swag” on stage. In short, expectations are sky-high for what many call the ultimate rock show.
From Liverpool to Beatlemania
James Paul McCartney was born in 1942 in Liverpool, England. He grew up in a music-loving working-class family; his father led a jazz band and encouraged young Paul to learn instruments. A personal tragedy struck when Paul was 14: his mother Mary died after a mastectomy.
John Lennon lost his mother young too, and that shared loss forged a close bond between them. In 1957 McCartney met Lennon and joined his skiffle group. The pair quickly became the Beatles’ principal songwriters, agreeing early on to credit every song to Lennon–McCartney.
Under Paul’s bass-playing and songwriting, the Beatles exploded in popularity. By 1963–64 “Beatlemania” gripped Britain and then America, launching the British Invasion of pop music. The Beatles revolutionized rock with hit singles and albums, giving the world classics like “Yesterday,” “Hey Jude,” and “Let It Be.”
In their final years, Paul wrote more Beatles hits than any other member, and songs he penned (or co-wrote) like “She Loves You,” “A Day in the Life,” and “Eleanor Rigby” became instant standards. By the time the Beatles disbanded in 1970, they had released twelve studio albums and forever changed music.
Solo Career and Wings Success
After the Beatles split, McCartney wasted no time launching a solo career. His self-titled debut album McCartney (1970) – recorded mostly at home – was the first solo LP by a former Beatle. Despite mixed critical response, it found a large audience. That same year he won an Academy Award for Let It Be, the Beatles’ film and soundtrack.
In 1971 he formed Wings with his wife Linda and guitarist Denny Laine. Wings quickly became a global phenomenon. As Britannica notes, Paul and Linda’s group “toured the world and became the best-selling pop act of the 1970s, with 27 U.S. Top 40 hits”. Landmark albums like Band on the Run (1973) and upbeat singles like “Live and Let Die” and “Jet” showcased McCartney’s melodic gifts.
Across the 1970s and ’80s he cranked out hit albums and singles – from the gentle “Maybe I’m Amazed” to the rock anthem “Jet” – cementing his reputation.
Paul’s success spans genres and generations. He has collected numerous Grammys (both solo and with the Beatles) and was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1997. Critics and peers alike salute him. In a rare gush, Bob Dylan told Rolling Stone, “I’m in awe of Paul McCartney…He can do it all and he’s never let up”.
Dave Grohl of Foo Fighters raved that he’s “familiar with every one of Paul McCartney’s songs, and I could probably recite most of them off the top of my head”. Such praise from fellow rock legends underscores Paul’s enduring influence.
Modern Projects and Honors
Into his 80s, McCartney remains remarkably active. He continues to write, record and collaborate. In 2023 he stunned fans by completing the long-lost Beatles song “Now and Then.” Using AI to isolate John Lennon’s 1978 demo vocals, he added new vocals and instrumentation.
The track won the 2025 Grammy for Best Rock Performance – the Beatles’ eighth Grammy. Paul also released solo albums in recent years (Egypt Station, McCartney III) and has toured constantly. He even wrote a candid memoir, and in 2024 began documenting Wings’ story in a forthcoming book.
McCartney’s impact on music is beyond measure. As Britannica observes, his work “helped transform popular music into a creative, highly commercial art form”. He is “one of the most popular solo performers of all time” in both record sales and live attendance.
For decades McCartney has headlined global stadiums and historic events – from the White House to Wimbledon to the Olympics. Yet he still treats each show like a special occasion. As Pitchfork noted of a recent concert, he looked no different onstage than he did in his Beatles heyday – “all boyish energy and vigor” performing for generations of fans.
🎵 What to Expect from McCartney’s Setlist
- Starts strong with upbeat Beatles hits like “Can’t Buy Me Love” or “A Hard Day’s Night”
Includes fan-favorite Beatles anthems: - “Hey Jude”
- “Let It Be”
- “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da”
- “Something”
Wings-era classics are always in the mix: - “Band on the Run”
- “Live and Let Die” (pyro spectacle)
Emotional solo moments: - “Blackbird” (acoustic)
- “Here Today” (tribute to John Lennon)
- Maybe I’m Amazed” (written for Linda McCartney)
Occasional deep cuts or newer additions: - “New”
- “My Valentine”
- “Now and Then” (latest Beatles song)
Overall: ~3-hour show, 30+ songs, spanning 60+ years of music
Touring Band for 2025
McCartney’s live shows lean on the tight-knit band he’s worked with for decades. He’ll be accompanied by Paul “Wix” Wickens (keyboards), Brian Ray (bass/guitar), Rusty Anderson (guitar) and Abe Laboriel Jr. (drums).
This lineup has backed him since the 1990s and in 2018 added the three-piece Hot City Horns (trumpet, sax, trombone) for extra punch. Together they recreate Paul’s rich arrangements night after night, switching instruments at a moment’s notice.
McCartney also customizes each tour’s production. His band uses up-to-the-minute audio and video tech to ensure great sound and a visual spectacle from every angle. Video screens often beam out Lennon–McCartney lyric videos or vintage film clips. But the focus is always on Paul’s performance: onstage he’s animated and playful, encouraging the audience to sing every chorus.
As Paul McCartney prepares to hit the road again, critics emphasize that no two nights are exactly alike and every show is packed with nostalgia and surprises. He remains committed to “finish[ing] an album” of new songs in 2025, suggesting even more material could appear on setlists in the future.