Parkinson

Paul McCartney fulfilled a 25-year-old promise when he appeared on “Parkinson.”

In 1974, TV presenter Michael Parkinson agreed to appear on the cover of the Wings album “Band On The Run” on the condition that Paul would one day return the favour by being a guest on his chat show.

Reflecting on the agreement, Paul commented: “I owed him one. It’s been a long time coming but this is it.”

Securing the interview was considered a coup, as it marked Paul’s first major television appearance since the death of his wife, Linda, the previous year.

After Parky was kind enough to appear on the cover of Band On The Run 25 years ago, I owed him one – it’s been a long time coming, but this is it.

Paul McCartney – From Paul McCartney’s ’25-year-old promise’ to Sir Michael Parkinson – Liverpool Echo

During the interview, Paul reminisced about a song he had written in 1969, when Linda gave birth to their first daughter, Mary. He referred to the track as “Two Fingers” and explained that its inspiration came from seeing a print of Picasso’s “The Old Guitarist” hanging in the hospital room where Linda was staying. He then played a short fragment of it on acoustic guitar.

The song was recorded by Wings in the 1970s under the title “When The Wind Is Blowing,” and remained unreleased until its inclusion on the 2018 reissue of “Wild Life.”

I remember when Linda and I had just had our first baby which was Mary – we already had Heather but our first baby together was Mary. And Mary was born and I was at the hospital basically the whole week, you know, just while Linda recovered and took it easy – and we liked the chips in this place too – so we’re sitting around all week and enjoy just having had this lovely baby… And there was this Picasso print on the wall of an old man playing the guitar and I looked at it all week, and towards the end the week I thought what chords he’s playing on the guitar what was he playing. I noticed he’s just had two fingers here… You get that chord there guys… Just two fingers there and so I thought well I’ll try and see you know what the chord is… How it sounds anyway… I tried to use that as the inspiration and tried to write a song that only had used two fingers so I’ll play a bit of these. Note carefully, two fingers all the time, my hand never leaves my wrist. That’s how it goes anyway…

Paul McCartney – Interview with Michael Parkinson, 1999

Paul McCartney participated in “Parkinson” again in December 2005.

BBC Television Centre

This was the 9th concert played at BBC Television Centre.

A total of 9 concerts have been played there • 1966 • Jun 16 • 1972 • May 25 • 1973 • Jan 4 • 1974 • Nov 21 • 1987 • Dec 3 • Dec 12 • 1990 • Dec 14 • 1993 • Jan 7 • 1999 • Dec 3

Setlist for the concert

1. Honey Hush

   Written by Joe Turner

   Album Available on Michael Parkinson Show - complete live performance & rehearsals

   Album Available on Live Archives Vol. 3 (1997-2001)

   Album Available on Rock Devil Rock

2. Twenty Flight Rock

   Written by Eddie Cochran, Ned Fairchild

   Album Available on Michael Parkinson Show - complete live performance & rehearsals

   Album Available on Live Archives Vol. 3 (1997-2001)

3. When The Wind Is Blowing

   Written by Paul McCartney, Linda Eastman / McCartney

   Album Available on Michael Parkinson Show - complete live performance & rehearsals

   Album Available on Live Archives Vol. 3 (1997-2001)

   

4. Yesterday

   Written by Lennon - McCartney

   Album Available on Michael Parkinson Show - complete live performance & rehearsals

   Album Available on Live Archives Vol. 3 (1997-2001)

5. The Long And Winding Road

   Written by Lennon - McCartney

   Album Available on Michael Parkinson Show - complete live performance & rehearsals

   Album Available on Live Archives Vol. 3 (1997-2001)

6. "Chase My Blues Away"

   Written by Paul McCartney

   Paul McCartney : Piano David Gilmour : Guitar

   Album Available on B-Sides Complete Vol. 6

7. "A Song To Us"

8. Suicide

   Written by Paul McCartney

   Album Available on Michael Parkinson Show - complete live performance & rehearsals

   Album Available on Live Archives Vol. 3 (1997-2001)

9. All Shook Up

   Written by Otis Blackwell, Elvis Presley

   Album Available on Rock Devil Rock

   Album Available on Michael Parkinson Show - complete live performance & rehearsals

   Album Available on Live Archives Vol. 3 (1997-2001)