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It
starts early. By mid morning the streets around the Kings Dock are
already swarming with people and the obligatory blokes asking "Any
spares, mate? Anticipation is in the air...The prodigal son has
returned.
One fourth of the biggest band ever, one half of the most famous
songwriting partnership of the 20th Century, a Knight of the Realm,
an icon, the man who wrote Hey Jude, Let It Be, Yesterday and countless
others...Sir Paul McCartney is playing Liverpool.
Of course the atmosphere is electric, the arrival of Kenny Dalglish
in the VIP area is greeted by cheers as if he'd just scored at Anfield,
Frank Skinner is taunted for the failure of his beloved West Brom.
And then just after 8.15pm, the music builds and out from behind
the giant blue curtain emerges...well...a troupe of what, at first
glance, appears to be the cast of the Forsyte Saga. Strange mis-shapen
characters wander around aimlessly, then Peter Reid locates his
seat behind Dalglish, and sits down.
Finally McCartney appears in silhouette on the giant screens, guitar
raised above his head, and we're off. He starts with 'Hello, Goodbye'
and 'Jet'. And the crowd, predictably, go wild. 'All My Loving'
and 'Getting Better' follow.
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fans listen outside |
The
forecast rain never really appeared, although even if it had it
would have made little difference to the atmosphere. Outside the
arena large groups of people gather, pressed up against the fences,
they can't see but at least they can hear.
There are nods to absent friends, 'Here Today' is dedicated to Lennon,
A ukelele version of 'Something' for Harrison
and a snippet of 'Yellow Submarine' for Ringo.
Of course there's something special for Liverpool a version of 'Maggie
May' with accompanying pictures of Liverpool landmarks. There
was always going to a touch of emotion about this gig and the crowd
respond at one point with a modified version of 'Three Lions', "He's
coming home, he's coming home, Macca's coming home."
As the sky darkens we get the classics 'Live And Let Die', Maybe
I'm Amazed', 'Hey Jude', Lady Maddonna' 'Yesterday' and 'Sergeant
Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band'.
Three hours flypast and just before 11.30pm Sir Paul departs and
leaves us with a tantalising promise to return, "We'll see
you on the next tour."
Maybe
next time he'll play The Frog Chorus.
Words:
Paul Coslett
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