Brian Ray

Producer extraordinaire, David Kahne called me in early 2002 after Abe Jr. recommended me to play with Paul for the pre-game show at the 2002 Super Bowl. As we were all saying goodnight that evening at our hotel in New Orleans after that first brief audition / performance, Paul turned to me and said, ‘Welcome aboard, Brian!’ And I just couldn’t believe it. I turned to Abe who was standing next to me and asked, ‘Did he just say what I think he said?’ And Abe said, ‘Yeah, dude!’ We’ve been together for over 16 years and there’s no sign of slowing down.

Brian Ray, from Freshen Up tour book, 2018

It was kind of crazy. I had done an album with Shakira [2001’s Laundry Service] and was asked to go on tour with her. I told her people what I needed for a salary, which they agreed to, but then I said I required Business Class travel because there would be a lot of long flights. This became a problem, and they got somebody else. I was kind of kicking myself over that because I would have had years of work.

A little later, my friend Abe Laboriel Jr. came to my birthday party. We had worked together in France doing Johnny Hallyday and Mylene Farmer, but now Abe was playing with Paul McCartney.

I asked him if they were playing any shows, and he said they were thinking of doing a song at the Super Bowl before the National Anthem. So I asked, ‘Who’s going to play guitar when Paul plays bass, and who’s going to play bass when Paul plays guitar?’ Abe said, ‘Actually, we’re looking for a guitar player who plays a little bass.’

I said, ‘I’d love a shot at that.’ Abe put my name forward, and sure enough I got a call from David Kahne, who had produced a lot of Paul’s stuff. I went to meet David and hung out with him. I played some guitar and bass, and he said, ‘I’ve got a good feeling about this. I’ll put your name forward.’

[David Kahne told him there were four other guys in the running, and that the final decision was ultimately out of his hands.]

I thanked him and split. The next day I got a call: ‘Can you be on a plane tomorrow to go to New Orleans to play one song with Paul McCartney?’ Playing Freedom at the Super Bowl was my audition.

Later that night, everybody went back to the hotel bar. Paul was telling stories for a couple of hours. But after a while he said, ‘Thank you, guys. It’s time for bed.’ He hugged a bunch of people and started out, but before he left he came up to me and said, ‘Goodnight, Brian. Welcome aboard. Stick with Rusty [Anderson, guitarist] – he’ll show you the ropes.’

Brian Ray – From Guitar World, May 13, 2025

I [only] played bass on demos, so getting ready to play in Paul’s band was challenging. Thankfully, Paul’s basslines, while they’re iconic and memorable and musical, they’re not really technically challenging. They’re just so good. Because they’re so listenable, they’re easy to understand. Let’s face it – they’re in our bloodstreams. Even if you’re not a bass player, you know these parts. They’re in your head.

Brian Ray – From Guitar World, May 13, 2025

From Glide Magazine, March 13, 2017:

What’s the funniest thing Paul McCartney has ever done to you onstage?

(laughs) One time a woman threw her bra at Paul and he grabbed it off the stage without missing a beat and tossed it at my face. That might have been the funniest thing he has ever done. But he’s always full of subtle pranks.

Were you nervous that first time you played with him?

Fortunately, I had done so many shows and had been playing so much live in my own life that I found some way to cope with my nerves that night. And yes, I was very nervous. But I found some way to cope and one of the ways I coped was I basically didn’t make any eye contact with him (laughs). I tried to not even acknowledge the fact that it was Paul McCartney. It was enough to just get through the night with all of this music that we rehearsed, like forty songs.

Do you remember where that show was?

Yeah, that was at the arena in Oakland, California

Was the crowd good to you?

Oh my God, yeah. I mean, they hadn’t seen Paul live in many, many years and he’s so delightful to a crowd and so lovely. He’s a warm sort of inviting guy, as you may have noticed if you’ve seen him live. He’s just a nice, relaxed guy who’s so comfortable in his own shoes. And they were so happy to see him, it was a tidal wave of love coming at us.

If you’re talking about me personally, yeah, there were a few shows where you didn’t feel like they cared about you at all. I remember looking over my left shoulder at one show and I’m smiling at the audience and receiving smiles back and I’m looking at the audience at some arena somewhere and some woman points to me and gestures for me to get out of the way so she could see Paul! (laughs). It was so funny. These kinds of things are hilarious but you know what, you can understand it.

It is our 21st year now. You could call him my boss but he’s more than that. People says “oh what a great gig. A gig isn’t a big enough word for what happened to us as individuals, and as a band. It’s a life-changing event for us, and we’re the same four guys behind him that have been there for 20 and a half years. And then we’ve just recently added some lovely Brit horn players. So now, there’s seven of us behind him and you know, we couldn’t be happier as a band to have done this, but it really is about him and his trust in us … because obviously Paul is someone who has great taste, immense talent and could have anyone he wants. And the fact that he continued to call us back, and still does, is just very touching to me. I’m super grateful for that and he’s just a great leader, an inspiring cat, so musical. Whatever you think you suspect he would be, it’s times 10 in terms of how he embodies music 24 7. He is music, and it’s really inspiring to me.

What’s the creative process like when you’re with him in the studio?

Well, it’s different in different circumstances but usually we’ll take the biggest room in a in a professional big studio and he will bring down his people and he will bring down every keyboard that he might want to go play so you’ve got an upright piano, you’ve got a grand piano, you’ve got a Fender Rhodes piano, you’ve got a Wurlitzer piano, you’ve got two or three different kinds of synths and you’ve got an acoustic guitar, you’ve got an electric guitar, you’ve got a bass and you’ve got a bunch of those and they’re all set up and mic and ready to go because he might want to play piano and then jump over to acoustic guitar back to back and you’ve got to be ready. Because he works in his own fashion, he’s gonna go and play and record an idea that just came to his mind in that moment, so it requires everyone to be on their toes. And as far as it affects the band, we’re there to serve at his pleasure, as a paintbrush on the palette. He’ll use this if he wants to, he doesn’t need any of us, he can do anything that he’s looking for himself but he generously has us do stuff sometimes. So sometimes we’ll play on a whole basic track as a band, sometimes we’ll just do a guitar overdub or a dulcimer or a solo, and there will be some waiting because he wants all those paint brushes to be ready just like all the instruments to be ready. But hey man who would you rather be waiting for Paul McCartney or some rando, you know…

Brian Ray – Interview November 25, 2022 – From PAUL MCCARTNEY GUITARIST, BRIAN RAY, DISCUSS WHAT PAUL IS REALLY LIKE TO WORK WITH AND MORE! – YouTube

Fortunately, I listened to the Beatles nonstop throughout my life, so I already knew most of them. Of course, it’s much different when you’re playing in a band that, oh yeah, is led by Paul McCartney himself. Needless to say, I immersed myself in the material.

Brian Ray – From GuitarPlayer, October 4, 2024

It’s one thing to listen to these songs and appreciate them as a fan, as we’ve all done. But when you start digging into them and analyzing them, you’re just astounded by the creativity and depth. Even stuff that sounds simple isn’t simple at all. I’m constantly amazed at the brilliance in these songs, and that feeling grows stronger all the time.

Brian Ray – From GuitarPlayer, October 4, 2024

When I play with Paul, he isn’t trying to play every single note on piano, guitar or bass like he did on the record. He doesn’t sing the songs like he did on record. Nobody is trying to duplicate the recordings. And that’s the advice I have for anybody who wants to play Beatles’ songs: Play them the way you feel. Use the records as a framework, and then go for it.

Brian Ray – From GuitarPlayer, October 4, 2024

Albums, EPs & singles which Brian Ray contributed to

Songs Brian Ray contributed to

Recording sessions Brian Ray participated in

Concerts, TV & radio shows