- Album This song officially appears on the Venus and Mars Official album.
Related sessions
This song has been recorded during the following studio sessions
Feb 05, 1975
Overdubs for "Venus And Mars", "Rock Show"
Feb 26, 1975
Mar 07, 1975
Mar 20, 1975
Related interviews
Jul 26, 1975 • From New Musical Express
September 1975
September 2008 • From Let It Rock
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Song facts
[…] And there’s a bit about Jimmy Page, and I wanted to tell him before anybody else told him. In ‘Rock Show’ there’s a line about ‘what’s that he’s rolling across the stage/lt looks like the one used by Jimmy Page/Like a relic from a different age’. Personally, I was just thinking of a nice old amp and the people in the audience are saying ‘that’s an AK 300. Wowee, it looks just like the one used by Jimmy Page’. And he was the only guitarist who rhymed with ‘stage’. John Cage? Not the same.
Paul McCartney – Interview with New Musical Express, July 26, 1975
Paul sings “They’ve got Longhair at the Madison Square”.
It is that the audience has longhair or does it refer to Professor Longhair, the New Orleans pianist?
Yeah, it’s him. He’s great, a real dandy and still fancies his chances with the girls, or maybe he just likes to make certain you know that he used to be a ladies” man. The way he sits and that…
Paul McCartney – From Wings 1975 tour book
Last updated on August 29, 2023
The book "The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present", published in 2021, covers Paul McCartney's early Liverpool days, the Beatles, Wings, and solo careers, by pairing the lyrics of 154 of his songs with first-person commentaries of the circumstances in which they were written, the people and places that inspired them, and what he thinks of them now.
"Rock Show" is one of the 154 songs covered.
Lyrics
Whats that man holding in his hand?
He looks a lot like a guy I knew way back when
It’s silly willy with the Philly band
Could be….. Oo-ee…..
Tell me, what’s that man movin’ cross the stage?
It looks a lot like the one used by Jimmy Page
It’s like a relic from a different age
Could be….. Oo-ee…..
If there’s a ROCK SHOW
at the Concertgebouw
They’ve got long hair
at the Madison Square
You’ve got Rock and Roll
at the Hollywood Bowl
we’ll be there….
Oh yeah…
The lights go down
They’re back in town O.K.
Behind the stacks
you glimpse an axe
The tension mounts
you score an ounce, ole!
Temperatures rise as
you see the whites of their eyes…
If there’s a ROCK SHOW
at the Concertgebouw
You’ve got long hair
at the Madison Square
They’ve got Rock and Roll
at the Hollywood Bowl
we’ll be there….
Oh yeah…
In my green metal suit
I’m preparing to shoot up the city
And the ring at the end of my nose
makes me look rather pretty
It’s a pity there’s nobody here
to witness the end. . . . .
Save for my dear old friend and confidante
Mademoiselle Kitty
Whats that man movin’ to and fro?
That decibel meter doesn’t seem to be reading low.
But they was louder at the Rainbow
Could be – Oo-ee. . . . .
If there’s a ROCK SHOW
at the Concertgebouw
They’ve got long hair
at the Madison Square
You’ve got rock and roll
at the Hollywood Bowl
We’ll be there. . .
Oh yeah. . . . .
If there’s a ROCK SHOW…….. [Repeat]
Who’s that there? Oh, it’s you babe.
Come on now, we’re going down to the rock show.
Remember last week when I promised I was gonna buy a good seat at the rock show
Well I bought it
Come on now get your dress on, place your wig on straight.
We can’t be late, come on, we’ve got a date,
We’re goin’ down to the rock show.
Officially appears on
Official album • Released in 1975
5:33 • Studio version • A
- Paul McCartney :
- Bass, Hand bells, Mellotron, Producer, Vocals
- Linda McCartney :
- Backing vocals, Hand bells, Moog, Organ
- Denny Laine :
- Backing vocals, Electric guitar, Hand bells
- Jimmy McCulloch :
- Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Drums, Electric guitar, Hand bells, Moog
- Joe English :
- Backing vocals, Drums, Hand bells, Percussion
- Allen Toussaint :
- Electric guitar, Piano
- Alan O'Duffy :
- Mixing engineer, Recording engineer
- Biff Dawes :
- Assistant mixing engineer
- Kenneth Williams :
- Congas
- Ken Lexton :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Session Recording:
- Jan 27, 1975
- Studio :
- Sea-Saint Recording Studio, New Orleans, USA
- Session Recording:
- Feb 05, 1975
- Studio :
- Sea-Saint Recording Studio, New Orleans, USA
- Session Overdubs:
- Feb 26 and Mar 06 and Mar 07, 1975
- Studio :
- Wally Heider Studios, Los Angeles, USA
- Session Mixing:
- Mar 20, 1975
- Studio :
- Wally Heider Studios, Los Angeles, USA
Venus And Mars / Rock Show / Magneto And Titanium Man
7" Single • Released in 1975
5:33 • Studio version • A1 • Medley with "Venus And Mars"
- Paul McCartney :
- Bass, Hand bells, Mellotron, Producer, Vocals
- Linda McCartney :
- Backing vocals, Hand bells, Moog, Organ
- Denny Laine :
- Backing vocals, Electric guitar, Hand bells
- Jimmy McCulloch :
- Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Drums, Electric guitar, Hand bells, Moog
- Joe English :
- Backing vocals, Drums, Hand bells, Percussion
- Allen Toussaint :
- Electric guitar, Piano
- Alan O'Duffy :
- Mixing engineer, Recording engineer
- Biff Dawes :
- Assistant mixing engineer
- Kenneth Williams :
- Congas
- Ken Lexton :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Session Recording:
- Jan 27, 1975
- Studio :
- Sea-Saint Recording Studio, New Orleans, USA
- Session Recording:
- Feb 05, 1975
- Studio :
- Sea-Saint Recording Studio, New Orleans, USA
- Session Overdubs:
- Feb 26 and Mar 06 and Mar 07, 1975
- Studio :
- Wally Heider Studios, Los Angeles, USA
- Session Mixing:
- Mar 20, 1975
- Studio :
- Wally Heider Studios, Los Angeles, USA
Official live • Released in 1976
4:25 • Live • L1
- Paul McCartney :
- Bass, Producer, Vocals
- Linda McCartney :
- Keyboard, Vocals
- Denny Laine :
- Electric guitar, Vocals
- Jimmy McCulloch :
- Electric guitar, Vocals
- Howie Casey :
- Saxophone
- Joe English :
- Drums, Vocals
- Thaddeus Richard :
- Saxophone
- Mark Vigars :
- Assistant mixing engineer
- Phil McDonald :
- Mixing engineer, Overdubs recording
- Steve Howard :
- Percussion, Trumpet
- Tony Dorsey :
- Tambourine, Trombone
- Jack Maxson :
- Recording engineer
- Tom Walsh :
- Assistant recording engineer
Concert From the concert in Cincinnati, USA on May 27, 1976
Official album • Released in 1993
5:33 • Studio version • A1993 • 1993 remaster
- Paul McCartney :
- Bass, Hand bells, Mellotron, Producer, Vocals
- Linda McCartney :
- Backing vocals, Hand bells, Moog, Organ
- Denny Laine :
- Backing vocals, Electric guitar, Hand bells
- Jimmy McCulloch :
- Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Drums, Electric guitar, Hand bells, Moog
- Joe English :
- Backing vocals, Drums, Hand bells, Percussion
- Allen Toussaint :
- Electric guitar, Piano
- Alan O'Duffy :
- Mixing engineer, Recording engineer
- Biff Dawes :
- Assistant mixing engineer
- Kenneth Williams :
- Congas
- Ken Lexton :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Peter Mew :
- Remastering
- Session Recording:
- Jan 27, 1975
- Studio :
- Sea-Saint Recording Studio, New Orleans, USA
- Session Recording:
- Feb 05, 1975
- Studio :
- Sea-Saint Recording Studio, New Orleans, USA
- Session Overdubs:
- Feb 26 and Mar 06 and Mar 07, 1975
- Studio :
- Wally Heider Studios, Los Angeles, USA
- Session Mixing:
- Mar 20, 1975
- Studio :
- Wally Heider Studios, Los Angeles, USA
Wingspan Hits And History (US version)
Official album • Released in 2001
3:46 • Studio version • Medley with "Venus And Mars"
Wingspan Hits And History (Japanese version)
Official album • Released in 2001
3:46 • Studio version • Medley with "Venus And Mars"
Official album • Released in 2001
3:46 • Studio version • Medley with "Venus And Mars"
Wings Over America - Archive Collection
Official live • Released in 2013
4:25 • Live • L1.2013 • 2013 remaster
- Paul McCartney :
- Bass, Producer, Vocals
- Linda McCartney :
- Keyboard, Vocals
- Denny Laine :
- Electric guitar, Vocals
- Jimmy McCulloch :
- Electric guitar, Vocals
- Howie Casey :
- Saxophone
- Joe English :
- Drums, Vocals
- Thaddeus Richard :
- Saxophone
- Mark Vigars :
- Assistant mixing engineer
- Phil McDonald :
- Mixing engineer, Overdubs recording
- Steve Howard :
- Percussion, Trumpet
- Tony Dorsey :
- Tambourine, Trombone
- Jack Maxson :
- Recording engineer
- Tom Walsh :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Guy Massey :
- Remastering
- Steve Rooke :
- Remastering
- Simon Gibson :
- Remastering
Concert From the concert in Cincinnati, USA on May 27, 1976
Venus And Mars - Archive Collection
Official album • Released in 2014
5:33 • Studio version • A2014
- Paul McCartney :
- Bass, Hand bells, Mellotron, Producer, Vocals
- Linda McCartney :
- Backing vocals, Hand bells, Moog, Organ
- Denny Laine :
- Backing vocals, Electric guitar, Hand bells
- Jimmy McCulloch :
- Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Drums, Electric guitar, Hand bells, Moog
- Joe English :
- Backing vocals, Drums, Hand bells, Percussion
- Allen Toussaint :
- Electric guitar, Piano
- Alan O'Duffy :
- Mixing engineer, Recording engineer
- Biff Dawes :
- Assistant mixing engineer
- Kenneth Williams :
- Congas
- Ken Lexton :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Session Recording:
- Jan 27, 1975
- Studio :
- Sea-Saint Recording Studio, New Orleans, USA
- Session Recording:
- Feb 05, 1975
- Studio :
- Sea-Saint Recording Studio, New Orleans, USA
- Session Overdubs:
- Feb 26 and Mar 06 and Mar 07, 1975
- Studio :
- Wally Heider Studios, Los Angeles, USA
- Session Mixing:
- Mar 20, 1975
- Studio :
- Wally Heider Studios, Los Angeles, USA
Bootlegs
Live performances
“Rock Show” has been played in 91 concerts and 7 soundchecks.
Latest concerts where Rock Show has been played
Asuncion • Estadio Defensores del Chaco • Paraguay
Apr 17, 2012 • Part of On The Run Tour
Antwerp • Sportpaleis • Belgium
Mar 28, 2012 • Part of On The Run Tour
Rotterdam • Ahoy Rotterdam • Netherlands
Mar 24, 2012 • Part of On The Run Tour
Sao Paulo • Morumbi Stadium • Brazil
Nov 21, 2010 • Part of Up And Coming Tour
Buenos Aires • Riverplate Stadium • Argentina
Nov 10, 2010 • Part of Up And Coming Tour
Going further
Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989
With 25 albums of pop music, 5 of classical – a total of around 500 songs – released over the course of more than half a century, Paul McCartney's career, on his own and with Wings, boasts an incredible catalogue that's always striving to free itself from the shadow of The Beatles. The stories behind the songs, demos and studio recordings, unreleased tracks, recording dates, musicians, live performances and tours, covers, events: Music Is Ideas Volume 1 traces McCartney's post-Beatles output from 1970 to 1989 in the form of 346 song sheets, filled with details of the recordings and stories behind the sessions. Accompanied by photos, and drawing on interviews and contemporary reviews, this reference book draws the portrait of a musical craftsman who has elevated popular song to an art-form.
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