Order Paul McCartney's "Back in the U.S." CD or Back in the U.S. Region 1 DVD in advance today from Amazon.com

Update (10/6/03)

Update (10/2/03)

Update (8/19/03)

According to the Beatles portal in Brazil, www.thebeatles.com.br, the mayor of Rio de Janeiro, César Maia, said that his negotiations with Paul McCartney (not mentioned, but, of course, MPL), are almost in the end, and that Paul will make one or more shows in Brazil, one in Rio de Janeiro and maybe other cities, in early 2004. .

Update (8/18/03)

Update (7/30/03)

Update (7/25/03)

Update (7/23/03)

Update (7/19/03)

Update (7/7/03)

So Near and Yet So Far !

So my friend called me the other evening. A mutual friend managed to get into the aftershow private party (that is : 20 people total including Paul, Heather and the band !)

He walked into the room to see Paul chatting with the Edge (U2) and after Heather went to bed Paul came down at 3:00am to start partying.

What reallllly bites though is that all this took place less than half-a-mile from my home ! I live in an area called Luttrellstown and Paul & Co. stayed at Luttrellstown Castle..... a place I suspected one of the McCartney weddings was due to happen (I believe I might have mentioned it when Heather was getting married)

I heard security was super tight. before they could get in Rusty Anderson had to personally verify them on videophone from the main castle building.

By all accounts Paul was an excellent host.

Peter Fitzpatrick
Dublin, Ireland

Update (7/5/03)

Update (6/22/03) A collection of Macca tour links (one or two are repeats, but hey...). Thanks very much to Claudio Dirani for all of them.:

Update (6/17/03) Britain's famed Glastonbury festival turned down an opportunity to have Paul headline the show, reports the BBC. Concert organizers say it was becase Radiohead had already been confirmed for the top spot on the bill, but a McCartney spokesman said it did not fit in with his schedule. Officials hope Paul will play the concert next year. (Thanks to Adam Powell and Katherine Ruas.)

Update (6/16/03)

Update (6/13/03)

Update (6/12/03)

Update (6/11/03)

Update (6/10/03)

Update (6/9/03)

Update (6/7/03)

Update (6/4/03)

Update II (6/3/03)

Update (6/3/03) Paul returned home to Liverpool on Sunday for the finale of his world tour. IC Liverpool reports that he tinkered with his setlist, playing the first song he ever wrote, "I Lost My Little Girl," singing a chorus of "Yellow Submarine" for Ringo and the song "Maggie Mae," which the Beatles sang during the "Let It Be" sessions. The BBC reported that on Sunday, Paul awarded a Volkswagen Beetle Cabriolet to 19-year-old fan Laura Andrew from Bebbington for being the 2 millionth person to attend concerts on the tour. (Thanks to Gwen Craig, Claudio Dirani and Julez for some of the links.)

He also reiterated recent statements that this won't be his last tour. 'I don't know about next year, but I'll tour again, yeah. I certainly am intending to tour again. People say, 'Is this your last tour?' But it has never entered my head that it might be the last. ... I am enjoying it and that's the truth. It's like footballers -- as long as you can score goals you keep playing, and for me that's what it is, you know. I really enjoy it. We just had the tour of the year in America, we have just played to half a million people in Rome, just played Red Square in Moscow. We have enjoyed the whole tour. It would be mad to stop."

Update (5/31/03)

Update (5/30/03)

Update II (5/27/03)

Update (5/26/03) News reports say Paul kicked off the show by saying, "Good evening, Moskvichi" and "We have come here tonight to rock Red Square!" The AP reported the music was audible outside Red Square and the BBC reported that many concertgoers called their friends on their mobile phones to let them hear the concert.

While in St. Petersburg, Paul attended the opening of a recording studio for musically gifted children, reports Rosbalt news agency. At the opening, a group of schoolchildren sang Beatle songs.
Important note: We'd love to hear from anyone who went to the Red Square show (or any other show for that matter)!. But we're making a special appeal to those who attended the Moscow show. We'd love to share your account about Paul's first show in Russia. Thanks!

Update (5/24/03)

... is WRONG, it says that YOU CAN WATCH the MSN chat from last MARCH, NOT A NEW chat LIVE ON MAY 24. It says that they will be broadcasting the Moscow Concert in exclusive (BUT IT DOENS'T Says the day ( I mean, if it will be LIVE) or a rebroadcast, or IF IT'S JUST A RUMOR. BUT in there, in any part doesn't says about a chat on May 24.

Update (5/23/03)

Update (5/22/03)

Update (5/21/03)

Update (5/20/03)

Update II (5/17/03) From João Paulo Petersen from Brazil:

Cristiana Bonfanti from the Italian fanzine Macca Planet told me that Bob Geldof was among 300 people in the audience of the show in the Colosseum on May 10th. And Sting attended Paul's second show outside of Colosseum on May 11th. This second lasted three hours and fifteen minutes and its soundcheck, which occurred in the early afternoon, lasted one hour. In the other words, Paul McCartney played more than four hours in just one day.

Update (5/17/03)

Update (5/16/03)

Update (5/14/03)

Paul McCartney was the first singer to perform at Colloseum of Rome yesterday, on May 10th of 2003. The TV newspaper “Jornal Nacional” of TV Globo in Brazil made a report about McCartney’s show in Colloseum and featured the high prices of the tickets, just 300 people in the audience and the set list of this show is more acoustic than the usual to don’t damage the Colosseum’s ruins.

Update (5/12/03) More than 500,000 people watched the Rome show today, according to an Italian report in Correire Dela Serra.

Update (5/11/03) The Associated Press reports the Colosseum show was, as neighbors hoped it would be, on the quiet side as Paul performed a mainly acoustic set that included "Yesterday," "Blackbird," "All My Loving," "Hey Jude" and "Eleanor Rigby," on which he flubbed the words. "I've done it again! I wrote this song and I always forget the words," he said. The set, the AP said, also included the song "Volare." The few hundred attendees paid up to 1,295 euros (US$1,490). AP reported the concert took in an estimated 250,000 euros (US$287,000). Proceeds went to Rome's archaeological offices and to Paul and wife Heather's favorite chairty, Adopt-a-Minefield.

Update (5/9/03)

Here's some scans for upcoming McCartney concert at the Red Square in Moscow, Russia: http://www.beatles.ru/mccartney/tickets_lookandfeel.asp

The prices are:

Sitting places:
45000 roubles - $1450 (first 3 rows, center)
30000 roubles - $967 (rows 4-7, center)
20000 roubles - $645 (rows 1-10, left and right)
16000 roubles - $516 (rows 11-20)
10000 roubles - $322 (rows 21-40)
6000 roubles - $193 (rows 41-60)
3000 roubles - $97 (rows 61-70)

Standing places:
1500 roubles - $48
1000 roubles - $33

And here's the map of the event: http://www.beatles.ru/mccartney/tickets_scheme1.asp

Regards,
Alex Bogaevsky
http://www.beatles.ru

Update (5/7/03)

Update (5/6/03)

Update (5/5/03) Added Cologne fan review.

Updated (5/4/03)

Update (5/3/03)

More news from Cristiana Bonfanti from Italian fanzine Macca Planet: Paul McCartney will sing George Harrison's song "All Things Must Pass" in his Italian shows. He said this in an interview with the Italian newspaper "Corriere della Sera" on May 1st.

Update (5/1/03)

And In The End - Back To Where It All Began

PAUL McCARTNEY WORLD TOUR CLIMAXES IN LIVERPOOL - JUNE 1st

PAUL McCARTNEY will end his internationally-acclaimed world tour back where it all began for him - in his home town of Liverpool.

Paul's last show of his hugely-successful year-long tour will be staged near the banks of the River Mersey on Sunday June 1st. In order to bring the massive production to Liverpool, Paul McCartney's crew will be building a gig from scratch, erecting the 70ft. stage on empty ground at King's Dock.

The open-air summer show - for 30,000 fans - will be the first that Paul McCartney has staged for his home crowd since June 1990. Tickets for this, the 90th and last concert of the tour, will cost £30, £40 and £60. Tickets go on sale tomorrow (Thursday May 1st) from 9.00 am - through ticketlines 0870 121 2527, 0870 100 0000, 0151 236 9091, 0151 233 3025, 0870 848 0000.

Paul McCartney's world tour began in Oakland, California, in April 2002. The tour played 58 concerts last year through the USA, Canada, Mexico and Japan. In March, Paul McCartney began the 32-show European leg of the tour that recently triumphed in England and will play through France, Spain, Belgium, Holland, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Italy, Hungary, Austria, Russia and Ireland before ending in Liverpool.

Paul McCartney said today: "I've been touring this show all around the world and we've been having a great time - but it will be very special for me to now bring it on home to Liverpool."

"I'm so chuffed with the success we've had with this tour and me and the band are really looking forward to its final night in Liverpool. I've a feeling it will be a good and emotional ending to a wonderful year ".

Paul McCartney's 2002-3 tour has been the most successful of his post-Beatles career. The tour was named Tour of the Year by Billboard magazine and by the end of 2002, the Paul McCartney tour had out-sold every other show on the road.

By the tour's end, the internationally-praised all hits, 36-song show will have been enjoyed by around two million people. The two millionth person to see the show will be in Liverpool !

The world tour has created other success for Paul McCartney. A DVD souvenir of the show - Back in the U.S. - topped the charts in America and has just gone to No. 1 in the U.K. DVD Charts, where it pipped The Beatles Anthology DVD to the top slot! A souvenir live double-CD of the world tour has been a Top 10 hit in the album charts of both the U.K. and the U.S.

Before reaching Liverpool for his final show, Paul McCartney - who is currently on tour in Germany - has other landmark shows ahead of him: a charity show inside The Coliseum in Rome on May 10th - for just 300 people - the first time that any rock & roll artist has played inside The Coliseum; a free show outside The Coliseum on May 11th for around 300,000 people; his first-ever concert in Russia on May 24th, when he will play in Moscow's Red Square, and his first concert in Dublin since 1963 on May 27th

Update (4/30/03) A correction to last night's item about the Colliseum recording...it'll be a video.

Update (4/29/03)

Paul was interviewed this afternoon on Steve Wright's Radio 2 show. You can listen to it at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/shows/wright/talkiebits.shtml.

Also, 2 minor points about the tour: Firstly, it's actually a brief instrumental burst of "Foxy Lady" that Paul and the band play at the end of "Let Me Roll It". Sorry for my mistake! And I recently read that Paul has rehearsed "I'm Looking Through You" for Rome.

Cristiana Bonfanti, who edits the Italian fanzine “Macca Planet”, sent me this interesting link http://members.ebay.it/aboutme/progetto_italia . It is about the tickets and proceeds of the first show of Paul McCartney at Colosseum of Rome on May 10th. She told me that the most songs of the first show will be more accoustic because the amplifyng can damage the Colsseum’s ruines. And Colosseum is an important archaelogical zone. Cristiana also informed me that Paul McCartney’s staff will record this historic performance in Colosseum on video. The second show, on May 11th, is going to happen outside from Colsseum and will be free.

Update (4/28/03)

I would like to inform you that Paul's concert at the Arena auf Schalke, Gelsenkirchen, on May 8th has been shifted to a smaller (indoor) venue, the König-Pilsener-Arena in Oberhausen. There is an official statement on the website www.arena-auf-schalke.de, which says that the change is due to "technical problems". Paul's tour management is supposed to be afraid that they won't be able to get the open air equipment from Gelsenkirchen to Rome in time for the Colosseum gigs...

Update (4/19/03)

Tickets for Paul's Budapest, Hungary concert can be ordered here or by phone: +36 30 3030-999

http://www.tex.hu/v2/english/bucket.php?action=add&id=263

Update (4/18/03)

Paul McCartney Hallam FM Arena Concert re-scheduled to Thursday 29th May 2003. Dear Customer,

Please accept the apologies of Paul McCartney, Marshall Arts and the Hallam FM Arena for the postponement of the 'Paul McCartney Back In The World' concert at the Hallam FM Arena on Sunday 6th April 2003.

However, we are thrilled to announce that Paul McCartney has been able to re-schedule the Sheffield date to Thursday 29th May.

Original tickets purchased for Sunday 6th April are now valid for Thursday 29th May and do not need to be exchanged.

Should you be unable to attend the re-scheduled show please return your tickets to the point of purchase for a full refund before Friday 16th May. Please note that refunds can only be given when the original ticket purchaser presents the unused ticket, and that refunds will be issued to the original method of payment e.g. credit card to credit card.

Should you have any further questions about the new date or obtaining a refund please do not hesitate to contact the Arena Box Office on 0114 256 5656.

Once again please accept our apologies for any inconvenience, but hope you enjoy what promises to be a very special performance.

Kind regards
Marshall Arts Ltd.

Update II (4/17/03)

Update (4/17/03)

Today 16 Avril 2003 will start the auction for the special tickets about the Concert of Sir Paul McCartney inside the Colosseum of Rome. The Concert will be done in acustic version and the peoples will be about 400. The auction will start on this site address on Ebay.it: http://members.ebay.it/aboutme/progetto_italia in multilanguage so will be available for all bidders of all the world and like is easy to imagine the cost of the tickets will arrive at maximum level imaginable. The concert is promoted by the the more important telephone society in Italy (TelecomItalia) and is part of the Project called Progetto Italia: http://www.telecomitalia.it/mccartney/

"This time yesterday (Wednesday), Sir Paul's Earls Court shows were virtually sold, but the final batch of tickets has just been released. At the time of writing Aloud has tickets for all four dates (April 18/19/21/22) at all prices.

Steve, saw on your excellent newsite that people are wondering about Paul's performance of "Two of Us". In case no one else told you already- according to someone I know who saw the Manchester show, Paul is singing John's part and Abe is singing Paul's. I hope we get to hear this for ourselves one of these days!

Keep up the great work- I check your news every day.

Hi Steve,

Just to shed a bit of light on Paul's recent revival of "Two Of Us"...It was a full band performance with the guitarists on acoustics. Paul picked the familiar guitar riff to start it off. Rusty was playing George's pseudo bass-line on acoustic and Rusty/Brian seemed to be singing John Lennon's harmony vocal. Abe whistled the outro while Paul, no doubt with the Coliseum in mind, sang, "We're on our way home.....All roads lead to Rome". It sounded surprisingly good. A great addition to the set.

Update (4/16/03)

Update (4/13/03)

The Back In The World tour programme lists the 30th May Celtic Park, Glasgow gig so it looks like it will go ahead. Perhaps because it's not an official concert, the free Rome gig is not listed in the tour schedule.

Update (4/12/03)

Update (4/11/03) From Debbie G., it appears Paul has made a set list change:

Hi Steve,

Got the word that in Manchester, Paul cut "Driving Rain," "Coming Up" and "Maybe I'm Amazed" and replaced them with "Things We Said Today", "Two of Us" (!!!), and "I've Just Seen a Face"! Not sure where in the set the new songs got inserted, but thought you'd want the news. :)

Hi,

I just read reviews of Paul McCartney's first Manchester show on the website www.bbc.co.uk/manchester and it seems that the set list has been changed to protect Paul's voice. "Coming Up", "Driving Rain" and "Maybe I'm Amazed" appear to have been dropped in favour of "Things We Said Today", "I've Just Seen A Face" and interestingly "Two Of Us".

All the best,
David Shaw.

Thought you might find this amusing, some guy who went to Sheffield for the cancelled show is selling 'Paul McCartney's cold from Sheffield' on ebay, to try and make back some lost money on travelling costs.

Great site, keep it up

Update (4/10/03)

Update (4/9/03) The Liverpool Beatlescene website has pictures of Wix at the Beatles Story in Liverpool. (Thanks to Jean Catharall.)

Update (4/8/03) UK Mirror: 'I'm so proud to have known George' (Thanks to Leo Teunissen.)

Update (4/7/03)

Update (4/6/03)

Steve,

A friend of mine who's president of Brazilian Beatles Fan Club, Revolution, has told he rang MPL up and they confirmed negotiations with Brazilian managers to bring Macca to play here. He has told it could possibly more of one venue. The complete report is here (several Macca pics): http://www.contatudo.com.br

Special Beatles/McCartney walks of London during Easter weekend to coincide with Paul McCartney's Earls Court Concerts. These include a special extra tour on Friday 18th April at 11am from outside the Dominion Theatre, Tottenham Court Road.

There is no need to book for the tours - just turn up at the meeting point. The tours cost just £5 per person and last for over 2 hours.

For full details of my tours, which take place all the year 'round - please see my website.

all the best,

Richard Porter

Update (4/5/03)

Hi Steve,

Hi to all positives Beatles' Fans in the world!!!! I'm Rosario from Italy and sorry for my horrible English. I want to write in the pages of this wonderfull Beatles' Fan Site probably the greatest in Internet Planet!! Congratulations to you Steve and all your Staff!!!!

Tha italian Television called RAI and the most important Italian Telephon Society called TelecomItalia has confirmed the two concerts of Paul McCartney in Italy the next 10 and 11 May 2003 as it was written some days ago in your pages from an Italian Beatles Fan. The concert dated 10 May is for 300-400 peoples inside the Colosseum in Rome for a Benefit event in help the McCartney support against the mines and the prices of this ticket all cam to imagine the cost of them!!!

The second and more important concert will be FREEEEE!!!! outside the Colosseum in the Imperial Forum Street. Paul McCartney, speaking in Italian television, has told us that he is very very happy to play in the Falvio Circus remembering his studies about Roman Empire and in his face was easy to understand his emotion speaking about the more gig in this World Tour. Are 300.000 peoples attended in this Roman square and I think from All Europe will arrive the Beatles fans to enjoy this exibition that will stay for years and years in the mind of all peoples that will arrive to Rome!!!!

I wiil be there of course and I hope will be a great Fest always in the name of the PEACE and when passed in the first concerts in Europe the song GIVE PEACE A CHANCE will be so great to arrive not only in the room of the Pope but in the room of our President and our Governant that has not send men in Iraq but has not proclamed to Bush and Company to STOP THE WAR NOW!!!!!! I hope that the Lennon's Peace song will be something terrific for volume and power will be a music concert but in this history contest I hope will be a peace European and Mondial forum when the request of peace from Beatles people will be giant like the legend of the Fab Four that sang for a world full of peace and love!!!

Sorry again for my English errors. Please correct them and in the end...... God bless all you in this site and all you in your offices and homes always....giving peace a chance!!!

ROSARIO BERSANELLI - SOMEWHERE IN ITALY.

Update (4/4/03)

Hi Steve,

You may want to put this news up on your site for the benifit of any Aussie Paul fans who are still holding out hope that he would keep his promise and come back here to tour ..

On WS-FM radio here the dj Jonathon Coleman (a long time friend of Pauls) reported that he had been to see Paul at the London docklands where he was rehursing, Jonathon asked Paul weather or not he was coming back to tour Australia, Pauls response .. 'Unfortunately due to various reasons, I won't be touring Australia'

Hmmmmmmmm, various reasons...

He did go on to say 'Maybe next year' .. gee thanks Paul, hope you don't mind if we don't hold our breath. And to squash any more rumours that he will extend this tour any further he went on to say that he is taking the rest of the year off.

Update (4/2/03)

Update (4/1/03)

Update (3/31/03)

Update (3/29/03)

Update II (3/28/03)

Update (3/28/03)

Update (3/27/03)

Hi Steve,

I wasn't there but I have heard that the set list was identical to the US shows with the exception of "Birthday" replacing "Freedom" and "Calico Skies" staying in (after being performed in Japan but not in the US). Same pre-show too, from what I have been hearing.

Debbie

Update (3/26/03)

Dear Steve, I have been a regular visitor of your site since 1996. You make a wondeful job! I take a look at the site almost every day because it is really an info gold mine. This mail just to let you know that Paul will play in Rome twice in May: the 10th and the 11th. The first show will be played inside the Roman Colosseum, with 500 people being invited by Macca's italian sponsor Telecom Italia (italian major telephone company). The second one will be played outside the Colosseum and will be free! I'll send you more details when available. See you.

Let You In

Audience participation and interplay is a big part of the BACK IN THE WORLD tour which kicks off on Tuesday (25th march) in Paris. You can now join in with a mobile phone. It's testual intercourse - but we call it Let You In.

Anyone in the audience at the gigs with a mobile phone can send a text message to a special number (which will be on screen as the doors open) and we will get as many as we can displayed on the screen by the stage before the show begins, and at the end. You can send a message to Paul, or to a friend - whatever you want!

All messages will be displayed on a special page on the Paul McCartney website. Also all day long you can see if your message appears after the show.

Everyone who sends a text message will automatically be entered into a draw and win the chance to upgrade themselves plus a friend to seats in the front row for that nights show. They'll get a message from Paul and also be entered into a very special prize draw, the prize for which will be to be part of the show at a spectacular event on the tour.

So if you're a text maniac, look for the number and send now!

Update (3/25/03)

He said emotion also enters when he performs his tribute to George each night. "I do a cover of George's song Something, and I look back and I catch of glimpse of a photo of him on stage. It can be quite emotional. But that's good: it's an ingredient of the show. ... Different nights can get very emotional about the strangest things. Beatles things can bring back memories - and it doesn't have to be a song. I can just suddenly remember the session or something."

He told Sky News, "I don't necessarily have to do the same numbers every night, if I can I'll change it around I might. But knowing me I do get set in a pattern because I just look to see what goes down well," he said.

He revealed he'll do a free concert in early May in Rome. "It will be the most incredible venue for a gig. It's on the Via Appia outside the Coliseum."

He also commented about the war in Iraq. "If Japan bombed Pearl Harbour, it's clear what you have to do - you have to be at war with Japan. But this is a very difficult situation. It's hard to know what anyone should do. I'm just like anyone else - I'm just watching it unfold. What we're hoping to do is bring joy to the world at this moment - nothing else, I'm not a politician."

Update (3/21/03) Paul rehearsed for a week at London Arena, according to ICWharf.

Update II (3/20/03)

PRESS RELEASE - Wednesday March 19th TO RUSSIA, WITH LUV
PAUL McCARTNEY TO PLAY HIS FIRST-EVER RUSSIAN CONCERT FOR 100,000 FANS IN MOSCOW'S RED SQUARE

PAUL McCARTNEY is to play his first-ever concert in Russia - performing to 100,000 people in Moscow's Red Square on May 24th. The announcement finally marks the end of a 40-year wait for Russian fans who grew up in the former Soviet Union where Beatles and Wings songs were banned across the U.S.S.R.

The giant show will also mark a personal dream-come-true for Paul McCartney, who wrote The Beatles' rocker Back In The U.S.S.R. in the Sixties. "I've long wanted to play in Russia but for a number of years when the Communists were in power, they didn't want me to. I'm delighted that at last I can play there", said Paul, who made the announcement today (Wednesday) during a MSN global online chat with fans on the eve of the start of the European leg of his Back In The World tour.

During the Sixties and Seventies The Beatles were banned by the Soviet powers. Radio play of Beatles songs was forbidden, newspapers could not write about the group, there were no TV broadcasts about The Beatles and stores were not allowed to sell their albums. Although the Soviet allowed airplay and the sale of records by other artists including Elvis Presley and Rolling Stones, The Beatles were forbidden as the freedom of thought in their songs was deemed to be seditious to the Communist state.

But now Russia will at last get the show that the Soviets didn't want the people to see. And the concert planned for Moscow will make up for the wait - Paul McCartney's Russian gig will include more than 20 Beatles classics in the 36-song, three-hour-long all-hits set that will span Paul's Beatles, Wings and solo career.

Said Paul: "I've never even visited Russia as a tourist, so it's exciting for me now to be getting to perform there with a band and finally be singing Back In The U.S.S.R. and all these other songs for people who, I've got a feeling, might just be ready for it".

And as a bonus, during the MSN chat today Paul announced a competition for one fan to win a prize of not only attending the Moscow show - but also to be in the show, onstage in front of the 100,000 crowd as one of the pre-show troupe of dancers and theatrical performers. For details of the competition, go to www.msn.co.uk/mccartney/

The Moscow concert will be Paul McCartney's only show in Russia on his Back In The World tour - which starts its European leg in Paris next Tuesday, March 25th. The launch of the three-month trek coincides with the EMI release of two special souvenirs of the tour - a 37-song live album, titled Back In The World, and Back In The U.S. - a 3-hour DVD filmed inside the world tour during its run across America.

Fronting a lean new band, Paul will perform his acclaimed and hugely-successful new show that last year broke box office records in 21 cities during its 50-date tour of America. The tour won Billboard magazine's Tour Of The Year accolade as the most triumphant concert trek of 2002.

Paul McCartney's new show caused crowd mania last year in Mexico, Japan and America - where it was dubbed "the greatest hits show on Earth". The show includes 22 Beatles songs - the most Beatles songs ever performed anywhere in any one show - plus more than a dozen hits from his Wings and solo periods.

The Back In The World 2-CD album follows the hit album Back In The U.S. which was recently released in America as a souvenir of the first U.S. leg of the world tour. As the set list for the European tour will differ from the first American shows, the Back In The World tracklist has been changed so that the European album is a proper souvenir of the European show. The Back In The World album will feature four songs not released before: live performances of She's Leaving Home, Calico Skies, Michelle and Let 'Em In.

These will feature alongside such classics as All My Loving, Back In The USSR, Band On The Run, Blackbird, Can't Buy Me Love, Carry That Weight, Coming Up, Eleanor Rigby, Fool On The Hill, Getting Better, Hello Goodbye, Here There And Everywhere, Hey Jude, I Saw Her Standing There, Jet, Live And Let Die and many others.

The Back In The U.S. DVD was previously only available in the U.S.A. and Japan, where it has already been a huge hit with fans as sales in America alone have been of triple-platinum status. The DVD has been dubbed "a rock and road movie" as it records not only the onstage concert action but also takes the viewer right inside the tour; filming Paul, the band and roadcrew backstage and offstage, inside dressing rooms, in the limos with Paul and even aboard his chartered jet for after-show mile-high party antics.

The 'Back In The World' concert show will include performance of Beatles songs never before played live in Europe. Said Paul McCartney: "I had a lot of fun touring this show across America last year and instead of been exhausted I felt exhilarated because I am enjoying it so much. I'm looking forward to playing through Europe, taking the show to new faces in new places. I think the crowd in Moscow is going to like this gig - when I was thinking of what songs to play I just imagined myself as one of the audience and thought 'What would I like to hear him play? "So that means we'll be playing some of my Beatles stuff - rather a lot of Beatles stuff, actually - some Wings stuff and some more recent stuff; so basically the show pretty much spans my whole career. And I'm really getting off on playing it all with my new band, their energy and musicianship is phenomenal".

Paul McCartney's new band features Rusty Anderson and Brian Ray on guitars, Paul 'Wix' Wickens on keyboards and Abe Laboriel Jr. on drums.

Paul McCartney's world tour, his most successful since The Beatles, began in Oakland, California, in April 2002. It has played through the USA, Canada, Mexico and Japan, 58 concerts in 37 cities, performing to one million people during 18 weeks on the road. Paul McCartney's 'Back In The World Tour' will drive through Europe during March, April, May.

The tour will include concerts in: Paris - March 25. Palais Omnisports Bercy , Barcelona - March 28 & 29. Palau San Jordi, Antwerp - April 1 & 2. Sports Palais, Sheffield - April 5 & 6. Hallam Arena, Manchester - April 9. MEN Arena, Birmingham - April 13 & 14. NIA, London - April 18,19, 21 & 22. Earls Court, Arnhem - April 25. Geiredome, Koln - April 27 & 28. Koln Arena, Hannover - April 30. Preussag Arena, Copenhagen - May 2. The Parken, Stockholm - May 4 & 5 The Globe, Gelsenkirchen - May 8 . Schalke Arena, Vienna - May 14. Stadthalle, Budapest - May 15. The Sports Arena, Munich - May 17. Konigsplatz, Hamburg - May 21. AOL Stadium, and Dublin - May 27. RDS Stadium.

See www.paulmccartney.com for all ‘Back In the World Tour’ dates and ticket details.

Unfortunately I have to correct Tom Rooney because the cheapest tickets are going for 14900 HUF - about 62 USD, while VIP tickets are for 50000 HUF - 215 USD. These ticket prices are certainly very high for the average folks here, minimum monthly wage being around 200 USD these days (less than 1 VIP ticket!). However I know many people who already saving money to be able to attend.

For years bands were coming to us for a reduced price, knowing that even than we payed three-four times as much as westerners compared to our wages. It seems that to see Paul - being the prime artist he is - people will have to pay exactly the same amount as western european citizens do. This means that a couple buying the cheapest tickets will have to pay 2/3 of their monthly salary.

Problem is: seeing Macca live for such an amount means that many people are either unable to go or have to save very hard for months to afford it. My Beatle fanatic friend with four kids is now working unbelievable working hours to save the needed amount. Still everybody is very happy that finally he will come and die-hards will fill the new Arena, no doubt about it. I wish Paul knew what his fans over here are ready to do to meet him in person. It will certainly be a very special night here

Update (3/20/03)

The news that Macca is coming to Hungary is of course big news here, but I for one will not been heading to the Sport Arena to see Sir Paul. And many other ordinary folks here won't either. The reason is simple: the ticket prices are outrageously expensive.

VIP seats cost 50,000 forints, which is roughly 215 USD or 138 GBP. Now there are lots of well off people here who can afford to splurge on these, as well as the top ordinary tickets at 20,000 foriunts. But what really makes me angry is that the cheapest seat is 9000 (38 USD or 24 GBP). Now this may not seem like a lot in dollars or pounds, but it is quite a lot for the ordinary Hungarian. It is also way too much to pay to see a tiny Macca and endure the untested acoustics of the brand new arena.

I realize it costs a lot to bring a concert here. And Budapest is bypassed all too often by the big names. But you would think MPL would cut the folks of Central Europe a break.

Thanks for letting me rant.

Update (3/19/03)

Hungarians were waiting for this for decades, there were times when this was unbelievable. No Beatles behind the iron curtain. Only Ringo visited us once, secretly for Elizabeth Taylor's wedding. But that was thirty years ago...and I was only a toddler...

But now the unbelievable is happening: PAUL IS COMING TO BUDAPEST, HUNGARY! 15 MAY - BUDAPEST SPORTARENA Tickets going on sale on Wednesday 18.03.2003.

THANK YOU PAUL!!! and Ringo - still hoping to see you too! How about a European tour?

Update (3/16/03)

Update (3/12/03)

Update (3/6/03)

CONFIRMED!! A second show will be held on Saturday March 29th in Barcelona!! We will enjoy two days!!

I just wanted to let you know that according to Basler Zeiting Online, Paul McCartney is rumoured to play two concerts in Basel (Switzerland) on the 24th and 25th of May. The stadium (St. Jakobs) has a capacity of 50'000.

Update (3/4/03)

After more than a week of ticketsales in Holland, today Monday 3-3-'03, still first and second row tickets are available! Maybe the Gelredome, with its 30.000 places, is a little to big for Paul in Holland? No second night anyway...

Update (3/3/03)

Update (2/28/03)

NME have announced that tickets have come back on the market for Friday 18th August - the first night at Earls Court. Some of these seem to be singles but there are certainly some blocks of 3 and 4 available. Link is at http://www.wayahead.com/nmemaj/ event.asp?showname=PAUL%20MCCARTNEY&resultsperpage=10&filler1=nme.

Yesterday, the first day for getting tickets for the concert in Barcelona, from 10.00 AM, 15.000 tickets of the 18.000 put on sale were sold.

This morning, 30 hours after the tickets were put on sale.....all they have been sold!!!! Now expecting a second concert on Saturday!!!

Update (2/27/03) From Luc:

Just to let you know... the second show (for Antwerp) took a few days but is also sold-out now... That make 2 times 14,000 tickets... 28,000 that's quite impressive for Belgium (except outdoor shows that can go 'till 70,000 people on a field (Werchter) but that kind of show happens in the summer and tickets are sold nearly a year in advance...). Thanks once again for your fantastic site...

According to http://www.cts.de , there will be a second show in Munich, Germany on May 18th. http://www.kartenhaus.de lists the same date. Click on the Paul photo on either of the two main pages for more info. (BTW, your website is fantastic! Keep up the great work!) Best wishes, Maik

Apart from the extra show on May 8th in the "Arena Auf Schalke" in Gelsenkirchen, a second date in Munich has been added to the schedule. It´s on May 18th on the Königsplatz. Tickets are already on sale. Besides, the two Cologne shows and the Hanover show are sold out, the first Munich show is almost sold out, but surprisingly for the Hamburg show only 10000 from estimated 40000 tickets have been sold. (Source: German tour promoters DEAG). Cheers.

I just found out that online brokers are offering tix for yet another Macca concert - a second one in Munich. I find that quite surprising, because the first Munich show isn't sold out yet - at least you can still get tix for all price categories from brokers. I hope this is not a miscalculation on the part of the Macca management - I'd simply hate for him to play to a less-than-packed house!!

The tickets for the concert in Copenhagen may 2, went on sale 10.00 AM this Monday. Four hours later more than 35.000 tickets had been sold. There are still tickets available of the 49.000 tickets put on sale.

An extra show on May 5th in Stockholm has just been added ! Tickets at http://www.ema.se and http://www.ticnet.se

Just to let you know, there seems to be additional PMcC concert for Monday 5th May at Stockholm Globen. Tickets have been on sale since this morning. The first concert is almost full and the second seems to be also selling with quite a speed. I booked my tickets through the net immediatly after the sales started at 9AM. After that the booking agency's server was completely jammed for the next hour.

Hi, thanx fro the great and really fast news service you provide. Today the tickets (monday morning) were released for The Globe concert may 4th. Every ticket sold out within 30 minutes. I got good tickets anway. Then about 15 minutes later they released tickets for an extra concert at the Globe may 5th. Right now there are still tickets available but just the upper sections. The globe takes about 15.000 people. Seems Sweden has been waiting for Paul. I am so grateful to be able to see him twice this time. Link to ticketsales http://www.ticnet.se/Ticnet.html. Ticket prices are US$ 100, 80,55 and 45. All the Best.

Tickets are now onsale for an extra show in Stocholm on Monday May 5, reports www.ema.se. I got my tickets for the first show, and although I'm disappointed about Paul not coming to Norway, I can't wait to go to Stockholm to see him in concert for the fourth time!

Hi Steve. I think Paul has added a fourth London show on April 22.

(Also thanks to Jonas Rydin.)

Hi Steve,

On the contrary to the rest of Europe (and the world?) ticketsales in Holland are not THAT great. The sale started yesterday (Saturday) and now on Sunday still field tickets (60 euro) and first row tickets (70 euro) are available!

Good day, Concerning the Paul McCartney world tour, I would like you to know that there is an online reservation site on the Internet for the concert that will take place in Arnhem, Netherlands: http://tickets.lvp.nl/

As far as I can see there are still tickets available.

Living close to the Belgian border we ourselves attend the concert in Antwerp, which we already booked Wednesday evening February 19th! Thanks to your excellent information!

Thanx!
Keep on the good work! Henk Huinen
Creatief Beeldwerk

Update IV (2/22/03) The BBC reports British tickets were selling at the rate of eight per second after tickets became available on Friday. "It's been going crazy," said McCartney spokesman Geoff Baker. "The tickets are still selling but they are going very quickly."

Update III (2/22/03)

8 May Gelsenkirchen Arean AufSchalke (a soccer stadium) . tix from Monday 25th. See http://www.arena-aufschalke.de/ Evelyn

Update II (2/22/03)

Update (2/22/03)

I've got them for Birmingham 13 April. There didn't seem to be any of the £35 tickets available that were indicated in the press release. Tickets still seem to be available at www.lastminute.com at face value plus booking fee if anybody is still looking. Cheers.

Hi, Steve--

I have confirmed with a source close to the project that the new European release of the "Back in the U.S." DVD is indeed identical to the U.S., as far as content. There is expected to be a new 1-hour special airing in Europe (similar to the 2-hour edit of the film shown on ABC here in the States), containing footage from the tour in Japan and Mexico, including the triumphant arrival at the airport in Japan, I'm told.

Update III (2/21/03)

Apologies if this is old news by the time it reaches you but I just checked the www.wayahead.com website and they are now selling tickets for extra shows in Manchester on Thursday 10th April and at Earls Court in London on Monday 21st April.
Cheers,
Iain

Like your other correspondent, I got top price tickets for both London shows (before the third was added) quite easily via "wayahead" within minutes of the lines opening at 9 AM. The top price tickets for London 19 April then sold out in 9 minutes!

Looks like they have added a third show in London now. I was online at wayahead.com trying to get the 75 pound tickets, and the system locked up the first time I hit 'purchase' and when I got back in at 9:07 all the 75L were gone - I got tickets for the Birmingham shows in the 75 pound range, tho! Keep up the good blah blah blah, Rick Glover

Update II (2/21/03)

A quick update on how ticket sales went in the UK this morning. They went on sale at 9am and I managed to get a pair of tickets for two shows without much problem via the Wayahead.com website. The first show to sell out on Wayahead was the Manchester one. By 10am the top price £75 tickets had gone for all shows except Sheffield, while there were still some cheaper seats available in London and Sheffield. By 10.30am the website had nothing left available at any price for any of the shows. I had also tried to get through on the phone earlier in the morning but hadn't had any luck.

The Wayahead website seemed to work very quickly and it was easy to get through, so if any more dates are announced I would recommend trying that one. The other website that had been advertised - ticketline.co.uk - didn't seem to be working so well.

From dushi2410, more info on the Dutch concert on friday 25 april 2003:

Paul McCartney's concert on 25 april is in the Arnhem Gelredome, thsi stadion has an capacity of 30.000 people. According to Mojo, there will be an second concert if the first show sells out quickly. The second show will be than booked the april 26.

The tickets go on sale on saturday 22 februari 2003.

Update (2/21/03)

A second day in Antwerp Sportpaleis has been announced and one can reserve tickets already at the same places and conditions. http://www.goformusic.be 070/345.345

Tickets for the Copenhagen show can be purchased here : www.billetmaskinen.dk. Prices 500 danish kroner ($63,-) and 550 danish kroner ($69,-) plus fee. On sale monday feb. 24, at 10 am.

Update (2/20/03) Here's the link to Pollstar's Macca tour schedule. Tickets for the British dates can be purchased online at http://www.ticketline.co.uk and tickets for the Paris show can be purchased at http://www.ticketnet.fr/shop/fr/accueil.asp. (Thanks to Will B.)

Additionally, Dirk Van Damme says tickets for Antwerp go on sale this morning (Thursday) (although some people already ordered theirs yesterday) on phone number + 070/345.345. You can also order through http://www.goformusic.be.

Update (2/19/03) Here's the press release announcing the entire European tour (with price info at the bottom). Thanks to raph:

PAUL McCARTNEY BACK ON TOUR
FIRST UK-EURO CONCERTS IN 10 YEARS
+ NEW LIVE ALBUM + NEW TOUR DVD - MARCH 17TH

PAUL McCARTNEY is to play his first UK and European concerts in 10 years when his highly-demanded 'Back In The World' tour kicks off in Paris on March 25th.

The launch of the three-month trek will coincide with the release on March 17th of two special souvenirs of the tour - a 37-song live album, titled Back In The World, and Back In The U.S. - a 3-hour DVD filmed inside the world tour during its run across America. The European tour, which will play include gigs in Paris, Barcelona, Arnhem, Koln, Hannover, Vienna, Munich, Hamburg, Dublin, Sheffield, Manchester, Birmingham and London, will be Paul first in since his New World Tour of 1993.

Fronting a lean new band, Paul will perform his acclaimed and hugely-successful new show that last year broke 20 box office records during its 50-date tour of America. The tour won Billboard magazine's Tour of The Year accolade as the most triumphant concert trek of 2002.

Paul McCartney's two and a half hour, 36-song show caused crowd mania last year in Mexico, Japan and America - where it was dubbed "the greatest hits show on Earth".

The show includes 22 Beatles songs - the most Beatles songs ever performed in any one show - plus more than a dozen hits from his Wings and solo periods.

The Back In The World 2-CD album follows the hit album Back In The U.S. which was recently released in America as a souvenir of the first U.S. leg of the world tour. As the set list for the European tour will differ from the first American shows, the Back In The World tracklist has been changed so that the European album is a proper souvenir of the European show.

The Back In The World album will feature four songs not released before: live performances of She's Leaving Home, Calico Skies, Michelle and Let 'Em In.

These will feature alongside such classics as All My Loving, Back In The USSR, Band On The Run, Blackbird, Can't Buy Me Love, Carry That Weight, Coming Up, Eleanor Rigby, Fool On The Hill, Getting Better, Hello Goodbye, Here There And Everywhere, Hey Jude, I Saw Her Standing There, Jet, Live And Let Die and many others.

The Back In The U.S. DVD was previously only available in the U.S.A. and Japan, where it has already been a huge hit with fans as sales in America alone have been of triple-platinum status. The DVD has been dubbed "a rock and road movie" as it records not only the onstage concert action but also takes the viewer right inside the tour; filming Paul, the band and road crew backstage and offstage, inside dressing rooms, in the limos with Paul and even aboard his chartered jet for after-show mile-high party antics.

The 'Back In The World' concert show will include performance of Beatles songs never before played live in Europe. Said Paul: "I had a lot of fun touring this show across America last year and instead of been exhausted I felt exhilarated because I am enjoying it so much. I'm looking forward to playing through Europe and bringing the show back home to Britain.

"I think the crowd is going to like this gig - when I was thinking of what songs to play I just imagined myself as one of the audience and thought 'What would I like to hear him play?'

"So that means we'll be playing some of my Beatles stuff - rather a lot of Beatles stuff, actually - some Wings stuff and some more recent stuff; so basically the show pretty much spans my whole career. And I'm really getting off on playing it all with my new band, their energy and musicianship is phenomenal".

Paul McCartney's 'Back In The World Tour' will drive through Europe during March, April, May. The tour will include concerts in:

MARCH 25TH - PARIS - BERCY 
Tickets On Sale           : Feb 21st
Tickets Priced              : €47, €65, €80, €92 plus commission/booking fee
Ticket Details               : (France) 08926 92300 + at Virginstore, Fnac, Carrefour
                                       (Foreign enquiries ) 00 33 1 4997 5191
 

 
MARCH 28TH - BARCELONA PALAU SAN JORDI
Tickets On Sale           : Feb 26th
Tickets Priced              : €45, €54, €62 plus commission/booking fee
Ticket Details               : 00 34 902 15 00 25 + from Fancy, Overstocks, Discos Gong, Madrid Rock.
 
 
*APRIL 5TH / 6TH - SHEFFIELD HALLAM ARENA
Tickets On Sale           : Feb 21st
Tickets Priced              : £35, £45 plus limited premium tickets, plus commission/booking fee
Ticket Details               : 0114 256 56 56, or  0114 251 7000
National Paul McCartney Ticket Hotline  : 0870 121 25 27
Internet Bookings        : www.wayahead.com , www.lastminute.com , www.ticketline.co.uk 
 
 
*APRIL 9TH – MANCHESTER MEN ARENA
Tickets On Sale           : Feb 21st
Tickets Priced              : £35 and £45 plus limited premium tickets, plus commission/booking fee

Ticket Details               : 0870 190 8000 or 0161 832 1111
National Paul McCartney Ticket Hotline : 0870 121 25 27
Internet Bookings        : www.wayahead.com , www.ticketline.co.uk , www.lastminute.com

 
*APRIL 13TH / 14TH – BIRMINGHAM NIA
Tickets On Sale           : Feb 21st
Tickets Priced              : £35 and £45 plus limited premium tickets, plus commission/booking fee
Ticket Details               : 0870 909 4144 or 0121 607 8888
National Paul McCartney Ticket Hotline : 0870 121 25 27
Internet Bookings        : www.wayahead.com , www.lastminute.com , www.ticketline.co.uk 

 
*APRIL 18TH / 19TH – LONDON EARLS COURT
Tickets On Sale           : Feb 21st
Tickets Priced              : £35, £40 and £45 plus limited premium tickets, plus commission/booking fee
Ticket Details               : 0870 903 9033 or 020 7434 2222
National Paul McCartney Ticket Hotline : 0870 121 25 27
Internet Bookings        : www.wayahead.com , www.lastminute.com , www.ticketline.co.uk 



*All UK Ticket sales are limited to 6 tickets per transaction.



 
APRIL  25th – ARNHEM GELREDOME
Tickets On Sale           : Feb 22nd
Tickets Priced              : €50, €55, €65, €75 plus commission/booking fee

Ticket Details               : (Holland only) 0900 300 1250 + Ticket Service Post Offices, GWK Railway Station offices & Tourist Offices
 
 

APRIL 27th / 28th – KOLN ARENA
Tickets On Sale           : Feb 22nd
Tickets Priced              : €35, €75, €95 plus commission/booking fee
Ticket Details               : (Eventim) 01805 57 00 00
                                    (Kartenservice Stratmann) 00 49 521 560 500 + CTS 

 
APRIL 30TH – HANNOVER PREUSSAG ARENA
Tickets On Sale           : Feb 21st
Tickets Priced              :  €50, €65, €75, €85, €95, €115 plus commission/booking fee
Ticket Details               : (Germany only) 0 180 5 12 13 14 + CTS ticket shops
                                      (Foreign only) 00 49 180 5 12 13 14

 
MAY 14TH – VIENNA STADTHALLE
Tickets On Sale           : Feb 21st
Tickets Priced              : €50, €55, €65, €70, €90, €110 plus commission/booking fee
Ticket Details               : 00 43 1 96 0 96
 
 
MAY 17TH – MUNICH KONIGSPLATZ
Tickets On Sale           : Feb 21st
Tickets Priced              : €40, €45, €50, €60, €70, €80 plus commission/booking fee
Ticket Details               : (Germany only) 0 180 5 12 13 14 + CTS Shops
                                      (Foreign only) 00 49 180 5 12 13 14


 

MAY 21ST – HAMBURG AOL STADIUM
Tickets On Sale           : Feb 21st
Tickets Priced              : €55, €70, €75, €80, €90, €110 plus commission/booking fee
Ticket Details               : (Germany only) 0 180 5 12 13 14 + CTS Ticket Shop
                                      (Foreign only) 00 49 180 5 12 13 14
 
 
MAY 27TH – DUBLIN RDS STADIUM
Tickets On Sale           : Feb 26th
Tickets Priced              : €75, €105 plus commission/booking fee
Ticket Details               : (Ireland only) 1890 925 100 + Ticketmaster
                                      (UK only) 0870 243 44 55
                                      (Foreign only) 00 353 1 4 569 569 

And here's the complete press release announcing the British leg of the tour as issued on Tuesday (thanks to Matt Hurwitz):

PRESS RELEASE

PAUL McCARTNEY BACK LIVE IN THE U.K.
FIRST BRITISH GIGS IN 10 YEARS
+ NEW LIVE ALBUM + NEW TOUR DVD

PAUL McCARTNEY is to perform the biggest show of Beatles songs ever seen in Britain when he launches in April his first UK concert tour in 10 years.

Paul McCartney will play at The Hallam Arena, Sheffield, on April 5th & 6th; the MEN Arena, Manchester, on April 9th; the NIA, Birmingham, on April 13th & 14th; Earls Court, London, on April 18th and 19th, performing his all-hits 'Back In The World' show on the UK leg of his European tour.

The tour will be Paul's first in Britain since his New World Tour of 1993.

Tickets - priced £35 and £45 - will go onsale this Friday, February 21st. National Ticket Hotline - 0870 121 25 27.

Fronting a lean new band, Paul will bring home his acclaimed and hugely-successful new show that last year broke box office records all over America and won Billboard magazine's Tour Of The Year accolade as the most triumphant concert trek of 2002.

Paul McCartney's two and a half hour, 36-song show caused crowd mania last year in Mexico, Japan and America - where it was dubbed "the greatest hits show on Earth". The show includes 22 Beatles songs plus more than a dozen hits from his Wings and solo periods.

With 22 Beatles songs in the set, Paul McCartney will be singing twice as many Beatles songs as The Beatles played on stage. On their last tour of Britain in 1965 The Beatles played 30-minute shows of 11 songs. Forty years ago, when Beatlemania first began, The Beatles played 10 or 12-song sets.

The 'Back In The World' show will include performance of Beatles songs never before played live in Britain.

Said Paul: "I had a lot of fun touring this show around America last year, but now I'm bringing it on home and that's special to me as I always look forward to playing to a home crowd. I think people are going to like this gig - when I was thinking of what songs to play I just imagined myself as one of the audience and thought 'What would I like to hear him play?'

"So that means we'll be playing some of my Beatles stuff - rather a lot of Beatles stuff, actually - some Wings stuff and some more recent stuff; so basically the show pretty much spans my whole career. And I'm really getting off on playing it all with my new band, their energy and musicianship is phenomenal".

Paul McCartney's new band features Rusty Anderson and Brian Ray on guitars, Paul 'Wix' Wickens on keyboards and Abe Laboriel Jr. on drums.

In tandem with with the European tour, on March 17th EMI Music will release two special souvenirs of the tour - a 37-song live album of the show, titled 'Back In The World', and 'Back In The US' - a 3-hour DVD filmed inside the tour during its recent run across America.

The 'Back In The World' 2-CD follows the 'Back In The US' album that was released in America as a souvenir of the first leg of the world tour. As the set list of songs for the European tour will differ from the first American shows, the 'Back In The World' tracklist has been changed so that the European album is a proper souvenir of the European show.

The 'Back In The World' album will feature She's Leaving Home, Calico Skies, Michelle and Let 'Em In - alongside classics as All My Loving, Back In The USSR, Band On The Run, Blackbird, Can't Buy Me Love, Carry Hat Weight, Coming Up, Eleanor Rigby, Fool On The Hill, Getting Better, Hello Goodbye, Here There And Everywhere, Hey Jude, I Saw Her Standing There, Jet, Live And Let Die and many others.

The 'Back In The US' DVD was previously only available in the USA and Japan, where it has already been a big hit with fans as sales in America alone have been triple-platinum status. The DVD has been dubbed a "rock and road movie" as it reveals not only the onstage concert action but also takes the viewer right inside the tour, filming Paul, his band and roadcrew backstage and offstage.

Paul McCartney's world tour, his most successful since The Beatles, began in Oakland, California, in April 2002. It has played through the USA, Canada, Mexico and Japan, 58 concerts in 37 cities, performing to one million people and breaking box office records in 21 towns during 18 weeks on the road. Paul McCartney's 'Back In The World Tour' will drive through Europe during March, April, May. The tour will include concerts in:
Paris - March 25
Barcelona - March 28
Antwerp - April 1
Sheffield - April 5 & 6
Manchester - April 9
Birmingham - April 13 & 14
London - April 18 & 19
Arnhem - April 25
Koln - April 27 & 28
Hannover - April 30
Copenhagen - May 2
Stockholm - May 4
Vienna - May 14
Hamburg - May 21
Dublin - May 27

Not since 1963 (the week before the famous Royal Command Performance) has Paul McCartney played in Ireland. He will appear at the RDS in Dublin on May 27th (announced this morning on national radio).

Some comments : RDS stands for 'Royal Dublin Society' and it is a historic set of buildings and grounds in the affluent Dublin 4 area. As a venue it stinks - both physically and metaphorically. The interior acoustics are dreadful and if the concert follows hot on the heels of the annual Spring Show the place will still smell of horse manure. If it's indoors count on a smell and lousy sound. Visibility will be hampered by many pillars and parking/traffic will be a nightmare. If it's outdoors the sound will be very much controlled in terms of volume because of the fact that it is in a residential area.

Here's hoping the show sells out quickly and he moves to a larger venue.I'm glad he's coming to town but I'll probably try to go see him in Liverpool as it's less than an hour away by 'plane and promoters in the UK have access to much better venues.

Update (2/15/03) First, to repeat the late update from Thursday: We talked to Geoff Baker Thursday and were told an announcement for the European tour should be made next week.

However, Pollstar lists two dates: March 25 at the Palais Omnisports in Paris and May 14 at the Stadthalle in Vienna. (Thanks to Sgtpep87 and Tony Vournazos.)

From Enrique Rojas:

I also talked briefly with Geoff Baker, but yesterday in the afternoon, and he confirmed there will be another live CD, and that they are working on it at the moment. When I asked him if it could include song from the México City shows he said that's a possibility. So, now I'm looking forward to hear us, mexican fans, singin our hearts out in these recordings, for that is what we did last November. He also said that Paul is not going back to the U.S. or México this year.

Update III (2/14/03)

Update (2/14/03)

Update (2/13/03)

Update (2/12/03)

Update (2/3/03)

1.25.03
Here's the latest tour news: Sir Paul and the band are hitting the road in Europe this spring! The tour will begin in April, 2003; most of the dates have not yet been finalized. Keep watching this space for more details as they become available. For those who attended the 2002 shows, you can expect the set list will probably change a little, just to keep things interesting.

Update II (1/18/03)

Update (1/8/03)

News archive from the Back in the U.S. tour (second leg)

News archive from the first leg of the Drivin' USA tour