Paul McCartney took to the stage at Fenway Park for a concert. He also had a jam session with New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski and Grateful Dead legend Bob Weir. Fans were treated to watching Gronkowski as he played the air guitar alongside McCartney.
Billboard reported that the three took the stage together to sing Wings’ “Hi, Hi, Hi” and the Beatles classic “Helter Skelter.” Weir’s Dead and Company has just completed a two-night stand at Fenway, and Gronkowski made his appearance as a cameo.
Gronk crashed the stage of Paul McCartney’s concert at Fenway Park, singing along to “Helter Skelter.” https://t.co/Mu60Oydgu8
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) July 18, 2016
The Boston Herald reported that Sir Paul McCartney belted out a home run at Fenway Park. McCartney, who appeared at Fenway back in 2009, sang 34 songs at that concert. Back then, he was 67. This time, at age 74, he performed 39 songs. He also performed “Foxy Lady” and “Let Me Roll with It” as part of the jam session that followed. The concert lasted for three hours.
McCartney and his band performed many of the Beatles classics while also performing some of the songs recorded by his band Wings. He also performed a tune from his Quarrymen days, “In Spite of All the Danger.” Paul McCartney included a song he recorded in 2015 with Rhianna and Kanye West, “FourFiveSeconds.”
Gronk hops on stage at Fenway with Paul McCartney, plays air guitar: https://t.co/8Arih1HZne
— Tom Jeffrey (@tjeffrey) July 18, 2016
He has contributed to around 100 top 40 hits, and some of the best moments from the concert were considered to be when he performed lesser-known songs instead of the customary hits many fans were accustomed to singing along with. These included three songs from his 2013 album, New . His voice was raspy and raw, but fans didn’t complain as he sang songs like “Hard Day’s Night,” “I’ve Got a Feeling” and “Maybe I’m Amazed” with a manic, punk energy.
Legendary @TheBeatles , @PaulMcCartney , and @ringostarrmusic came together to celebrate 10 years of The #BeatlesLOVE ! pic.twitter.com/w51hpdo8qa
— Cirque du Soleil (@Cirque) July 15, 2016
Fans were allowed to see McCartney as he swapped among the various instruments he played that included bass, piano, and both acoustic and electric guitars. He even included a ukelele for a song written by George Harrison, called “Something.”
Paul McCartney has appeared at Fenway Park for four of the last seven years. Each year that he has performed, his concert has sold out.
The Boston Globe reported that Paul McCartney weaved together new bits while adding in the familiar tunes. Although McCartney is a living legend in rock music and could have retired long ago, he loves to play to the crowd. When he entered the stage, which rose up as he sang, he went to each end and bowed to the crowds.
In addition to performing songs fans remembered and loved, a large screen above the stage showed 50-year-old footage of the Beatles. McCartney, who has gone gray, still had the youthful smile and is still gracious and humble to the audience.
McCartney also appeared at Fenway Park in 2013, and his music set included songs like “Band on the Run,” “Back in the U.S.S.R.,” “Live and Let Die” and “Hey Jude.” He also included numbers like “Here Today,” in honor of John Lennon, and the previously mentioned “Something” as a tribute to George Harrison.
Some of the more modern songs came from the 80s, as in his quirky song, “Temporary Secretary.” Special effects rounded out the evening and included dancing on stage by Rob Gronkowski. Bob Weir played the guitar alongside Paul McCartney when they performed “Helter Skelter.” McCartney is expected to return to Fenway Park for additional concerts, and the possibility exists he will appear in 2023 when he’s 81-years-old.
[Photo by Steve Jennings/Getty Images]