Paul McCartney Brisbane: Former Beatle touches down

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Paul McCartney Brisbane: Former Beatle touches down
Kristy Symonds, The Courier-Mail
December 9, 2017

SIR Paul McCartney was every bit the crowd pleaser, rolling out a hit-filled set list for a sold out crowd during the biggest show of his Australian tour at Suncorp Stadium last night.

The 40,000-strong audience roared with approval as the 75-year-old former Beatle opened with A Hard Day’s Night.

McCartney treated his adoring fans, who were earlier lashed by wind and rain as they poured into the stadium, to a string of hits including Can’t Buy Me Love, Jet and I’ve Got A Feeling.

“G’Day Brisbane - I am getting the feeling here we are going to have a bit of a party tonight,” he told the enthusiastic crowd as they danced.


Paul McCartney plays to a sold-out crowd of 40,000 at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane. Picture: AAP/Sarah Marshall

From The Quarrymen and The Beatles to Wings and beyond, McCartney played gems including My Valentine, In Spite of all the Danger, You Won’t See Me, Love Me Do, Blackbird, FourFiveSeconds, Eleanor Rigby and I Wanna Be Your Man.

His first Brisbane show in more than four decades marked the largest crowd on a single night of the Australian leg of his One on One world tour.

“It’s really great to be back in Brisbane after a long time,” he said.

“It is so great here I am going to take a moment to myself here just to drink it all in okay.”

McCartney, who last toured Down Under in 1993, skipping the Sunshine State, has previously played four shows at Brisbane’s Festival Hall – two with The Beatles in 1964 and two with Wings in 1975 – but last night’s expected crowd was bigger than all four of those gigs combined.


Rain didn’t deter McCartney fans, with 40,000 turning out to see the former Beatle in action in Brisbane.

Earlier, before the weather eased up, lightning lit up the skies and a warning to take shelter was played on screens throughout the stadium.

“Due to storm activity please leave the field and exposed areas immediately. Announcements will be made when you may return to your seats on the field,” the warning read.

McCartney had jetted into Brisbane on a private plane under the cover of darkness ahead of his show.

Mushroom Group chairman Michael Gudinski told The Sunday Mail the hit-filled tour had so far exceeded his expectations and said promoting it had been “a privilege”.

“Paul holds the audience in the palm of his hand from start to finish in his close to three-hour set,” Mr Gudinski said.


Paul McCartney wasted no time belting out the hits in Brisbane. Picture: AAP/Sarah Marshall

The legendary singer-songwriter, who touched down in Australia last month and performed three shows across Perth and Melbourne ahead of his Brisbane concert, previously told media he continued to write and perform because he was addicted to the feeling it gave him.

His trip Down Under was announced back in June via a facebook live chat with Aussie comedian and musician Tim Minchin.

He will next perform two shows in Sydney, kicking off tomorrow night, before heading to Auckland, New Zealand, to continue his tour.

It was a big night for music in Brisbane, with Yusuf/Cat Stevens also performing his first of two shows at the Entertainment Centre.

The 69-year-old is in town as part of his Peace Train 50th anniversary tour.


Paul McCartney touches down in Brisbane. Picture: 7 News

EARLIER: SIR Paul McCartney has touched down in Brisbane ahead of his Suncorp Stadium show — his first in the city in over four decades.

McCartney, 75 — who last toured Australia in 1993, skipping Brisbane — has received rave reviews for his most recent shows in Perth and Melbourne, earning praise for his unwavering energy, vocals and song selection.

He continues his One On One world tour at Suncorp tonight.

While he has changed his setlist from show to show, he’s consistently delivered favourites including wrapping his main performance with Hey Jude and finishing his several-song encores with The End.

McCartney has previously played four shows at Brisbane’s Festival Hall — two with The Beatles in 1964 and two with Wings in 1975 — but tonight at Suncorp he will perform to 40,000 people, a bigger audience than all four of those gigs combined.