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Wings: The Story of a Band on the Run
“We made what seemed like an impossible dream come true.” ―Paul McCartney
An engrossing oral history of a band that came to define a generation, Wings: The Story of a Band on the Run tells the madcap story of Paul McCartney and his newly formed band, from their humble beginnings in the early 1970s to their dissolution barely a decade later. Drawn from over 500,000 words of interviews with McCartney, family and band members, and other key participants, Wings recounts―now with a half-century’s wisdom―the musical odyssey taken by a man searching for his identity in the aftermath of The Beatles’ breakup. Soon joined by his wife - American photographer Linda McCartney - on keyboard and vocals; drummer Denny Seiwell; and guitarist Denny Laine, McCartney sowed the seeds for a new band that would later provide the soundtrack of the decade.
Organized chronologically around McCartney, RAM, and nine Wings albums, the narrative begins when a twenty-seven-year-old superstar, rumored to be dead, fled with his new wife to a remote sheep farm in Scotland amid a sea of legal and personal rows. Despite the harsh conditions, the Scottish setting gave McCartney time to create, and it was here where this new band emerged. Wings then follows the group as they play unannounced shows at university halls, tour in a sheared-off double-decker bus with their children, survive a robbery on the streets of Nigeria, and eventually perform blockbuster stadium shows on their world tour, all while producing some of the most enduring music of the time.
With extraordinary recollections collected by Oscar-winning director Morgan Neville and edited into a genre-defining oral history by Ted Widmer, Wings transports the reader, as if on a magic carpet, to the grit and glamour of the 1970s. Pushing creative forms to produce a new history, even a Wings bible, the book refracts a bygone era in a totally new light. Introduced with a personal, heartfelt foreword by McCartney, the volume contains 150 black-and-white and color photographs, many previously unseen, as well as timelines, a gigography, and a full discography. Wings: The Story of a Band on the Run emerges as a work of soaring originality that presents a new art form all its own.
An engrossing oral history of a band that came to define a generation, Wings: The Story of a Band on the Run tells the madcap story of Paul McCartney and his newly formed band, from their humble beginnings in the early 1970s to their dissolution barely a decade later. Drawn from over 500,000 words of interviews with McCartney, family and band members, and other key participants, Wings recounts―now with a half-century’s wisdom―the musical odyssey taken by a man searching for his identity in the aftermath of The Beatles’ breakup. Soon joined by his wife - American photographer Linda McCartney - on keyboard and vocals; drummer Denny Seiwell; and guitarist Denny Laine, McCartney sowed the seeds for a new band that would later provide the soundtrack of the decade.
Organized chronologically around McCartney, RAM, and nine Wings albums, the narrative begins when a twenty-seven-year-old superstar, rumored to be dead, fled with his new wife to a remote sheep farm in Scotland amid a sea of legal and personal rows. Despite the harsh conditions, the Scottish setting gave McCartney time to create, and it was here where this new band emerged. Wings then follows the group as they play unannounced shows at university halls, tour in a sheared-off double-decker bus with their children, survive a robbery on the streets of Nigeria, and eventually perform blockbuster stadium shows on their world tour, all while producing some of the most enduring music of the time.
With extraordinary recollections collected by Oscar-winning director Morgan Neville and edited into a genre-defining oral history by Ted Widmer, Wings transports the reader, as if on a magic carpet, to the grit and glamour of the 1970s. Pushing creative forms to produce a new history, even a Wings bible, the book refracts a bygone era in a totally new light. Introduced with a personal, heartfelt foreword by McCartney, the volume contains 150 black-and-white and color photographs, many previously unseen, as well as timelines, a gigography, and a full discography. Wings: The Story of a Band on the Run emerges as a work of soaring originality that presents a new art form all its own.
576 pages, Hardcover
Published November 4, 2025
About the author
Paul McCartney
966 books523 followersSir James Paul McCartney MBE, known as Paul McCartney, is an English singer-songwriter, composer, multi-instrumentalist, poet, entrepreneur, painter, record producer, film producer, and animal-rights activist. He gained worldwide fame as one of the founders and members of The Beatles. McCartney and John Lennon formed one of the most influential and successful songwriting partnerships and "wrote some of the most popular music in rock and roll history". After leaving The Beatles, McCartney launched a successful solo career and formed the band Wings with his first wife, Linda Eastman McCartney, and songwriter/singer Denny Laine. He has worked on film scores, classical music, and ambient/electronic music; released a large catalogue of songs as a solo artist; and taken part in projects to help international charities.
McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the most successful musician and composer in popular music history, with 60 gold discs and sales of 100 million singles. His song "Yesterday" is listed as the most covered song in history and has been played more than 7,000,000 times on American television and radio. Wings' 1977 single "Mull of Kintyre" became the first single to sell more than two million copies in the UK, and remains the UK's top selling non-charity single. (Three charity singles have since surpassed it in sales; the first to do so—in 1984—was Band Aid's "Do They Know It's Christmas?", whose participants included McCartney.)
His company MPL Communications owns the copyrights to more than 3,000 songs, including all of the songs written by Buddy Holly, along with the publishing rights to such musicals as Guys and Dolls, A Chorus Line, and Grease.
An iconic figure in contemporary culture, he is regarded internationally as an entertainer and humanitarian. Aside from his musical work, McCartney is an actor, a painter, a poet, and an advocate for animal rights, vegetarianism, and music education; he is active in campaigns against landmines, seal hunting, and Third World debt.
McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the most successful musician and composer in popular music history, with 60 gold discs and sales of 100 million singles. His song "Yesterday" is listed as the most covered song in history and has been played more than 7,000,000 times on American television and radio. Wings' 1977 single "Mull of Kintyre" became the first single to sell more than two million copies in the UK, and remains the UK's top selling non-charity single. (Three charity singles have since surpassed it in sales; the first to do so—in 1984—was Band Aid's "Do They Know It's Christmas?", whose participants included McCartney.)
His company MPL Communications owns the copyrights to more than 3,000 songs, including all of the songs written by Buddy Holly, along with the publishing rights to such musicals as Guys and Dolls, A Chorus Line, and Grease.
An iconic figure in contemporary culture, he is regarded internationally as an entertainer and humanitarian. Aside from his musical work, McCartney is an actor, a painter, a poet, and an advocate for animal rights, vegetarianism, and music education; he is active in campaigns against landmines, seal hunting, and Third World debt.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 172 reviews
February 9, 2026
Fascinating oral history of the band, Wings. Really enjoyed it, especially the stories about Linda and Paul's love for each other, the early tales about the demise of the Beatles, and then the surprising revelations about the end of Wings. Great cameos from Chrissie Hynde, Sean Ono Lennon, and Stella McCartney. And the discussions of the creation of album artwork were a reminder of how integral the packaging once was -- and what those image and liner notes meant. So, it is ironic of me to confess. . .while I read a paper copy of this book, I always had my phone handy to listen to a particular song when it was referenced in Paul McCartney's remarkable second act.
December 28, 2025
Wings by Paul McCartney
This is a really good rock biography—written by…a Beatle. And not just any Beatle, but Paul McCartney, who turns out to be a surprisingly warm, generous, and engaging storyteller.
I’ll be honest up front: I did not grow up a Beatles or Paul McCartney fan. I was much more of a punk/new wave guy. Back in high school, I was a DJ and regularly had my microphone thrown in the trash for playing The Police, Madness, and Black Flag. Ah yes—high school daze.
Then everything changed !!
Over Thanksgiving break, my lovely wife and I went to see Sir Paul live. What an incredible show. Nearly three solid hours, wall-to-wall hits, total joy. Watching an artist of his age play with that much energy and love for music was genuinely moving—and it sent me straight to this book. Show review at the end of the book review.
Wings reads like a love letter—to music, to collaboration, and especially to the sheer joy of playing. McCartney clearly loves what he does, and that enthusiasm radiates off every page. The book is packed with rock-and-roll history and behind-the-scenes stories that kept me turning pages faster than I expected.
I was honestly surprised by how many great pop songs and albums came out of Wings. The core lineup—Paul, Linda McCartney, and a key contributor from The Moody Blues denny laine —recorded music in some truly exotic (and occasionally dangerous) locations. Those stories alone are worth the price of admission.
That said, the book is a bit overproduced at times and occasionally repetitive. There’s a fair amount of cheerleading (“rah rah”) that may test some readers’ patience—but come on, this is Paul McCartney. The man also delivers a 30-minute spoken introduction in the audiobook. He’s earned it.
Speaking of the audio version: it works exceptionally well. Multiple actors voice different figures, which adds texture and keeps things lively, even when the tone leans a little celebratory.
In the end, this book won me over—much like that live concert did. If you love rock and roll, music history, or simply enjoy stories told by someone who clearly still finds joy in his craft, this is an easy recommendation.
🎸 4.5 / 5 stars
A joyful, sometimes indulgent, but deeply engaging rock memoir—written by a guy who just happens to have changed music forever.
Concert Review- 11/25/25
Well, I’m not gonna lie. I have not read this book, but I did see Sir Paul McCartney live in concert last night.
I will get to his forthcoming Wings book when I get a copy. My wife and are still buzzing from the fantastic show. He’s in his 80s and put on a 3 hour show!
Tight dynamic band and he played all the hits. Beatles and solo stuff. A lot of energy and great storytelling. So much fun and I’m happy to say, we saw a legend that still brings it!
This is a really good rock biography—written by…a Beatle. And not just any Beatle, but Paul McCartney, who turns out to be a surprisingly warm, generous, and engaging storyteller.
I’ll be honest up front: I did not grow up a Beatles or Paul McCartney fan. I was much more of a punk/new wave guy. Back in high school, I was a DJ and regularly had my microphone thrown in the trash for playing The Police, Madness, and Black Flag. Ah yes—high school daze.
Then everything changed !!
Over Thanksgiving break, my lovely wife and I went to see Sir Paul live. What an incredible show. Nearly three solid hours, wall-to-wall hits, total joy. Watching an artist of his age play with that much energy and love for music was genuinely moving—and it sent me straight to this book. Show review at the end of the book review.
Wings reads like a love letter—to music, to collaboration, and especially to the sheer joy of playing. McCartney clearly loves what he does, and that enthusiasm radiates off every page. The book is packed with rock-and-roll history and behind-the-scenes stories that kept me turning pages faster than I expected.
I was honestly surprised by how many great pop songs and albums came out of Wings. The core lineup—Paul, Linda McCartney, and a key contributor from The Moody Blues denny laine —recorded music in some truly exotic (and occasionally dangerous) locations. Those stories alone are worth the price of admission.
That said, the book is a bit overproduced at times and occasionally repetitive. There’s a fair amount of cheerleading (“rah rah”) that may test some readers’ patience—but come on, this is Paul McCartney. The man also delivers a 30-minute spoken introduction in the audiobook. He’s earned it.
Speaking of the audio version: it works exceptionally well. Multiple actors voice different figures, which adds texture and keeps things lively, even when the tone leans a little celebratory.
In the end, this book won me over—much like that live concert did. If you love rock and roll, music history, or simply enjoy stories told by someone who clearly still finds joy in his craft, this is an easy recommendation.
🎸 4.5 / 5 stars
A joyful, sometimes indulgent, but deeply engaging rock memoir—written by a guy who just happens to have changed music forever.
Concert Review- 11/25/25
Well, I’m not gonna lie. I have not read this book, but I did see Sir Paul McCartney live in concert last night.
I will get to his forthcoming Wings book when I get a copy. My wife and are still buzzing from the fantastic show. He’s in his 80s and put on a 3 hour show!
Tight dynamic band and he played all the hits. Beatles and solo stuff. A lot of energy and great storytelling. So much fun and I’m happy to say, we saw a legend that still brings it!
December 29, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I’ve lived through Beatlemania , and I am still a rabid fan today. I was devastated when the Beatles broke up in 1970 because, in those days, there was no second chapter. All of a sudden they were gone.
Paul McCartney then released a couple of solo albums, which were very good but I couldn’t get used to them because the other Beatles weren’t with him.
And then came Wings.
Forming a band on the heels of the Beatles was a crazy idea, I thought at the time. But they were good. They had a different sound, a different approach to music, and they churned out quite a few huge hits. It was an amazing second act.
This book is a very down to earth, personal account of Wings. The reader hears firsthand from McCartney, his late wife Linda, the McCartney children, other band mates, and the former Beatles, along with many other people who were involved at the time.
I know the history of the Beatles inside out, but I never really knew the history of Wings. After reading this detailed account, I do. This is a great book for any McCartney fan, and anyone who lived through the amazing decade when Wings took the world by storm. Highly recommend.
I’ve lived through Beatlemania , and I am still a rabid fan today. I was devastated when the Beatles broke up in 1970 because, in those days, there was no second chapter. All of a sudden they were gone.
Paul McCartney then released a couple of solo albums, which were very good but I couldn’t get used to them because the other Beatles weren’t with him.
And then came Wings.
Forming a band on the heels of the Beatles was a crazy idea, I thought at the time. But they were good. They had a different sound, a different approach to music, and they churned out quite a few huge hits. It was an amazing second act.
This book is a very down to earth, personal account of Wings. The reader hears firsthand from McCartney, his late wife Linda, the McCartney children, other band mates, and the former Beatles, along with many other people who were involved at the time.
I know the history of the Beatles inside out, but I never really knew the history of Wings. After reading this detailed account, I do. This is a great book for any McCartney fan, and anyone who lived through the amazing decade when Wings took the world by storm. Highly recommend.
May 12, 2026
Band on the Run
A review of the Liveright hardcover (November 4, 2025) released simultaneously with the eBook/audiobook.
Although the book is credited to Paul McCartney, who does contribute the largest share of the interview quotes, it is really the work of the editor Ted Widmer who pieced together this immense oral history of Paul McCartney and his post-Beatles group Wings. At first it seems like it must be a Goodreads author mix-up, but Ted Widmer really is the American historian whose history books are also listed under that name, confirmed from the biography in his editor credit.
This is probably not for the casual fan as the book goes into immense detail about the recording sessions, the concerts, the singles and album releases of McCartney's solo and group work at the time. There is rather wonderful trivia in it throughout, especially with the more recent interviews with Linda and Paul McCartney's daughters Mary and Stella who recall life on the road in the early 1970s with their parents, who come across as being very down to earth.
One of my favourite anecdotes was a story told by supermodel Twiggy who was along with Linda and Paul when they got lost in Liverpool on the way to a New Year's Eve party. The story that preceded this one told of another fan who had dropped to his knees in the street while screaming "It's Effin' Paul McCartney!" over and over again. 🤣
I read Wings: The Story of a Band on the Run due to my recent viewing of Paul McCartney's photographs at the Art Gallery of Ontario and the reading of its accompanying exhibition book 1964: Eyes of the Storm (2023) and listening to the interview audiobook The Man on the Run: Words + Music: Vol. 42 (2026).
Soundtrack
The book was released in conjunction with a 32-song 2CD/3LP (also as a 1CD/1LP selection) box set compilation Wings (November 7, 2025) which you can listen to on Spotify here.
Soundtrack Bonus Tracks
Aside from the recounting of all of the Paul McCartney and Wings singles and albums of the 1970s, the book also mentions several other singles and albums which were Wings-adjacent. I had never even heard of many of these at the time. They include:
Walking in the Park with Eloise (1974) by The Country Hams, a pseudonym used by Paul McCarney and Wings when they recorded this single of a Dixieland style song by Paul's father Jim and his uncle Joe. It was later included in the 2014 enhanced edition of the Wings album Venus and Mars which you can listen to on Spotify here.
McGear (1974) by Mike McGear. A solo album by Paul McCartney's younger brother, co-written by Paul with the members of Wings as the studio musicians. Listen to the 2019 extended version of the album on Spotify here.
One Hand Clapping (2024) by Wings. A live-in-the-studio album and film recorded in 1974 but not released until 2024. Listen to the album on Spotify here. See the film trailer on YouTube here.
Live on the Queen Mary (1978) by Professor Longhair (1918-1980). Recorded March 24, 1975 at the celebration party for the completion of recording the Wings album "Venus and Mars." McCartney invited Fess (nickname) and The Meters to perform live at the party which was held on the RMS Queen Mary which was docked at Long Beach, California. Listen to the album on Spotify here.
Thrillington (1977) by Percy "Thrills" Thrillington, a pseudonym of Paul McCartney. Recorded in 1971 but not released until 6 years later with Paul McCartney only acknowledging his involvement in 1989. The album consists of instrumental big band arrangements of the songs from the Paul and Linda McCartney Ram (1971) album. Listen to the album on Spotify here.
Holly Days (1977) by Denny Laine (1944-2023). An album of Buddy Holly covers released as a solo record by Wings member Denny Laine which was produced by Paul McCartney and included both Paul and Linda McCartney as supporting musicians. Listen to the album on a YouTube playlist that begins here. The album does not appear to be available on Spotify.
Seaside Woman (1977) by Suzy and the Red Stripes, a pseudonym for Wings. A single release of a song by Linda McCartney (1941-1998) which was later collected in the posthumous compilation album Wide Prairie (1998). Listen to the album on Spotify here.
Trivia and Link
Aside from the timeline notes of McCartney and Wings' musical history and of concurrent recordings by other major artists of the time, including the final Beatles records and the other solo Beatles albums, there were also interesting general history notes included and I made note of few dozen or so. I was more interested in the human rights and technology dates, there were hundreds of cinema, musical and political dates as well.:
June 28, 1969 After New York police attempt to arrest several patrons at the Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village, a crowd of gay activists push back against the police and force a tense stand-off, now considered the beginning of the Gay Pride movement.
July 9, 1969 In a press release, Stanford University announces the creation of a network of interconnected computers around the country, a forerunner to the internet.
July 21, 1969 Neil Armstrong becomes the first human to walk on the lunar surface.
August 8, 1969 At 11.35 a.m., with a policeman holding up traffic, The Beatles are photographed by Iain MacMillan walking over the zebra crossing at Abbey Road.
[Those last two recall one of my favourite anecdotes (although the count seems to be slightly off) from Luis Sagasti's Leyden Ltd. (2019): "Only twenty-four days separate the two most famous walks of the 20th century."]
December 17, 1969 In a speech to the American Geophysical Union, a scientist, Joseph O. Fletcher, warns that the Earth's climate is warming because of human activity.
March30, 1971 The first Starbucks opens in Seattle, Washington.
July 4, 1971 The first e-book, a copy of the Declaration of Independence, is published by the University of Illinois mainframe computer - the beginning of Project Gutenberg.
September 3, 1971 First legal gay marriage is performed in Mankato, Minnesota.
November 15, 1971 Intel announces the world's first commercially produced microprocessor.
January 27, 1972 Magnavox introduces the first home video game console, Odyssey.
January 22, 1973 In Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court decides by a 7-2 vote that the Constitution protects the right to an abortion.
April 3, 1973 The first call is made using a handheld cellular phone.
June 26, 1974 The first product to be purchased by using a barcode is a packet of chewing gum.
March 26, 1975 The first licence for a same-sex marriage is issued in Boulder, Colorado.
June 1, 1977 Nintendo, formerly a maker of playing cards, debuts its first home video game console.
August 31, 1977 The Video Home System cassette, or VHS, is introduced to the US by Matsushita.
November 22, 1977 The US Defense Department's ARPANET (Advanced Research Projects Agency Network) connects three of its 111 nodes to begin what will eventually become the internet.
June 25, 1978 The rainbow flag is flown for the first time at the San Francisco Gay Freedom Day parade.
July 25, 1978 Louise Brown, the first 'test tube baby' conceived through in vitro fertilisation, is born in Oldham, England.
March 9, 1979 Philips announces a prototype of the compact disc, or CD, at its headquarters in Eindhoven, in The Netherlands.
July 1, 1979 The Sony Walkman goes on sale in Japan.
May 22, 1980 The video game Pac-Man (first called Puck Man) is released in Tokyo, Japan.
A review of the Liveright hardcover (November 4, 2025) released simultaneously with the eBook/audiobook.
It turned into something more. Turned into an art form. We would have laughed at that. Art? Are you kidding? It's just a group. ... We made what seemed like an impossible dream come true. - Paul McCartney.
Although the book is credited to Paul McCartney, who does contribute the largest share of the interview quotes, it is really the work of the editor Ted Widmer who pieced together this immense oral history of Paul McCartney and his post-Beatles group Wings. At first it seems like it must be a Goodreads author mix-up, but Ted Widmer really is the American historian whose history books are also listed under that name, confirmed from the biography in his editor credit.
This is probably not for the casual fan as the book goes into immense detail about the recording sessions, the concerts, the singles and album releases of McCartney's solo and group work at the time. There is rather wonderful trivia in it throughout, especially with the more recent interviews with Linda and Paul McCartney's daughters Mary and Stella who recall life on the road in the early 1970s with their parents, who come across as being very down to earth.
One of my favourite anecdotes was a story told by supermodel Twiggy who was along with Linda and Paul when they got lost in Liverpool on the way to a New Year's Eve party. The story that preceded this one told of another fan who had dropped to his knees in the street while screaming "It's Effin' Paul McCartney!" over and over again. 🤣
We carried on. Tiny, dark streets. And we saw this lone lady, she was a middle-aged lady walking along with a couple of bottles of beer under her arms, obviously going home for New Year's. Paul stopped and said, 'Excuse me, love, do you know how I can get to blah, blah, blah, street?' She went, 'Yeah you go down there, and then you turn left, and then you turn right. I'm going that way. Can I have a lift?'
There was no recognition on her face at all. So Paul said, 'Yeah, sure.' He said, 'Twiggs, shove up." So we shoved up, the lady got in the back with us with her two bottles of beer. She was completely calm. We got to where her street was. She said, 'You can drop me off here, love, I can walk down that bit. And then you go down there.' Paul said, 'I know where I am now.' She got out and she went round to Paul's driver side and said, 'I know who you are, you're Paul McCartney, and that's Twiggy in the back there. And that's Linda. And it's so lovely to meet you.'
It was brilliant! I think Paul gave her a kiss, and she walked up the road.
I read Wings: The Story of a Band on the Run due to my recent viewing of Paul McCartney's photographs at the Art Gallery of Ontario and the reading of its accompanying exhibition book 1964: Eyes of the Storm (2023) and listening to the interview audiobook The Man on the Run: Words + Music: Vol. 42 (2026).
Soundtrack
The book was released in conjunction with a 32-song 2CD/3LP (also as a 1CD/1LP selection) box set compilation Wings (November 7, 2025) which you can listen to on Spotify here.
Soundtrack Bonus Tracks
Aside from the recounting of all of the Paul McCartney and Wings singles and albums of the 1970s, the book also mentions several other singles and albums which were Wings-adjacent. I had never even heard of many of these at the time. They include:
Walking in the Park with Eloise (1974) by The Country Hams, a pseudonym used by Paul McCarney and Wings when they recorded this single of a Dixieland style song by Paul's father Jim and his uncle Joe. It was later included in the 2014 enhanced edition of the Wings album Venus and Mars which you can listen to on Spotify here.
McGear (1974) by Mike McGear. A solo album by Paul McCartney's younger brother, co-written by Paul with the members of Wings as the studio musicians. Listen to the 2019 extended version of the album on Spotify here.
One Hand Clapping (2024) by Wings. A live-in-the-studio album and film recorded in 1974 but not released until 2024. Listen to the album on Spotify here. See the film trailer on YouTube here.
Live on the Queen Mary (1978) by Professor Longhair (1918-1980). Recorded March 24, 1975 at the celebration party for the completion of recording the Wings album "Venus and Mars." McCartney invited Fess (nickname) and The Meters to perform live at the party which was held on the RMS Queen Mary which was docked at Long Beach, California. Listen to the album on Spotify here.
Thrillington (1977) by Percy "Thrills" Thrillington, a pseudonym of Paul McCartney. Recorded in 1971 but not released until 6 years later with Paul McCartney only acknowledging his involvement in 1989. The album consists of instrumental big band arrangements of the songs from the Paul and Linda McCartney Ram (1971) album. Listen to the album on Spotify here.
Holly Days (1977) by Denny Laine (1944-2023). An album of Buddy Holly covers released as a solo record by Wings member Denny Laine which was produced by Paul McCartney and included both Paul and Linda McCartney as supporting musicians. Listen to the album on a YouTube playlist that begins here. The album does not appear to be available on Spotify.
Seaside Woman (1977) by Suzy and the Red Stripes, a pseudonym for Wings. A single release of a song by Linda McCartney (1941-1998) which was later collected in the posthumous compilation album Wide Prairie (1998). Listen to the album on Spotify here.
Trivia and Link
Aside from the timeline notes of McCartney and Wings' musical history and of concurrent recordings by other major artists of the time, including the final Beatles records and the other solo Beatles albums, there were also interesting general history notes included and I made note of few dozen or so. I was more interested in the human rights and technology dates, there were hundreds of cinema, musical and political dates as well.:
June 28, 1969 After New York police attempt to arrest several patrons at the Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village, a crowd of gay activists push back against the police and force a tense stand-off, now considered the beginning of the Gay Pride movement.
July 9, 1969 In a press release, Stanford University announces the creation of a network of interconnected computers around the country, a forerunner to the internet.
July 21, 1969 Neil Armstrong becomes the first human to walk on the lunar surface.
August 8, 1969 At 11.35 a.m., with a policeman holding up traffic, The Beatles are photographed by Iain MacMillan walking over the zebra crossing at Abbey Road.
[Those last two recall one of my favourite anecdotes (although the count seems to be slightly off) from Luis Sagasti's Leyden Ltd. (2019): "Only twenty-four days separate the two most famous walks of the 20th century."]
December 17, 1969 In a speech to the American Geophysical Union, a scientist, Joseph O. Fletcher, warns that the Earth's climate is warming because of human activity.
March30, 1971 The first Starbucks opens in Seattle, Washington.
July 4, 1971 The first e-book, a copy of the Declaration of Independence, is published by the University of Illinois mainframe computer - the beginning of Project Gutenberg.
September 3, 1971 First legal gay marriage is performed in Mankato, Minnesota.
November 15, 1971 Intel announces the world's first commercially produced microprocessor.
January 27, 1972 Magnavox introduces the first home video game console, Odyssey.
January 22, 1973 In Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court decides by a 7-2 vote that the Constitution protects the right to an abortion.
April 3, 1973 The first call is made using a handheld cellular phone.
June 26, 1974 The first product to be purchased by using a barcode is a packet of chewing gum.
March 26, 1975 The first licence for a same-sex marriage is issued in Boulder, Colorado.
June 1, 1977 Nintendo, formerly a maker of playing cards, debuts its first home video game console.
August 31, 1977 The Video Home System cassette, or VHS, is introduced to the US by Matsushita.
November 22, 1977 The US Defense Department's ARPANET (Advanced Research Projects Agency Network) connects three of its 111 nodes to begin what will eventually become the internet.
June 25, 1978 The rainbow flag is flown for the first time at the San Francisco Gay Freedom Day parade.
July 25, 1978 Louise Brown, the first 'test tube baby' conceived through in vitro fertilisation, is born in Oldham, England.
March 9, 1979 Philips announces a prototype of the compact disc, or CD, at its headquarters in Eindhoven, in The Netherlands.
July 1, 1979 The Sony Walkman goes on sale in Japan.
May 22, 1980 The video game Pac-Man (first called Puck Man) is released in Tokyo, Japan.
January 1, 2026
3.5 Stars
First of all, I am a huge Beatles fan of many decades and that includes WINGS. The rock biography is my favorite genre to READ, but I am not a fan of audiobooks. However, if the actual author of the book (especially if it's a celebrity) narrates it, I'm more inclined to embrace the audio version. In this case, Paul McCartney only narrated the beginning chapter of the book, and that was wonderful. His daughters with late wife Linda- Mary and Stella McCartney- narrated their parts all the way throughout the book. Please note that this book is in oral history format, and I usually love that construct because you're hearing everything from the horse's mouth. But there's so many highly recognizable main players that aren't the real people narrating their statements. We have Linda McCartney, Yoko Ono, Sean Ono Lennon, and Denny Laine as standout famous people that most everyone knows and therefore knows how they are supposed to sound. The person narrating as Linda McCartney didn't sound like her at all and kind of had an annoying voice to boot. I think the same actress narrated the few parts of Yoko Ono and didn't try hard enough to sound like Yoko. In addition, the actor who narrated the part of Sean Ono Lennon sounded nothing like him- and he has a very distinctive voice. Therefore someone had to announce each party that was "talking", and that grated my ears a bit as well. I know that I would have much preferred the arc in ebook format to read and absorb in my mind rather than through my ears.
As far as substance, you get the chronological evolution and dissolution of WINGS from all the main players' points of view. This project is put forward by Paul McCartney himself, so you are getting his perspective. The WINGS lineup changed many times over its existence, and you do get commentary from the various band members and why they ultimately left. There are so many books written about The Beatles and their solo careers, so it's always nice when you can pick up a new kernel of information from them. I didn't learn anything much new from this, but enjoyed hearing the fond memories and viewpoints from Mary and Stella McCartney themselves as they grew up during the WINGS years. It was also quite interesting hearing about Paul's marijuana bust in Japan that basically put an end to WINGS- when it caused the cancellation of that tour. His sharing of that experience as well as how it affected wife Linda and the kids was compelling.
Thank you to RBmedia / Recorded Books who provided an advance reader audio copy via NetGalley.
First of all, I am a huge Beatles fan of many decades and that includes WINGS. The rock biography is my favorite genre to READ, but I am not a fan of audiobooks. However, if the actual author of the book (especially if it's a celebrity) narrates it, I'm more inclined to embrace the audio version. In this case, Paul McCartney only narrated the beginning chapter of the book, and that was wonderful. His daughters with late wife Linda- Mary and Stella McCartney- narrated their parts all the way throughout the book. Please note that this book is in oral history format, and I usually love that construct because you're hearing everything from the horse's mouth. But there's so many highly recognizable main players that aren't the real people narrating their statements. We have Linda McCartney, Yoko Ono, Sean Ono Lennon, and Denny Laine as standout famous people that most everyone knows and therefore knows how they are supposed to sound. The person narrating as Linda McCartney didn't sound like her at all and kind of had an annoying voice to boot. I think the same actress narrated the few parts of Yoko Ono and didn't try hard enough to sound like Yoko. In addition, the actor who narrated the part of Sean Ono Lennon sounded nothing like him- and he has a very distinctive voice. Therefore someone had to announce each party that was "talking", and that grated my ears a bit as well. I know that I would have much preferred the arc in ebook format to read and absorb in my mind rather than through my ears.
As far as substance, you get the chronological evolution and dissolution of WINGS from all the main players' points of view. This project is put forward by Paul McCartney himself, so you are getting his perspective. The WINGS lineup changed many times over its existence, and you do get commentary from the various band members and why they ultimately left. There are so many books written about The Beatles and their solo careers, so it's always nice when you can pick up a new kernel of information from them. I didn't learn anything much new from this, but enjoyed hearing the fond memories and viewpoints from Mary and Stella McCartney themselves as they grew up during the WINGS years. It was also quite interesting hearing about Paul's marijuana bust in Japan that basically put an end to WINGS- when it caused the cancellation of that tour. His sharing of that experience as well as how it affected wife Linda and the kids was compelling.
Thank you to RBmedia / Recorded Books who provided an advance reader audio copy via NetGalley.
November 19, 2025
For the content I read, 5. Tons of 1st person information. I give credit to Ted to have gone through all the archival information ( Like Peter Jackson) to cover all aspects of this fabulous group. I have read much in the past about Wings and Paul post Beatles. so why the 4? Well with Paul being the spearhead in information getting out there was significant glossing over about any major issues and only side references to conflicts. As we know time will soften pain and conflict. The biggest I feel was the control Paul had even when promising more equal control over music and input which led to the revolving door of players. I understand his devotion to Linda which I always admired but it was really glossed over on her lack of ability and sometimes questionable involvement that others felt. i assume it was due to his daughter's involvement in the book. I don't envy the task Ted had to place the quotes from other sources in appropriate places but what was jarring to me is that many of the quotes must have been taken from interviews from different places but at similar times. many seemed to be the same quotes but upon checking a few they were slightly different as if asked in a slightly different way. What it felt like was I was rereading paragraphs. I quickly learned this and was able to blip over many to speed up the reading. Also at the end with discography and tour overviews they were rehashed from the rest of the book. I did like the book but these were distractions for me.
November 30, 2025
paul mccartney is my weed smoking manic pixie dream girlfriend
February 16, 2026
Not even done with it yet but....Best book ever!
Finished and still the BEST BOOK EVER!
1000 🌟
A Must Read for any Paul McCartney fan
Finished and still the BEST BOOK EVER!
1000 🌟
A Must Read for any Paul McCartney fan
December 28, 2025
I'm hot and cold with this one.
I'm enough of a Beatles freak to already have been aware of most of this oral history, however there's always some new insights to be gleaned, and there were a lot here. So, that's the good.
However, there was also a lot of rough edges that showed evidence of severe smoothing down. While some negativity or strife is hinted at—John and Paul's on-again, off-again friendship, Paul's relationship and treatment of his various Wings members, even Paul's general state of mind in the immediate aftermath of the Beatles breakup—it all seems to be cheerfully written off with a smirk and a shrug of the shoulders.
A good example of this is Jimmy McCulloch, Wings guitarist and troubled soul with substance abuse issues. These issues are delicately mentioned on a couple of occasions, but there's a point where Aubrey "Po" Powell, in talking about the VENUS AND MARS cover shoot, meets up with McCartney and finds their tour bus pretty much demolished. We find out it's Jimmy's doing, but it's cast aside as "we had a bit of an issue with Jimmy last night."
I don't expect a lot of dirt, but obviously many of the more unpleasant aspects of those years have been swept under the rug, so this history is a mostly shiny happy retelling of the Wings years.
...but there's always a feeling that there's events that have been talked around, that there's much left unsaid.
It's a good history of Wings, but sadly, despite McCartney's name on the cover, it's not the definitive history. For that, looks to the far more detailed McCARTNEY LEGACY volumes.
I'm enough of a Beatles freak to already have been aware of most of this oral history, however there's always some new insights to be gleaned, and there were a lot here. So, that's the good.
However, there was also a lot of rough edges that showed evidence of severe smoothing down. While some negativity or strife is hinted at—John and Paul's on-again, off-again friendship, Paul's relationship and treatment of his various Wings members, even Paul's general state of mind in the immediate aftermath of the Beatles breakup—it all seems to be cheerfully written off with a smirk and a shrug of the shoulders.
A good example of this is Jimmy McCulloch, Wings guitarist and troubled soul with substance abuse issues. These issues are delicately mentioned on a couple of occasions, but there's a point where Aubrey "Po" Powell, in talking about the VENUS AND MARS cover shoot, meets up with McCartney and finds their tour bus pretty much demolished. We find out it's Jimmy's doing, but it's cast aside as "we had a bit of an issue with Jimmy last night."
I don't expect a lot of dirt, but obviously many of the more unpleasant aspects of those years have been swept under the rug, so this history is a mostly shiny happy retelling of the Wings years.
...but there's always a feeling that there's events that have been talked around, that there's much left unsaid.
It's a good history of Wings, but sadly, despite McCartney's name on the cover, it's not the definitive history. For that, looks to the far more detailed McCARTNEY LEGACY volumes.
January 16, 2026
Hagiograpic Hell.
April 10, 2026
This retrospective is not for everyone, but it's a nice walk down Memory Lane for fans of Mccartney's other band. The story of Wings is written chronologically, with short narratives tying together quotes from those who were associated on some level with the band, and a good number of photos along the way.
The problem with "authorized" projects or memoirs is that they are, of course, slanted. McCartney is going to pick and choose quotes that bolster his legacy, and if he includes a few that are negative they'll be refuted and glossed over. It's his story; it's allowed. The trade off, of course, is that we're getting (at least part of) the inside story from those who were there.
The exception would be the inclusion of Sean Lennon's comments, meant to round out what his dad might have been thinking or doing, then and now. I hate to be cynical, but Sean was BARELY FIVE when his dad was, sadly, murdered, and when Wings disbanded. I believe most of his comments are speculative at best, without any real insight.
This band gave us a lot of great music - and yes, Linda was integral, and an asset to Wings' sound. She was skewered by reviewers, but lauded as a wonderful "Earth Mother" by insiders' quotes in this book. Again, remember that this is Paul's project. I'm sure there's some middle ground there. But one of her quotes turned me off, and I was shocked that it was included:
"I think Paul was very frustrated. He wanted it to work with Wings, but we just picked the wrong people. He needed the best to work with, but he had to carry almost all the weight. "
Ouch. So condescending. And if what I've read about McCartney through the years is correct, he took that weight on himself and didn't like giving up any control. At any rate, I think her comment must have stung the band members who were only quoted as saying wonderful things about Linda.
I'm sorry that Denny Laine isn't still alive to provide some more current hindsight. I would love to read a biography on him some day.
Wings/McCartney fans will enjoy this book. Dust off your records to play each one as it's discussed for the full 70s experience. Or, for those of you who weren't able to experience Wings in real time, listen to the full albums on youtube.
The problem with "authorized" projects or memoirs is that they are, of course, slanted. McCartney is going to pick and choose quotes that bolster his legacy, and if he includes a few that are negative they'll be refuted and glossed over. It's his story; it's allowed. The trade off, of course, is that we're getting (at least part of) the inside story from those who were there.
The exception would be the inclusion of Sean Lennon's comments, meant to round out what his dad might have been thinking or doing, then and now. I hate to be cynical, but Sean was BARELY FIVE when his dad was, sadly, murdered, and when Wings disbanded. I believe most of his comments are speculative at best, without any real insight.
This band gave us a lot of great music - and yes, Linda was integral, and an asset to Wings' sound. She was skewered by reviewers, but lauded as a wonderful "Earth Mother" by insiders' quotes in this book. Again, remember that this is Paul's project. I'm sure there's some middle ground there. But one of her quotes turned me off, and I was shocked that it was included:
"I think Paul was very frustrated. He wanted it to work with Wings, but we just picked the wrong people. He needed the best to work with, but he had to carry almost all the weight. "
Ouch. So condescending. And if what I've read about McCartney through the years is correct, he took that weight on himself and didn't like giving up any control. At any rate, I think her comment must have stung the band members who were only quoted as saying wonderful things about Linda.
I'm sorry that Denny Laine isn't still alive to provide some more current hindsight. I would love to read a biography on him some day.
Wings/McCartney fans will enjoy this book. Dust off your records to play each one as it's discussed for the full 70s experience. Or, for those of you who weren't able to experience Wings in real time, listen to the full albums on youtube.
January 26, 2026
Oh, I’m so sorry to give this a mere 2 stars….. but……. It’s like hearing about a person’s job from 4 or 5 different viewpoints. 3 or 4 of them being superfluous to requirements. The vocabulary isn’t particularly rich: ‘crazy’, ‘nice’ and ‘wild’ are repeated many times. Maybe all that cannabis took its toll after all. I blame the editor.
November 12, 2025
I see this as a companion to the McCartney Legacy volumes. The appendices are the authoritative lists of members, recordings, and tours - and compare with the level of detail found in the Legacy volumes. The rest of the book - it's an oral history - has its moments - there are some great quotes from Paul, Linda, and even Sean Lennon. But it often feels random. The forward, first chapter, and last chapter are my least favorite because of that randomness. I don't think they were confident about how to kick it off or where to end. After I finished, I went down the "what happened to" rabbit hole and watched post-Wings videos and read stories about the cast of characters like Joe English and Denny Seiwell. The oral history could have been improved with more notes about the quotations - which ones are current day and which are from the 1970's? Everyone knows my level of fandom - it doesn't bother me to whitewash Paul's history - he's a god in my life. But there are only one or two TINY mentions of anything negative in the Wings history - and we all know it wasn't that perfect with the constant turnover of musicians. But that's minor to me. Always enjoy reading a story or two that I haven't heard before.
February 22, 2026
This book was incredible- I absolutely LOVED it and couldn’t put it down! Paul really gets into everything that happened shortly after the Beatles broke up and the huge leap of faith he took while starting Wings. I felt all the emotions while reading it- it was so beautifully written, with quotes from so many different members of the band, Paul’s family, friends, former Beatles, etc. I also love the timelines that are included, with famous events from history during Paul’s time with Wings. It was a spectacular read and of course, I was over the moon the whole time, so excited to read a book written by my favorite Beatle 🥰🥰
January 24, 2026
This was a very scattered read. The book often presents a fact, then follows it with fragmented quotes and anecdotes that circle back and repeat the same point without adding much clarity. That approach made it feel bloated at times, like the narrative was being padded out rather than sharpened.
That said, the passages directly from Paul were the highlight for me. His reflections felt fresh, informative, and genuinely engaging, offering insight that made the book worth sticking with. Unfortunately, much of the surrounding commentary felt unnecessary, especially the heavy reliance on quotes meant to frame ideas that could have been stated far more cleanly. And honestly, I have little interest in Sean Lennon’s interpretations of what happened during or between Lennon and McCartney — those sections didn’t add value for me.
This is still a must-read for dedicated Beatles fans who want every perspective and detail. For more casual readers, though, it’s likely just a passing interest. A lot of the words and quotes could have been condensed into a paragraph or two, which would have made this a far more focused and succinct read.
That said, the passages directly from Paul were the highlight for me. His reflections felt fresh, informative, and genuinely engaging, offering insight that made the book worth sticking with. Unfortunately, much of the surrounding commentary felt unnecessary, especially the heavy reliance on quotes meant to frame ideas that could have been stated far more cleanly. And honestly, I have little interest in Sean Lennon’s interpretations of what happened during or between Lennon and McCartney — those sections didn’t add value for me.
This is still a must-read for dedicated Beatles fans who want every perspective and detail. For more casual readers, though, it’s likely just a passing interest. A lot of the words and quotes could have been condensed into a paragraph or two, which would have made this a far more focused and succinct read.
December 30, 2025
McCartney gives us a rather polite history of Wings, which I suppose is to be expected after a half century of reflection. Though this approach can be jarring. The way it comes across here, the first 5 member lineup of the band seemed to be pretty happy, with hardly a complaint. And then suddenly, Denny Seiwell and Henry McCullough bow out. For a more realistic, honest and deeper dive into Wings I'd highly recommend volumes one and two of The McCartney Legacy by Allan Kozinn and Adrian Sinclair, where the unpleasant aspects aren't glossed over.
January 10, 2026
“Who’s Wings?”
“Pfff. They’re only the band The Beatles could have been.”
I’m endlessly fascinated by this period of Paul McCartney’s career, which carries this book a long way in my eyes. I’m also astounded by McCartney’s undiminished inability to scratch beneath the surface in interviews, even when the project hinges on interviews with him. Everything here is just too polished and guarded to really get much from his contributions. In fact, it’s absolutely wild that this is presented as being authored by McCartney when it’s an oral history culled largely from a range of interviews for a new documentary or from archival interviews, and edited by Ted Widmer, who does a good job of pulling everything together.
It does get repetitive and there’s only so many times you can hear the same sentiments phrased slightly differently at numerous points throughout the book, but the spine of the narrative of a man trying to reinvent himself in the fallout from a global phenomenon, while juggling new family commitments and self doubt, is inarguably compelling.
It’s a bit of a whitewashing exercise at times with troublesome patches skimmed over with the lightest of acknowledgements and the oral history format, which seeks to address issues of balance, ultimately results in irrelevant contributions from the likes of Sean Ono Lennon, representing his father’s estate, while not being born for the majority of the era covered. Surely an oral history’s primary value is if it’s made up from the testimonies of the people who directly experienced events? Despite the odd questionable inclusion, the perspectives from the other members of Wings’ various incarnations are valuable (although Linda’s quotes often seem slight and focused on a defence of her husband). It’s a shame that the conflicts and rougher patches aren’t always delved into in a way that seems reflective.
Also slightly disappointing is the way that a lot of the music doesn’t really get its moment in the sun either, when you feel that’s precisely what much of the focus should be on. This is where it should be getting lost in the weeds a bit, rather than returning to parroted party lines. But I guess when you have the catalogue McCartney does, it’s hard to maintain a propulsive focus without making some cuts — though it might have been nice to further explore the songwriting contributions of the other Wings members like Denny Laine.
There are plenty of fun anecdotes and tender insights into family life, with the importance of Scotland in the story especially nice for this reader to read.
So despite all the flaws, why the high rating? Well, because it’s Paul McCartney and I won’t ever tire of hearing from him. I’m awestruck by everything about him, flaws and all.
“Pfff. They’re only the band The Beatles could have been.”
I’m endlessly fascinated by this period of Paul McCartney’s career, which carries this book a long way in my eyes. I’m also astounded by McCartney’s undiminished inability to scratch beneath the surface in interviews, even when the project hinges on interviews with him. Everything here is just too polished and guarded to really get much from his contributions. In fact, it’s absolutely wild that this is presented as being authored by McCartney when it’s an oral history culled largely from a range of interviews for a new documentary or from archival interviews, and edited by Ted Widmer, who does a good job of pulling everything together.
It does get repetitive and there’s only so many times you can hear the same sentiments phrased slightly differently at numerous points throughout the book, but the spine of the narrative of a man trying to reinvent himself in the fallout from a global phenomenon, while juggling new family commitments and self doubt, is inarguably compelling.
It’s a bit of a whitewashing exercise at times with troublesome patches skimmed over with the lightest of acknowledgements and the oral history format, which seeks to address issues of balance, ultimately results in irrelevant contributions from the likes of Sean Ono Lennon, representing his father’s estate, while not being born for the majority of the era covered. Surely an oral history’s primary value is if it’s made up from the testimonies of the people who directly experienced events? Despite the odd questionable inclusion, the perspectives from the other members of Wings’ various incarnations are valuable (although Linda’s quotes often seem slight and focused on a defence of her husband). It’s a shame that the conflicts and rougher patches aren’t always delved into in a way that seems reflective.
Also slightly disappointing is the way that a lot of the music doesn’t really get its moment in the sun either, when you feel that’s precisely what much of the focus should be on. This is where it should be getting lost in the weeds a bit, rather than returning to parroted party lines. But I guess when you have the catalogue McCartney does, it’s hard to maintain a propulsive focus without making some cuts — though it might have been nice to further explore the songwriting contributions of the other Wings members like Denny Laine.
There are plenty of fun anecdotes and tender insights into family life, with the importance of Scotland in the story especially nice for this reader to read.
So despite all the flaws, why the high rating? Well, because it’s Paul McCartney and I won’t ever tire of hearing from him. I’m awestruck by everything about him, flaws and all.
March 15, 2026
Having been raised (post-Wings-breakup) on songs I'd consider the "greatest hits" this book exposed my lack of familarity with the full scope of the band's body of work and historical context. I discovered sooo many deep cuts that have become new favourites (Venus and Mars and Back to the Egg were a lot of fun getting familiar with). I'm kicking myself for not discovering these sooner. I'd love to see the physical book because the audiobook went a little long after the Epilogue. It gets into a strictly fact-dump format of biographies, a discography, a -- and I'm not kidding -- literal day-by-day chronology that the book previously covered in greater detail. These would probably be good pages to flip back and forth on in print, but quite dry to listen to. I gained so much more appreciation for the force of creative energy that is Paul McCartney. The guy was a one man musical locomotive, and his wife Linda and other bandmates come across as brilliant people in their own right. Highly recommended if you're into music/rock history.
December 23, 2025
You definitely need to be a Wings fan to enjoy this book. It's also an interesting insight into Paul McCartney and his career. The oral history format offers multiple points of view (even quoting dead people) and allows for some skimming as things can get a bit repetitive. It was interesting to see McCartney come out of the Beatles and then figure out where to go next, lacking confidence in the beginning and then relishing forming a band and taking it out on the road.
January 12, 2026
Fantastic book I wish Paul McCartney was real
January 16, 2026
A must for Wings fans - so much cool behind-the-scenes stuff. Wish I could give it four and a half stars.
February 12, 2026
Paul McCartney will always be first and foremost a Beatle; the yin to John Lennon’s yang. Rising to the heights of fame in the swinging sixties, they were the group’s and the decade’s predominant songwriting partnership. By the late 1960s, The Beatles were more trapped by success than in control of it, and new horizons beckoned. Wings became McCartney’s engine for a post-Beatle identity, one that would define him as a person, as well as one of the world’s most powerful musicians throughout the seventies and beyond.
Ted Widmer, editor of Wings: The Story of a Band on the Run, tracks McCartney’s ‘musical odyssey’ through the post-Beatles era, drawing on a set of interviews recorded for the forthcoming documentary Man on the Run, by Morgan Neville (set for release in February 2026).
A tapestry of detailed interviews, archives and timelines, gives the musical and political context of the UK and US music scenes, year by year. Photographs and discographies chart the band’s early forays, huge successes and ultimate demise. Although it is hard to describe it as that, when Paul McCartney had been recognised as the most successful songwriter of all time in October 1979, months before Wings’ climactic Japan tour cancellation, which he acknowledges signalled the band’s end. Solo albums, McCartney in 1970 and McCartney II in 1980, bookend the Wings era, a decade which ultimately marks his transition from a band member to a solo musician.
At the start of the 1970s, McCartney returned to basics, adopting a DIY ethos. In his home studio in remote Scotland, he used a Studer 4-track for his first self-titled solo release. He persuaded his new wife, the American photographer Linda Eastman, to learn keyboard and join him in a band, first releasing Ram as a duo, collaborating with ex-Moody Blues Denny Laine (who would remain in Wings throughout their tenure). In the band’s initial iteration, Irish lead guitarist Henry McCullough and New York session drummer Denny Seiwell completed the lineup.
The five-piece hit the road for a series of impromptu gigs, with kids and dogs in tow. Taking audiences by surprise, Wings had space to take flight in a series of low pressure, impromptu performances. By 1973, having cut their teeth on studio albums Wild Life and Red Rose Speedway, their third album, Band On The Run, consolidated their success and finally won approval from the music press. Recorded in Lagos, with Wings reduced to a trio, Band on the Run brought new challenges and experiences. McCartney was summoned by the great Fela Kuti to allay concerns that he might be stealing Nigerian cultural influences.
The following year Wings headed to the US to record Venus and Mars in New Orleans. New energy came from guitarist Jimmy McCulloch and Geoff Britton on drums briefly, before Jo English replaced him. The album launch was appropriately star-studded, and McCartney secured another US No1 hit with ‘Listen to What the Man Said’ 1974 also saw Lennon and McCartney hanging out and jamming together again – their differences put aside.
During 1975/76, the band hit their stride with another album, Wings At the Speed of Sound. Wings Over the World followed, an epic-scale 13-month international stadium tour. The group performed 65 concerts to two million fans. In 1977, ‘London Town’ was recorded on a yacht in the Virgin Islands, sustaining levels of success. However, that year’s smash hit single, ‘Mull of Kintyre would become McCartney’s era defining success. This may have seemed a counterintuitive release in the heyday of punk, but the facts of history speak for themselves. Co-authored by Paul McCartney and Denny Laine, the single sat at the top of the charts for 9 weeks. It held the accolade, ‘all time most successful single’, until Band Aid released ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas?’ in 1984.
A Wings Greatest, singles album in 1978 was an opportunity to maximise sales of songs not recorded on other albums. Perhaps more significantly, it marked a slowing down in the recording of new material. As the decade approached its end, the band membership shifted once more. The final Wings line-up saw guitarist Laurence Juber and drummer Steve Holly join the McCartneys and Denny Laine for Back to the Egg with a more scaled-down ethos.
Paul McCartney enjoyed the musical successes of the 1970s at the vanguard of the best of them. Following the Beatles heyday and collaborations with producer George Martin, his musical pathways were not always conventional or easy. Some might not recognise Macca as a DIY musician, associated with banned records, multiple charges for possession of marijuana (and one incarceration), and a backing vocalist on the Sex Pistols Pretty Vacant, with whom he shared a producer. He also proved himself to be a shrewd businessman, a celebrity who handled the media on his own terms, and a man who brought a strong family ethos to the heart of his creativity.
Through a 2025 lens there is a juxtaposition between the wholesome inclusivity and romance of McCartney’s relationship with wife Linda, his key collaborator, their kids in tow, as they toured the world, his ethical stance on vegetarianism and environmentalism as demonstrated by the band’s first album release Wild Life, and an undeniable rock n roll lifestyle, arrests, and a peppering of musical bust ups. The book doesn’t shy away from including some reality checks: whilst they generally revel in happy memories of childhood, daughters Mary and Stella recall middle of the night shifts from venue to tour bus to accommodation, and the Japan arrest. Heather and James McCartney notably do not contribute, whilst they are very much included within the narrative.
Organised into eleven chapters, we hear the story of Wings through first-person accounts from musicians, collaborators and friends. In many ways, the story of Wings shows an altogether more innocent era. The notion of one of the world’s most famous superstars bunking to a remote farm before leading an impromptu tour of UK universities belongs in the pre-internet, pre-social media era. It seems implausible today.
Wings had something of a hard time in the press before the unstoppable ‘Band on the Run’. McCartney’s post-Beatle releases contain masterful songs, and sold in volumes; but early Wings albums did not meet with media approval. Linda was pilloried for becoming Paul’s musical collaborator. The British public held something of a grudge against an American woman who they perceived had stolen a national treasure. Yoko Ono, whom John Lennon had left his first wife for, fared no better.
John Lennon’s untimely death in December 1980 sent a collective shockwave around the world. The book captures the sense of deep loss felt by his fellow Beatles. It also reflects on a sense of shared vulnerability that they, too, might be targeted. Significantly, George Harrison was also attacked in his home years later by an intruder who inflicted multiple stab wounds before being apprehended by Harrison’s wife.
The comprehensive detail offers a fascinating trip down memory lane, celebrating one of the 1970s’ most successful bands. A hefty tome at 549 pages (the index alone spans 20), it resonates as a highly collectable piece of memorabilia. Conjuring songs, album covers, names of producers, studio engineers, poster inserts – it celebrates all the rich trappings of vinyl.
Ted Widmer, editor of Wings: The Story of a Band on the Run, tracks McCartney’s ‘musical odyssey’ through the post-Beatles era, drawing on a set of interviews recorded for the forthcoming documentary Man on the Run, by Morgan Neville (set for release in February 2026).
A tapestry of detailed interviews, archives and timelines, gives the musical and political context of the UK and US music scenes, year by year. Photographs and discographies chart the band’s early forays, huge successes and ultimate demise. Although it is hard to describe it as that, when Paul McCartney had been recognised as the most successful songwriter of all time in October 1979, months before Wings’ climactic Japan tour cancellation, which he acknowledges signalled the band’s end. Solo albums, McCartney in 1970 and McCartney II in 1980, bookend the Wings era, a decade which ultimately marks his transition from a band member to a solo musician.
At the start of the 1970s, McCartney returned to basics, adopting a DIY ethos. In his home studio in remote Scotland, he used a Studer 4-track for his first self-titled solo release. He persuaded his new wife, the American photographer Linda Eastman, to learn keyboard and join him in a band, first releasing Ram as a duo, collaborating with ex-Moody Blues Denny Laine (who would remain in Wings throughout their tenure). In the band’s initial iteration, Irish lead guitarist Henry McCullough and New York session drummer Denny Seiwell completed the lineup.
The five-piece hit the road for a series of impromptu gigs, with kids and dogs in tow. Taking audiences by surprise, Wings had space to take flight in a series of low pressure, impromptu performances. By 1973, having cut their teeth on studio albums Wild Life and Red Rose Speedway, their third album, Band On The Run, consolidated their success and finally won approval from the music press. Recorded in Lagos, with Wings reduced to a trio, Band on the Run brought new challenges and experiences. McCartney was summoned by the great Fela Kuti to allay concerns that he might be stealing Nigerian cultural influences.
The following year Wings headed to the US to record Venus and Mars in New Orleans. New energy came from guitarist Jimmy McCulloch and Geoff Britton on drums briefly, before Jo English replaced him. The album launch was appropriately star-studded, and McCartney secured another US No1 hit with ‘Listen to What the Man Said’ 1974 also saw Lennon and McCartney hanging out and jamming together again – their differences put aside.
During 1975/76, the band hit their stride with another album, Wings At the Speed of Sound. Wings Over the World followed, an epic-scale 13-month international stadium tour. The group performed 65 concerts to two million fans. In 1977, ‘London Town’ was recorded on a yacht in the Virgin Islands, sustaining levels of success. However, that year’s smash hit single, ‘Mull of Kintyre would become McCartney’s era defining success. This may have seemed a counterintuitive release in the heyday of punk, but the facts of history speak for themselves. Co-authored by Paul McCartney and Denny Laine, the single sat at the top of the charts for 9 weeks. It held the accolade, ‘all time most successful single’, until Band Aid released ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas?’ in 1984.
A Wings Greatest, singles album in 1978 was an opportunity to maximise sales of songs not recorded on other albums. Perhaps more significantly, it marked a slowing down in the recording of new material. As the decade approached its end, the band membership shifted once more. The final Wings line-up saw guitarist Laurence Juber and drummer Steve Holly join the McCartneys and Denny Laine for Back to the Egg with a more scaled-down ethos.
Paul McCartney enjoyed the musical successes of the 1970s at the vanguard of the best of them. Following the Beatles heyday and collaborations with producer George Martin, his musical pathways were not always conventional or easy. Some might not recognise Macca as a DIY musician, associated with banned records, multiple charges for possession of marijuana (and one incarceration), and a backing vocalist on the Sex Pistols Pretty Vacant, with whom he shared a producer. He also proved himself to be a shrewd businessman, a celebrity who handled the media on his own terms, and a man who brought a strong family ethos to the heart of his creativity.
Through a 2025 lens there is a juxtaposition between the wholesome inclusivity and romance of McCartney’s relationship with wife Linda, his key collaborator, their kids in tow, as they toured the world, his ethical stance on vegetarianism and environmentalism as demonstrated by the band’s first album release Wild Life, and an undeniable rock n roll lifestyle, arrests, and a peppering of musical bust ups. The book doesn’t shy away from including some reality checks: whilst they generally revel in happy memories of childhood, daughters Mary and Stella recall middle of the night shifts from venue to tour bus to accommodation, and the Japan arrest. Heather and James McCartney notably do not contribute, whilst they are very much included within the narrative.
Organised into eleven chapters, we hear the story of Wings through first-person accounts from musicians, collaborators and friends. In many ways, the story of Wings shows an altogether more innocent era. The notion of one of the world’s most famous superstars bunking to a remote farm before leading an impromptu tour of UK universities belongs in the pre-internet, pre-social media era. It seems implausible today.
Wings had something of a hard time in the press before the unstoppable ‘Band on the Run’. McCartney’s post-Beatle releases contain masterful songs, and sold in volumes; but early Wings albums did not meet with media approval. Linda was pilloried for becoming Paul’s musical collaborator. The British public held something of a grudge against an American woman who they perceived had stolen a national treasure. Yoko Ono, whom John Lennon had left his first wife for, fared no better.
John Lennon’s untimely death in December 1980 sent a collective shockwave around the world. The book captures the sense of deep loss felt by his fellow Beatles. It also reflects on a sense of shared vulnerability that they, too, might be targeted. Significantly, George Harrison was also attacked in his home years later by an intruder who inflicted multiple stab wounds before being apprehended by Harrison’s wife.
The comprehensive detail offers a fascinating trip down memory lane, celebrating one of the 1970s’ most successful bands. A hefty tome at 549 pages (the index alone spans 20), it resonates as a highly collectable piece of memorabilia. Conjuring songs, album covers, names of producers, studio engineers, poster inserts – it celebrates all the rich trappings of vinyl.
January 6, 2026
Fascinating but not amazing. This is a book told almost exclusively in quotes. It took me awhile to figure out how to read this. It only started zooming when I put the albums on and starting reading while I listened, something I haven't done in awhile. I don't remember being all that familiar with Wings though I'm pretty sure that Wings Greatest Hits was one of my initial columbia house records for a penny. Between this and watching the recently enhanced Beatles Anthology, I definitely have a much better idea on who Paul McCartney is. Were the quotes better than a narrative? well not really. But in the end it was like listening in to a long conversation that I was vaguely interested in. 3.5 of 5
January 8, 2026
A fun retrospective of Paul and Wings. I would highly recommend this to any Beatles/Wings fans. But, I didn’t really care for a solid chunk of the book (pages 200ish-300ish/Venus and Mars - Return to the Egg and the Japan tour). I think I’m biased as I don’t love Wing’s later albums but overall the formatting of the book was really fun! I loved the pictures, documents, timelines and interviews: all felt engaging.
I bought the new Wings Vinyl release and own most of the other Wings/McCartney releases and would listen to them after their section in the book and found that it really enhanced my reading experience. So I would recommend doing that to really appreciate the text.
3.5 out of 5
I bought the new Wings Vinyl release and own most of the other Wings/McCartney releases and would listen to them after their section in the book and found that it really enhanced my reading experience. So I would recommend doing that to really appreciate the text.
3.5 out of 5
December 11, 2025
This book comprehensively tells the story of Wings; the band Paul McCartney formed after the breakup of the Beatles. In addition to this book, there has been the release of WINGS, which in the deluxe edition is a “Best Of”, featuring 32 songs, as well as a forthcoming 2026 Amazon Prime documentary Man on the Run.
This book, an oral history about McCartney’s musical odyssey across the 1970’s, is told via interview snippets from McCartney and wife Linda, as well as the other members of Wings, and a large supporting cast of producers, engineers, session players, promoters, album designers and family friends. A set of interviews conducted by Morgan Neville for the Man on the Run form the foundation for the book.
The book covers the period of 1970 – 1981, from McCartney’s first solo album, McCartney, and his second, RAM, released by Paul and Linda McCartney, but featuring a drummer, Denny Seiwell, who went on to join Wings. Chronologically, these two albums precede Wings, but it was agreed that they were Wings-adjacent, as was McCartney II, which came out in May 1980, as Wings neared their end. Wings first album was Wild Life in 1971, and their final one was Back to the Egg in 1979.
The book includes timelines, the best-selling albums in the UK and US during these years, band biographies, a complete discography, and several photographs.
I read the book leading up to and after seeing McCartney on his Got Back tour in Chicago, and really enjoyed it.
This book, an oral history about McCartney’s musical odyssey across the 1970’s, is told via interview snippets from McCartney and wife Linda, as well as the other members of Wings, and a large supporting cast of producers, engineers, session players, promoters, album designers and family friends. A set of interviews conducted by Morgan Neville for the Man on the Run form the foundation for the book.
The book covers the period of 1970 – 1981, from McCartney’s first solo album, McCartney, and his second, RAM, released by Paul and Linda McCartney, but featuring a drummer, Denny Seiwell, who went on to join Wings. Chronologically, these two albums precede Wings, but it was agreed that they were Wings-adjacent, as was McCartney II, which came out in May 1980, as Wings neared their end. Wings first album was Wild Life in 1971, and their final one was Back to the Egg in 1979.
The book includes timelines, the best-selling albums in the UK and US during these years, band biographies, a complete discography, and several photographs.
I read the book leading up to and after seeing McCartney on his Got Back tour in Chicago, and really enjoyed it.
December 5, 2025
“in my end was my beginning” 🥲
if you are a superfan you will LOVE this book and should own it asap because it's gorgeous (the interior layout, photo spreads are all stunning and the book jacket is so beautiful, especially in person!!).
if you are not a superfan (but still like a few Wings songs, or enjoy how Paul explodes during live and let die) you should get this book from the library and at least flip to the pages w/ your favorite musicians or songs mentioned, bc it is a REALLY cool read with tons of behind-the-scenes intel.
the length is intimidating but the pages fly by (pun not intended) because the story of Wings is told firsthand via overlapping voices from past and present. these lines are pulled from many real audio recordings and interviews given over several decades. the effect is very striking overall. it is fun to hear from so many colorful characters from Paul's life, and the interview nature of it all feels intimate, which I love because clearly Wings was a very intimate and collaborative thing for Paul. 90% of the time, these intercutting lines from across time have been collaged together very well and altogether capture the ~vibe~ of the time while still pushing fwd the narrative of Paul and Wings.
HOWEVER... on rare occasion I would think "huh, I think I have already read this line used elsewhere in the book". it only happened a few times, but each time it felt eerie and maybe like it could have been fixed via edit and nothing would be lost. so 4 stars :~)
(i feel bad only mentioning the thing i didn't like, but if i took the time to type out everything i DID like, and all the parts which made me feel very sad or very touched (and sometimes shocked !), and a list of all the things i learned that rlly tickled me in particular, and how much i am inspired by Linda as well as Paul, and the many ways in which their relationship was brave and groundbreaking, not to mention the other Beatles of it all, i mean really we would be here all day. )
if you are a superfan you will LOVE this book and should own it asap because it's gorgeous (the interior layout, photo spreads are all stunning and the book jacket is so beautiful, especially in person!!).
if you are not a superfan (but still like a few Wings songs, or enjoy how Paul explodes during live and let die) you should get this book from the library and at least flip to the pages w/ your favorite musicians or songs mentioned, bc it is a REALLY cool read with tons of behind-the-scenes intel.
the length is intimidating but the pages fly by (pun not intended) because the story of Wings is told firsthand via overlapping voices from past and present. these lines are pulled from many real audio recordings and interviews given over several decades. the effect is very striking overall. it is fun to hear from so many colorful characters from Paul's life, and the interview nature of it all feels intimate, which I love because clearly Wings was a very intimate and collaborative thing for Paul. 90% of the time, these intercutting lines from across time have been collaged together very well and altogether capture the ~vibe~ of the time while still pushing fwd the narrative of Paul and Wings.
HOWEVER... on rare occasion I would think "huh, I think I have already read this line used elsewhere in the book". it only happened a few times, but each time it felt eerie and maybe like it could have been fixed via edit and nothing would be lost. so 4 stars :~)
(i feel bad only mentioning the thing i didn't like, but if i took the time to type out everything i DID like, and all the parts which made me feel very sad or very touched (and sometimes shocked !), and a list of all the things i learned that rlly tickled me in particular, and how much i am inspired by Linda as well as Paul, and the many ways in which their relationship was brave and groundbreaking, not to mention the other Beatles of it all, i mean really we would be here all day. )
January 19, 2026
Struggled to put this book down! I was initially worried that the 'soundbite' writing style, where most of it is told through a series of quotations from interviews with different people, would make it feel disjointed, but it flowed really well.
I wasn't all that clued up on Wings history, so I learnt a great deal from this book, and it's made me want to revisit some of the albums I don't know quite so well! Also really fascinating to learn more about Paul McCartney's short stay in prison than I'd ever managed to find anywhere else.
The only downside is that, despite going into almost excessive depth about certain songs or moments, there were other things that I wish it said more about. Mostly how certain songs came about. I'll be honest, I was really hoping for a deep dive into Morse Moose and the Grey Goose.
But still. Excellent book, which makes a strong (but probably incredibly controversial) case for Wings being almost as brilliant and culturally significant as The Beatles.
I wasn't all that clued up on Wings history, so I learnt a great deal from this book, and it's made me want to revisit some of the albums I don't know quite so well! Also really fascinating to learn more about Paul McCartney's short stay in prison than I'd ever managed to find anywhere else.
The only downside is that, despite going into almost excessive depth about certain songs or moments, there were other things that I wish it said more about. Mostly how certain songs came about. I'll be honest, I was really hoping for a deep dive into Morse Moose and the Grey Goose.
But still. Excellent book, which makes a strong (but probably incredibly controversial) case for Wings being almost as brilliant and culturally significant as The Beatles.
November 24, 2025
The re-evaluation of Paul McCartney's 1970s continues, with "Wings: The Story of A Band on the Run." This is in addition to a new Wings music collection, the "McCartney Legacy" series of books and a documentary coming in February 2026.
The consensus: Wings was overlooked, and McCartney was really good in this second act of his career.
This book (which is really for McCartney fans) does him justice by telling the story of Paul's rebound after the Beatles. But that rebound comes after a hard crash, and there were significant bumps along the way.
This is an oral history, which I don't usually like because there are frequently hazy memories and no (or little) analysis. But this one does have some setups chapter by chapter, and section by section, which makes it flow a bit better. Discographies and calendars of events also help tell the story.
One revelation is that Sean Lennon is a big fan of McCartney, and has nothing but good things to say, which is interesting since he would have absorbed what his father felt about him.
It's a really interesting story, I think, and ends as the band ends, McCartney records another solo album, and John Lennon is killed.
There is of course an overlap with "The McCartney Legacy" books, but pulled into one volume, it works.
The consensus: Wings was overlooked, and McCartney was really good in this second act of his career.
This book (which is really for McCartney fans) does him justice by telling the story of Paul's rebound after the Beatles. But that rebound comes after a hard crash, and there were significant bumps along the way.
This is an oral history, which I don't usually like because there are frequently hazy memories and no (or little) analysis. But this one does have some setups chapter by chapter, and section by section, which makes it flow a bit better. Discographies and calendars of events also help tell the story.
One revelation is that Sean Lennon is a big fan of McCartney, and has nothing but good things to say, which is interesting since he would have absorbed what his father felt about him.
It's a really interesting story, I think, and ends as the band ends, McCartney records another solo album, and John Lennon is killed.
There is of course an overlap with "The McCartney Legacy" books, but pulled into one volume, it works.
December 26, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A special thank you to NetGalley and RBmedia for the advanced audiobook.
This audiobook is an oral history that follows Paul McCartney from the breakup of The Beatles through the Wings era. Hearing the story unfold in this format works, especially since it captures the collaborative, behind-the-scenes nature of the band and the time period.
I was especially excited to listen to this because, as Paul says, Wings is my nostalgia period. I also had the chance to see Paul perform on the final night of his 2025 tour, which made this audiobook feel even more meaningful. Paul opens the audiobook himself, which was a highlight, though I did wish he had narrated more of his own sections instead of handing them off to another narrator.
Overall, I found this to be an interesting and informative listen. I enjoyed learning more about how Paul’s songs were created, the evolution of Wings, and the background of Paul and Linda’s relationship. The audiobook gives helpful context to the music and offers a deeper understanding of this chapter of Paul’s life and career. A solid listen for fans, especially those who have a soft spot for the Wings era. #Wings
January 6, 2026
I received this as an ALC (thank you, netgalley!) but couldn’t resist immersive reading (with ebook) and I’m so glad I did! The included timelines after every 6 months really helped me to feel fully immersed in this decade while reading. I also loved the opportunity to get to see relevant photos with the stories, instead of all shoved at the end. I love an “interview style” format in a book, and immediately fell in love with the way it was written. With the audiobook, I really enjoyed getting to hear Mary and Stella’s perspectives from their own voices. I also loved that multiple narrators were included and thought it gave the story an even more realistic feel. I appreciated getting stories and quotes from members who have since passed away, as well as The Beatles! Would highly recommend to all Paul McCartney fans, even if you only know of The Beatles (they snuck in some Beatles facts and stories too which was so fun as a lifelong fan).
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