The North East Film Archive is one of a network of regional film archives established to collect, preserve and show film made in, or about the North East of England. Our collections are non-fiction, and date from the early 1900s to the present day, providing a rich record of life in the region over the 20th century. Many of our films are available to watch, free of charge, on our website.
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Paul and Linda McCartney at Newcastle City Hall
A Beatle with Wings, Paul McCartney talks about his return to live performance with a new solo band at Newcastle City Hall.
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Overview
Flying high in the charts with the latest James Bond movie theme song, Paul and Linda McCartney are in a pensive mood about their Wings concert at Newcastle City Hall on Sunday 10 July 1973 to promote a new album, Red Rose Speedway. Tyne Tees TV reporter Phil McDonnell grills the veteran Beatles star about performing gruelling 'one night stands' after 6 years away from live shows. Paul reminds him that Wings played a surprise gig at Newcastle University just the year before.
In February 1972, Stuart Prebble, editor of the Newcastle University student newspaper, the 'Courier', was surprised when two vans drew up outside the offices and Wings lead guitarist Henry McCullough leaned out to ask for directions to the Ballroom. Paul McCartney's solo band were looking for somewhere to play. With no warning about the visit and the concert hall locked, an impromptu gig was set up instead at Havelock Hall, Castle Leazes. Wings played for an incredulous student crowd of 400 that night. No one else knew about the concert. The Wings single "Live and Let Die", produced by George Martin, was the most successful Bond theme ever in 1973, and charted in the top 10 in Britain.
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