A party to launch Wings and their debut album Wild Life was held at the Empire Ballroom in London’s Leicester Square on 8 November 1971.
Paul McCartney handwrote the invitations for the 800 guests, which included Elton John, Keith Moon, John Entwistle, Jimmy Page, Sandy Denny, Mary Hopkin, Ronnie Wood, Dave Clark, Peter Frampton, Ginger Baker, future Wings guitarist Henry McCullough, Vangelis, actors Malcolm McDowell and Terence Stamp, and Paul McCartney’s father Jim.
The music at the party was by Ray McVay and his Dance Band, plus a performance by the Frank and Peggy Spencer Formation Dance Team. There was also a bumper prize raffle held. The party cost £5,000, and the bill was paid by EMI.
McCartney had ordered a check suit from Tommy Nutter, but it was not ready in time. Undeterred, he chose to wear it with the temporary stitching on show.
A press launch is always a good excuse to have a night out, so we invited friends and journalists, played the album, danced and had a few funny people come on to entertain. I wore an outrageous big check suit that I thought would be good. When I went to collect it from the tailor that morning he told me that it wasn’t finished. I said, ‘Maybe not, but it’s a look!’ So I went to the party with the cotton and the stitching showing, and everyone said, ‘Your suit’s not finished.’ I said, ‘Yeah, I know. Great, huh?’
Wingspan