Henry McCullough was invited to join Wings on 20 January 1972.
He had attended a rehearsal with the band two days previously, and had been invited to another on this day. They practised various songs during this five-hour session, including ‘Smile Away’, ‘Wild Life’, ‘Lucille’, and ‘Blue Moon Of Kentucky’. They also jammed a new Paul McCartney composition that became ‘The Mess’.
At the end of the rehearsal, McCartney invited McCullough to join Wings. Along with Paul and Linda McCartney, Denny Laine on lead and rhythm guitar, and Denny Seiwell on drums, this became the first line-up of Wings.
McCullough was given the same financial settlement agreed by Laine and Seiwell, a £70 weekly wage.
Page last updated: 19 November 2025