Sir Paul McCartney made an appearance on the US TV show Saturday Night Live, contributing to several skits and performing songs.
McCartney performed a total of five songs with his band: ‘Jet’, followed by ‘Band On The Run’; a medley of ‘A Day In The Life’/‘Give Peace A Chance’; and ‘Get Back’ at the end of the show as the credits ran.
He also accompanied host Paul Rudd for the show’s opening monologue, appeared with Andy Samberg in SNL Digital Short, and contributed to the Weekend Update segment.
McCartney first appeared on Saturday Night Live in 1993, when he performed ‘Biker Like An Icon’, Get Out Of My Way and ‘Hey Jude’. Alec Baldwin was the host on that occasion.
In April 1976, meanwhile, McCartney and John Lennon considered accepting producer Lorne Michaels’ offer of $3,000 for The Beatles to reunite. The pair were watching the show in the Dakota building and considered taking a cab to the television studio, but decided against it.
Also on this day...
- 2017: Paul McCartney live: Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney
- 2009: Rubber Soul to be released as Rock Band download next week
- 2001: Paul McCartney live: Nobel Peace Prize Concert, Oslo Spektrum, Oslo
- 1993: Paul McCartney live: Estadio River Plate, Buenos Aires
- 1991: George Harrison live: Osaka-jō Hall, Osaka
- 1989: Paul McCartney live: Madison Square Garden, New York City
- 1974: George Harrison live: Providence Civic Center, Providence
- 1970: Album release: John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band
- 1969: George Harrison live: Falkoner Theatre, Copenhagen with Delaney & Bonnie
- 1969: World première of The Magic Christian in London
- 1968: John Lennon appears in The Rolling Stones’ Rock And Roll Circus
- 1965: The Beatles live: Astoria Cinema, Finsbury Park, London
- 1963: The Beatles live: Futurist Theatre, Scarborough
- 1962: The Beatles live: La Scala Ballroom, Runcorn
- 1961: The Beatles live: Cavern Club, Liverpool (lunchtime)
Want more? Visit the Beatles history section.
I was disappointed in Paul’s song selection. I’d rather he include at least one song from his last CD rather than just simply perform as an oldies act and pander to the masses. My 2 cents.
First, I love Paul, but the idea of him NOT pandering to the masses would have be a different Paul McCartney.
That said, I think Paul played to the core SNL audience which mostly aging baby boomers.
I don’t think “young” people watch SNL all that much anymore.
First, let me say that, in my opinion, McCartney can do no wrong. (Heather Mills being the only exception.)
That said, I thought the mix for ALL the songs performed this night on SNL was horrible. (Assumed they’d correct it after the first number. But that didn’t happen.) Salient parts of songs were absolutely lost in the wash. In addition, the harmonies were completely off! It could have been due to a poor mix onstage as well as for the audience…and that they didn’t hear themselves very well.
I’ve never seen/heard McCartney without confirmation that he was the most-profound musician/composer/performer.
Until this episode of SNL.