For Whom The Bell Tells: 'GOT BACK' Central and South American Tour 2024

In the latest instalment of his tour blog, Paul's UK publicist Stuart Bell reflects on the 2024 GOT BACK tour in Central and South America...

Got Back Central and South America Tour, October/November 2024

September 2024…

How great it is to be on the road again. Ten months ago, Paul rounded off 2023 with the final date of the year and that particular leg of his ongoing world-beating Got Back tour, rocking over 62,000 people in Rio de Janeiro’s famed Maracańa Stadium, and sending me back to London in December with a distinct glow.

It’s a bittersweet feeling - the job requires us to travel with Paul and do our bit amid the understandably frantic requests that come flying in from every angle of the press and public in each new territory we land in, and it’s an honour to visit and experience these places, especially as we get to attend all of Paul’s shows. But, at the same time, as any frequent flyer knows, you also feel the pull of the loved ones you miss so much.

However, every single person that works to make this tour so huge, impressive, and successful
- be they musicians, crew, drivers, or mere publicists - is in the same boat (not to mention plane, bus, truck, and car!), and so we bond to become a supportive network for each other. As cliched as it may sound, it is true: we are a family.

And so it was, as I waved goodbye to London to spend the entire autumn with Paul in the Western Hemisphere, the motley crew of makeshift brothers and sisters focused on the job at hand: to once again bring the best, most unforgettable party ever to the people. 

Being a part of this journeying source of joy once again is a unique and special honour, and that is the prevailing motivation that makes this adventure so worthwhile and fulfilling.

URUGUAY 

“An explosion of happiness” - El Observador

⁠Being away from home really does heighten one’s tribal yearnings, therefore being surrounded by so many colleagues on a daily basis is a relief, but it also makes you hyper aware of the beautiful power of family when you see it being played out in front of you by a multitude of smiling faces.

A Paul McCartney gig is designed for all ages to enjoy, and every night they do. “It’s incredible to see,” Paul remarked. “There are one, two, three, maybe even four or five generations, all coming together to share the experience.”

He does not take for granted the power he wields, creating special moments for all to share and remember forever, and there is no more powerful reminder that music has the magic to transcend any differences and bring people together.

“This is how life should be,” Paul continues, as he takes a break from rehearsing in Los Angeles one week before the 2024 tour launches. It’s his bagel break, and as the band and crew take a little down time before their afternoon session, Paul is talking on the phone to the Uruguayan newspaper El Pais ahead of his first trip there in a decade. “Instead of fighting, we’re all in the same place, doing the same thing, with nothing but joy. That’s what’s so special to me about these concerts.”

Sure enough, fast-forward a week, and there is Paul taking to the stage on a chilly evening in Montevideo, and as he surveys the vast audience in front of him, yet again you can see he is visibly struck by the reception. It’s an incredible sight, especially if you are lucky enough to see it from my vantage point side-of-stage (I’m not showing off, I promise!). The feeling coming off the crowd is electric and unbelievable. Spanning the stadium are generations of fans, from different backgrounds, all united by a love for his timeless and ubiquitous songs.

Paul and the band launch into their explosive opener, ‘A Hard Day’s Night’, and the crowd
absolutely erupts! They’re singing along with everything, their voices blending into one elated chorus, and instantly the temperature in the stadium ramps up.

From that first spine-tingling moment, Paul’s third ever performance at the Estadio Centenario (site of the first World Cup final in 1930, which FIFA officially declared a Historical Monument of World Football in 1983, and is where the opening game of the 2030 World Cup will take place) was a hit.

This may, in part, be due to the affectionate place in which McCartney is held in the hearts of the people in Uruguay’s capital. “Paul really changed things here in Montevideo,” a local reporter tells me the day before the show. “If it’s okay for Paul McCartney, it’s okay for everyone.” Being an infrequent host of international acts, he explained, the Estadio Centenario has become an increasingly popular tour stop for artists in the wake of Paul’s inaugural trip in 2012, with names such as One Direction, The Rolling Stones, Ed Sheeran, and Guns N’ Roses opting to drop by.

Standing on stage, in the shadow of the looming and appropriately-named Torre de los Homenajes (Tower of Homage), Paul is swept up in a tsunami of love. This is what the Got Back tour is all about: spreading great pleasure in one wonderful, unifying experience. As one review will confirm the following morning, it’s an “explosion of happiness,” and it’s so exciting to think about all the destinations that are yet to come, and the hundreds of thousands of people down the line that will have this life-affirming celebration indelibly scratched into their memories.

That’s the fuel that drives Team Macca, and bonds us as a family. Happy to be reunited on this amazing continent, it’s profoundly moving to see everyone working together in harmony to ensure that all aspects of these concerts are perfectly executed in order to allow Paul to walk out onto that stage every evening without a single worry except for smashing it out of the park. And, of course, he does!

ARGENTINA

“A night of magic and emotion” - La Naçion

What an incredible atmosphere there is in the Buenos Aires’ River Plate Stadium, the largest stadium in South America. The history of the place is palpable - it hosted the final of the 1978 World Cup (which home team Argentina won!) as well as countless classic concerts, including previous visits from Paul, who first played here in 1993 - which makes it all feel quite magical.

It is rather surreal, though, to have the stadium located so close to the nearby Jorge Newbery Airport. One minute you’re captivated by the awesome sensorial experience that is Paul McCartney rocking out on stage, and the next your eyes are suddenly drawn to the curious sight of a plane descending overhead. Or, was it a… JET!

After the first show there, Paul’s tour production manager, Di Eichorst, showed us some photographs she’d been sent by a friend who had just happened to have been on one of those flights, and was surprised to find themselves looking down on a Paul McCartney concert! That would have been one hell of a journey during the pyro-heavy ‘Live And Let Die’!
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Mind you, we’re lucky that Paul’s show even went ahead, considering the emergency the crew faced that afternoon! Paul and the group were on stage sound checking, doing what they do, when all of a sudden, we couldn’t hear a thing! “We had a failure in the main audio console,” Paul’s Front of House engineer Paul “Pab” Boothroyd explained later, once he’d recovered from his panic. “It started making a horrible noise before shutting down. Lots of warning signs flashed up on our console screens, before that typical electronic burning smell confirmed it had gone with a bang!”

“Luckily,” said Pab, “we had a spare console that's on standby ready to go, so Matt - my system engineer - and I very quickly moved a couple of cables, and we were back doing soundcheck without too much drama and notice from all. Not ideal, but this is why we carry spare systems and parts.”

Pab is just one of the long-serving members of Team Macca, having worked with Paul now for 35 years. He’s seen it all, and, as demonstrated in Buenos Aires, has learned to get to grips with whatever the road throws at him. South America, he tells me, is a whole challenge in itself, given the contrasting conditions we can encounter on one leg. “Some cities are high in altitude," he explains, “and there can be climate difficulties like heat and humidity, which affect not only the team but also the equipment.”

There has been a lot of wet weather since we’ve been here (see, it’s not all glamorous sunshine on tour!), but Pab and the team are prepared for all eventualities. “We always anticipate it might rain as it’s a tropical environment,” he says, “so we carry tarpaulins and rolls of plastic sheet to keep things dry.” What a trooper!

Fortunately, of course, thanks to Pab and the crew, the gig went ahead without a hitch, and that weekend is now seared into my memory - as it is also, I expect, for the 120,000+ lucky people he played to over those two nights. I got to see an incredible show in an incredible place surrounded by incredible fans. And I’m not the only one who got to experience a real taste of Argentina…

Making the most of their time off in Buenos Aires, Paul and his wife, Nancy, got to take in some
local culture, too - a habit they frequently enjoy on tour, connecting with the environment in which they land. Here, they enjoyed an exclusive tango show at the Faena Hotel, where they took in a performance in an intimate, dimly lit performance room. It had a real effect on Paul, who with his own ballet composition under his belt, recognises the expressive power of storytelling in dance. He enjoyed it so much he congratulated the performers by sending them some congratulatory champagne!

“The Beatles magic returns with Paul’s show - music legend McCartney wowed a generational spanning crowd at River Plate last night, performing Beatles and Wings songs.” - Clarin

CHILE

“They say that if you are a music lover, seeing Paul McCartney is something you have to do at least once in your life, and it was enough to see the emotion in the eyes of the attendees, and their smiles on their faces as they walked towards the outskirts of the Macul venue, to confirm it.” - La Cuarta

One of the really fun things about this and a few recent tours is that Paul has been regularly running competitions for fans in each city to win the chance to say hello to him. To win this opportunity, they’re tasked with all sorts of things, like creating videos demonstrating why they should be the chosen ones. We work with local media partners to pick 10 winners, who get to watch Paul soundcheck, then meet him afterwards.

It’s just as exciting for me, meeting these genuine fans - some of whom have travelled halfway around the world for this - who never thought they’d get this kind of chance, and seeing the spectrum of emotions they whizz through in their time together: there’s shock, awe, disbelief, joy, thankfulness, tears, all sometimes at once. Paul takes the time to chat with the winners, and it’s a really moving thing to be a part of, full of tears, cuddles and laughter. We all hang out and swap stories and it’s brilliant - after all, I’m a huge Macca fan too!

And, as much as the fans love meeting Paul, he gets a kick out of meeting them too, as he told me. “It’s amazing to be one-on-one with such passionate people,” he revealed, “because when your fans are in the audience, you feel the passion, but when they’re right there and you’re meeting with them and taking a photo with them, it’s very full on. It’s quite intense, but it’s great. It’s always fun, and it’s always nice to see people who are so keen on The Beatles, Wings and me solo. It’s always exciting.”

I have to give a special shout out to the group of winners in Chile, who were complete strangers to each other before they were randomly brought together to share this once-in-a-lifetime privilege, yet somehow managed to mobilise themselves to sing Paul a special song as an ensemble upon greeting him. They were fantastic!  Actually… special shout all to all of the winners on this trip.  In Buenos Aires, one winner, Alan Navarro, kindly got in touch to tell me that the group he was in, who didn’t know each other previously, started a WhatsApp group and started meeting up – such was the bond of their shared experience. Paul’s socials team put together an awesome little montage of Paul meeting the fans.

The Chilean soundcheck held another surprise for us all, as Paul noticed two distinctive characters in the audience who had a special message for him. The fans, Yamil Álamo and Leonora Pereira, were easily spotted, given that they were dressed up as a 1970s version of Paul and Linda McCartney, as was the large sign they were holding, which read: “Paul: Give us a handshake and we’ll get married.”

Ever the romantic at heart, Paul obliged and invited the pair onstage, whereupon Yamil got down on one knee and proposed to his girlfriend of six years in front of their greatest musical hero. “I don’t have words to describe the experience,” said Yamil, who’d travelled 400km from La Serena to the gig in Santiago, as we spoke afterwards. “This was a very special moment for us because for many years we have tried to meet him, and today is the day!”

I later asked Paul if he enjoyed officiating such proposals, since this would be one of three on this leg alone! “It’s always pretty cute to see a sign, ‘Will you marry us please?’” he told me. “I think, well, I’m not a vicar, so I can’t marry them, but I’ll invite them to propose on stage. I think that’s something nice for us as a band, and for the audience: attending a mass engagement ceremony. And for the couple, mainly. We do kind of wonder,” he laughed, “what if she said no? So far, they’ve all said yes. We have a little group hug, and we wish them happy ever after.”

Paul’s sentimental streak was also there to see in Chile two days prior, when he arranged a surprise wedding anniversary party for Nancy. It was really lovely and a lot of fun for myself and the team to be involved in that extremely personal celebration. There was a lot of love in the room!

Anyway, after the soundcheck, as we were walking back together to his dressing room, I let Paul know that I had just been informed by BBC Radio 2 in the UK that their listeners had voted The Beatles as the Best British Band of All Time. Now, you might think that with hundreds of various awards and achievements to his name, that such news may be just another notch on his admittedly gilded belt, but no. He was absolutely thrilled, honoured, and noticeably humbled. He really doesn’t take such accolades for granted.

At the same time, I also had the pleasure of bestowing Paul with yet another gift: this time a
shirt signed by the entire Brazilian national football team! Yes, I know that we were in Chile, but it had just so happened that they had played in Santiago the night before the show and were stationed in the same hotel as Paul. They had left it as a present to him - can you imagine? That is just way too much talent to think about in one place!

You can never predict what’s going to happen when you’re on the road with Paul, because every stop, every city, every show is different, and each has their own unbelievable stories. Tonight in Chile was no exception - for a start Paul was performing in the company of the country’s President, Gabriel Boric! Not that it fazed him, of course. But it gave the gig its own unique atmosphere - the crowd were wild from the beginning. Then, when Paul played The Beatles’s recent Number One single, ‘Now And Then’, hundreds of white balloons were held aloft by members of the crowd, which they then illuminated with their phones. It was an ingenious light show, and the most remarkable spectacle. 

BRAZIL

“How can you improve an anthological show like this on the verge of perfection? The plot remains powerful, exciting and supported by high-quality production. In its 2023 review, Estadão used the label ‘the greatest show on Earth’, simply because it is the most powerful catalogue of popular music, sung by the most important living artist.” - O Estado De S. Paulo

That aforementioned final gig of 2023 at Maracańa Stadium in Rio is still so fresh in my mind, and the event itself was just so monumental, that I had presumed many Brazilian fans would similarly still be reeling from its aftershocks, and maybe his prompt return to the country wouldn’t be quite so triumphant.

How wrong was I? The appetite here to welcome Paul back is as strong as ever, and the Brazilian mood for partying cannot be tempered! This visit has been front page news here in São Paolo as they built up to his arrival, underlining the sheer affection with which Paul is held in Brazil, and vice versa. I bumped into Gabriel Solti at Allianz Parue – a writer from Estadio De S. Paulo who had given Paul an incredible review last year – very nice to meet you Gabriel and put a face to the byline! 

Paul and Brazil have a very special relationship. After his second night at the huge Allianz Parque, Paul will have played the venue 10 times since his debut here in 2014, when he was the first artist to ever do so! After his next show Florianópolis, he will have performed in Brazil a total of 39 times. In the last decade, the only other country to boast more shows by Paul than Brazil is the United States. 

Inspired by his trips to this exhilarating country, Paul wrote the song ‘Back In Brazil’, which was included on 2018’s ‘Egypt Station’. He actually worked on the song in a São Paolo studio, and even later filmed a video in Salvador. He loves Brazilian music too, of course; last year, when we were in Belo Horizonte, he was visited by national hero Milton Nascimento - who has also been spotted here in the audience tonight!

So, it’s a deep and mutual love affair, and one that might even see Brazil eventually making Paul one of its own - according to reports here, a congressman has put forward the motion for Paul to be bestowed with an Honorary Citizenship! I wonder if it will come to pass?

This time around, Paul received further notable visitors, this time bearing gifts. It had come to light that, back in 2019, football legend Pelé had hoped to cross paths with Paul when his ‘Freshen Up’ tour landed in São Paolo that March, but unfortunately, it had not come to pass. Pelé had signed and dedicated a shirt to Paul, but was unable to deliver it in person, and he sadly died in 2022.

Tonight, Pelé’s longtime manager, Pepito Fornos, and the Brazilian icon’s sister, Luiza Nascimento, made it their mission to ensure the shirt - which reads, “Paul, keep the ball rolling. I love you. Pelé” - finally got to its rightful owner. Five years after its intended delivery, Paul was so moved to hold it in his hands, just hours before his second performance of the week. He duly dropped a note to Luiza and Pepito thanking them for the shirt and letting them know he’d treasure it. Our tour photographer, MJ, got a quick shot of Paul holding the shirt, and it immediately went viral.

My Google news alerts weren’t the only thing buzzing in São Paolo - still clearly on a high from an awesome gig and receiving that unique gift, Paul and Nancy toasted the conclusion of two nights there by inviting everyone to an afterparty, where the fun continued late into the night. Inspired by some of the moves that Paul was laying down on the dance floor, even the tour accounting team got involved and started throwing some shapes!

Caught up in the party spirit, Paul even went so far as to play us some of the new material he’s been working on recently… but my lips are well and truly sealed!

ARGENTINA

“No One Can Buy This Love! The public showed their devotion to the legendary musician who gave an unforgettable show.” - La Voz

It’s great to have Got Back - again! - to Argentina, this time stopping in its second largest city, Córdoba. It was Paul’s second visit to the imposing Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes, having previously played there in 2016 on his ‘One On One’ Tour.

A fierce storm hit the city on the day of the gig, but that did nothing to dampen the spirits of the dedicated Argentinians, nor get in the way of Team Macca ensuring that the party would be ready and waiting for them. 

Mark “Springo” Spring has been Paul’s Production Manager for 22 years, and is responsible for
the entire massive crew, and keeping them all moving. He’s the one who has to solve the problems caused when the heavens decide to open. “It just delays us,” he sighs, as we catch up later. “It just makes things take longer to happen.” But happen they do, because this indomitable team bring it all together every time.

They have to, because a tour works on a terrifically tight schedule, especially for a leg
like this, where dates are condensed and they have a lot to do in little time. The work is long hours, too. When the gig has finished, and you’re back at home in bed, those guys are still working away, packing up the stage and equipment, and often won’t get to bed until around 6am. “It’s something you learn to live with,” says Springo, who jokingly says that the biggest reward of his job is “getting out alive”. 

One of the highlights of the Córdoba show, as the newspapers praised the following morning, was Paul’s, er, colourful greeting to the 50,000-strong crowd. “Buenas noches Argentina,” he announced, “¿dónde están los culiados?” It was only later, after reflecting to someone about how wild the crowd had reacted to his address, did I learn that Paul had, in perfect Spanish, asked them, ‘Where are the fuckers?’ For full context though this is a much used local greeting in Córdoba!

Learning local lingo is something that Paul intently does before each show, such is his commitment to the distinctive cultures he is welcomed so warmly into. It’s an integral part of the show, endearing him closer to each regional community, but grasping the language, he says, can sometimes feel like being back at school! “Sometimes I sit there and moan about my homework,” he confides in me with a wink. “It’s like I’m ready to sit an exam, but it’s really worth it.”

Paul and his Technical Manager, Keith Smith, sit down at each gig with translators from the city to help them put together some choice words that the fans will appreciate. “They sometimes give me slang phrases, which I like the best,” says Paul, “because the people in the audience don’t expect me to use some of these words. It’s great fun, and it goes down very well.”

PERU

It’s been a full decade since Paul was last in Peru, so excitement here at the Estadio Nacional in Lima was, literally, at fever pitch. With more than 50,000 exuberant Peruvians piling into the historic stadium, it was down to Brian “Swalley” Riddle, Paul’s Head of Venue Security and part of Team Macca since 1989, to make sure that the public were safe when entering and leaving the venue. “That’s the most important thing,” he tells me. “After all, if it wasn’t for them, we would all be out of a job.”

In all his time on the job, Swalley says that Paul has always been the best boss, and even after all these years, he’s still “a great guy to work for”. Other things have changed though, as life and technology continues to advance, and tour processes adapt with the times. Largely, he says, it has thankfully seen audiences behaving much better than before. “People are starting to listen to us, and they’ve got their act together,” he says, “which is great.”

So how exactly does Swalley instruct his and the venue’s extended security teams to keep fans in order, so that everyone can enjoy themselves and the gig goes smoothly? “It’s all about communication,” he reveals. “Get the right message across. Get it across nicely. Don’t be harsh with it. Talk to them like how you want to be talked to, and you get a lot of respect out of that.” Wise words.

One thing I haven’t mentioned in all this talk about life on the road is the essential distractions that are required when travelling. In my blog last year, I told you about Paul’s secret love for the US quiz show, Family Feud, and how it can sometimes be a bit all-consuming! These are long days, and my spare time is limited, but airplane journeys are a good opportunity for some binge-watching, and since there have been quite a few of them, I have enjoyed watching a few things too. Lots of recommendations and tips being shared by the team, like The Penguin which was brilliant and tour photographer MJ pointed me in the direction of the chilling Monsters: The Menendez Brothers Story on Netflix.

So, while in Peru, the setting for Paddington 3, which while we’re here is a week away from opening, and with viewing pleasures on my mind, I grabbed Paul to find out what’s been gripping him on screen.

“I’m the last person in the world to see Slow Horses,” said the latest convert to the MI5 thriller on Apple TV+. “Everyone had been saying, ‘Have you seen it?’ It’s great. Gary Oldman is fantastic. I just never got around to it, but I finally have, and they were right. It's totally addictive. And because it’s set in London, I know most of the locations, so it’s like a nice little reminder of home while I’m away.”

There was another nice little reminder from home for Paul in Lima, as he met with the meet and greet competition winners in the afternoon of the gig there. One of the winners was an English man, named Michael, who as we learned married a woman from Peru, settled there, and raised his family. Dressed in a ‘RAM’ T-shirt, Michael - now 79-years-old - explained to us how the music of The Beatles had given him the confidence to propose to his wife, and that it was his granddaughter who had entered him into the competition that he’d won. 

Michael admitted to me how nervous he was to meet and talk with Paul, and how that day he’d read a recent funny story in The Guardian, and empathised with an awkward story told by comedian Bill Bailey who, having found himself in a similar predicament, got so flustered he made up a new word.

“What I wanted to say to him,” recounted Bill of his meeting with Paul at London’s O2, “was, ‘It’s a very rare thing you have created, a cultural moment where everyone from all these different backgrounds have their own connection with your songs, until they are almost beyond songs, in a way - they are a part of our cultural fabric.’” But, he goes on, the combination of alcohol and apprehensive eagerness sent his brain reeling, and his words followed suit. “I started babbling this pre-prepared speech that was all back to front. I said, ‘Paul, you’re, with the song, like, isn’t it like, a cultural part of the thread, with, you know, like ‘Yesterday’, Everyone in the culture?’”

“The next day,” Bill revealed, “I asked [my friend] what I’d said and he sent me this hilarious transcript of the exact gibberish. I had tried to say, ‘Your songs are enmeshed in the cultural fabric’, but almost said ‘entrenched’ by accident. I changed it to ‘enmeshed’ too late, so I said: ‘Your songs are enmenched!’ Paul went, ‘Enmenched?’ And I didn’t know what I had said, so I went, ‘What? What’s enmenched?’ This is not how it was supposed to go, me going, ‘What are you on about?’ at Paul McCartney! It was hellish.”

Thankfully, in Lima, Michael was much more successful with his composure.

Lima was also the destination of the second Got Back South American marriage proposal. Aixa Salinas could be described as the luckiest Paul McCartney fan in South America! In 2014, aged 21, Aixa held up a sign saying “I want to dance with you”… and her dream came true.  She was called to the stage and got to dance with Paul. Well in 2024 not only did Aixa win the fan meet and greet competition but she got called up on stage once again! This time after Paul spotted a sign that read “Marry Us Pls”, she and her fiancé Jazet were invited onstage to make it official.  If you need advice on lottery numbers I’d suggest contacting Aixa! 

COLOMBIA

“The concerts were not simply musical events, but they were the excuse to unite families and stop time. They were a celebration of music and everything that this living legend represents.” - El Tiempo

It’s such a British thing to go somewhere special and end up just talking about the weather, but it’s rather difficult not to dwell on the climate when it’s perpetually wet and leaking all around you! At this time of the year, it is rainy season in most of the places we are visiting, and so naturally the rain becomes a bit of a talking point in the team. In the days leading up to shows, as the crew are setting up the stage, they are constantly battling with biblical downpours, and there is frequent backstage flooding. The rain hits so heavy it drips through ceilings. It causes havoc with the production team, who valiantly grind it - there’s no problem too big for them to overcome.

But, the craziest thing - and it’s something that everyone is talking about - is that by the time Paul steps into the venue, the showers have ceased, and things stay dry for the gig. It’s got us all asking: just what kind of deal does Paul have with whoever controls the weather?

Reading up on Bogotá ahead of our arrival there, I’d noticed that some of the guide books talked about the city as being almost like an immersive art gallery. Upon my arrival, I was excited to discover that it was true. There is literally street art on every corner. Everywhere you go, you see statues, sculptures, cool architecture, murals and lots of graffiti - but it’s not just graffiti as we might think of it. Here it adorns store fronts, park walls, hostels, cafes, bars… Bogotá has to be one of the most street art friendly cities in the world. You can even go on street art tours that reflect on the city’s diversity and political history, with subjects covered including women’s rights, the ‘war on drugs’, corruption, climate change, sporting heroes, and so much more. It’s fascinating.

How cool, then, that our esteemed boss should find himself emblazoned on one of this fair city’s walls! Painted as a tribute to Paul’s return to Colombia, local artist Ela Rincón’s colourful mural on Calle 67 takes influence from The Beatles’ psychedelic era, and in particular, Paul’s ‘Magic Piano’, which he had decorated by the pioneering art trio BEV in 1967, and on which he composed songs for ‘Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band’.

“I had the chance to create Paul’s mural thanks to an invitation from Páramo Presenta to connect Bogotá with Paul’s show in the city,” Ela later told me. “This collaboration was very meaningful to me, as it allowed me to bring my style to the project and work with someone whose work I deeply admire. It was a unique experience, where my team and I were able to merge our ideas and perspectives into a piece that combined Paul’s story with Latin American style.”

Ela said that she had listened to Paul’s music non-stop for a week to immerse herself in his inspiration, and so the mural really does exude not only Paul’s artistic legacy, but that of the city itself. “For me,” said Ela, “the street art scene in Bogotá is a vibrant expression of our culture, our stories, and the struggles of our city. It reflects both our roots and our current voices. Including Paul was important because he brings a unique perspective, and this collaboration allowed me to connect my art with a wider audience, generating a truly valuable cultural exchange.”

I got in touch with Ela the day after Paul’s concert at El Campin Stadium to say that I wanted to get a portrait of her and her amazing mural with MJ, our tour photographer. She agreed to meet us, and was completely unprepared for what was in store. You see, it wasn’t just me that had fallen under the spell of the city’s dramatic showpieces. “It’s a very artistic nation,” enthused Paul, “and so I wanted to stop off and check it out myself in person.”

The thing was, we couldn’t have risked word getting out of Paul’s visit, so we kept it a surprise for Ela! Can you imagine her reaction when faced with Paul McCartney himsel standing by the wall and admiring his likeness and her incredible work?

“Meeting Paul was an incredible experience, almost surreal,” said Ela. “It was a huge surprise for me to see him taking pictures with me, and to have the chance to talk with him. His visit to Bogotá means a lot, and to me, he is now not only a music legend but also a sensitive and humble person. I had the chance to attend the show, and his concert not only took us back to a different time, but also reminded me of how Paul, through his music, continues to promote equality and celebrate diversity.”

I should also mention another story from Colombia too.  The day before the show I got a text from Paul with a video file. The phone signals weren’t great and so the message had corrupted a little - but I could make out something pretty terrifying looking going on.  A freaky looking skull of sorts…  it was a Halloween video message Paul had recorded in his room - I went to visit him in his room so he could Airdrop me the file to use for socials. Presumably he’d been traveling around with the mask waiting for the moment!

COSTA RICA

“Paul McCartney is undoubtedly a living legend; he is part of the history of world music and seeing him in concert is a privilege. Listening to his greatest hits is a delight for music lovers; and this was confirmed by those who enjoyed the British singer on the night of November 5, at his concert in Costa Rica.” - La Nación

Ten years ago, the morning after Paul’s first ever gig in Costa Rica, their daily paper La Nación suggested that his show - which I remember as being one of the loudest ever; the piercing screams a sign of the Costa Ricans’ joy of finally seeing Paul live - was “the best concert that has ever been hosted” in the country. Now, I personally haven’t witnessed any other artists performing here, but who am I to argue?

And so we find ourselves back here, poised to party in their Estadio Nacional in San José, and ready to live up to the reputation that precedes us. When Paul announced that he would be returning to Costa Rica, it’s fair to say that it caused a pretty massive stir. It’s not exactly a touring hot spot for international artists, and therefore for Paul to play here is a huge deal not only for him, but for this proud Central American country. The “ticos” (a local slang term for Costa Ricans, which I would later learn from Paul) were over the moon that he was there, and not just the die-hard fans.

Before the show I met a local TV crew, and their cameraman told me that they have been reporting on the huge impact that this show has had on tourism. Costa Rica has long been a prized holiday destination, but this event was drawing attention for a completely different reason. People were apparently flying in from all over Central America to enjoy the “pura vida” lifestyle on offer here, with a historic performance of fantastic music by a living legend as the cherry on top. Local businesses were enjoying the upturn of having an icon in town and were making the most of it, and being in amongst it all really had the spirit of a public holiday.

Paul arrived at the venue at 4.45pm for soundcheck, as dark clouds hovered ominously above. We all hoped they wouldn’t unleash a storm, and sure enough, when it was showtime, the sky was clear and everything remained dry! Paul took to the stage earlier than any other show on the tour, due to a strict curfew at the venue - two and half hours later, and it was all over by 10pm, which is roughly when the last show kicked off in Colombia!

I might be biased, but I think this show topped Paul’s previous performance in Costa Rica. The thrilling combination of the euphoric atmosphere, the electric spectacle on stage (which included the extra special treat of ‘I Saw Her Standing There’, the only time the song would appear on this whole tour), and the shared sense of celebration all combined to produce such a glorious happening. And, since it all finished so early, there was still time for us all to take the party elsewhere afterwards. I mean, it would be rude not to, right?

MEXICO

“An unforgettable and magical night was the one that Paul McCartney gave to the thousands of fans who applauded him yesterday on his first and historic visit to Monterrey.” - El Norte

Monterrey is the capital city of Mexico’s northeastern state of Nuevo León, and Paul’s first ever visit there was made memorable immediately upon our arrival. Not only was he greeted with the usual abundance of love, passion and enthusiasm that we’ve come to expect from his Mexican fans, but it was here that we heard the extraordinary news that The Beatles had received two Grammy nominations for ‘Now And Then’.

One year on from its release, and the Fab Four’s chart-topping final single has lost none of its
impact. It has been played routinely on this tour, completing a poignant and personal triumvirate of songs around halfway through the set, which begins with the stripped-down ‘Blackbird’ and is followed by ‘Here Today’, which Paul consistently dedicates to John Lennon, the subject of his always affecting song.

Like the Peter Jackson-enhanced ‘I’ve Got A Feeling’ that debuted earlier on this tour, ‘Now And Then’ also sees Paul again with John, and it is such a moving celebration of their friendship and enduring connection that I’ve literally welled up at every performance. Considering its intense sentiment, I had to ask Paul what it’s like for him playing the song live now.

“It’s really great,” he smiles. “The reaction is really strong, and for us it’s great to play because it’s a nice song to play, and, for me, it’s particularly great because it’s a John song. It’s very emotional for me. I love it. I love doing it, and the audience seem to love it too.”

With our time in Monterrey starting with such a warm welcome, it was little surprise that Paul was in top form when he eventually took to the stage at Estadio BBVA, which may explain why he joyfully ushered two more fans up from the audience, accepting the request on the couple’s handwritten sign to propose on stage. The third romantic encounter on this leg of the trip was courtesy of Jerry and Barbie, who couldn’t believe it when they were brought up to do the deed in front of the packed stadium just before George Harrison’s classic love song, ‘Something’.

“This was the best day of our lives,” Barbie would tell me. “We were lucky to be in the front row, and every chance we got, we held up the sign, hoping Paul would notice. After ‘Love Me Do’, he finally looked our way, and we held our breath, wondering if he and his security team would see us. Then, in an unbelievable turn of events, he gave the nod, and we were invited on stage. What followed was the most incredible moment we’ll ever share - a dream come true with our favourite artist! Thank you, Paul, for being part of our dream!”

⁠From Monterrey, it was on to Mexico City, the last stop on this leg of the tour. It has been a pleasure to be a part of it all, and to be received so heartily by the people here. It is both humbling and life-affirming, a timely reminder that there are still so many good and friendly people in the world. 

With just three dates left before heading home - a double-nighter at Estadio GNP Seguros, and a headline slot on the closing night of the Corona Capital festival - it gives us pause to look back on all that’s come before and give thanks to all who’ve made it so spectacularly great. What, I asked Paul as we caught a spare moment in the Mexican capital, was he going to miss most about touring this magnificent part of the world?

“The audiences,” he replied. “They’re different from any other audience, and we say they've kind of spoiled us, because I’m not sure whether the French, Spanish and English are going to be quite as crazy. We'll enjoy it, and it doesn't matter - we’re going to have a great time regardless - but yeah, the audiences here are something else, so I will miss them.”

It’s exactly one year since Paul was last in Mexico City - having played the stadium formerly known as Foro Sol on November 14th 2023, the same week that saw ‘Now And Then’ hit Number One back home in the UK - and it’s great to be back. His shows here will bring his gig tally in Mexico to 15, which goes to show how vital a destination the country has been in Paul’s tours over the years.

To demonstrate his fondness for Mexico and its people, tonight Paul launched a thousand drones 120 metres up into the sky above the Estadio GNP Seguros, and the stunned audience below were treated to a spectacular state-of-the-art visual accompaniment to the music being played.

It happened during the iconic Wings hit, ‘Let Me Roll It’, an impassioned plea in itself, and was
a suitably stirring sight. The drones assembled into heart shapes above us, garnering huge cheers from the delighted fans, and also rearranged themselves to form the instantly recognisable Wings logo. It was a touching tribute to the enduring love shared between Paul and his adoring Mexican fans, whose response to the event was massive. 

The idea had come from Paul, who had requested an extra special treat for his Mexican fans,
providing a truly unique experience in return for the gratitude he felt for all the incredibly warm welcomes he’d always received there. “It was just incredible,” one awestruck fan told me afterwards. “When I thought his show couldn’t get any better the sky lit up with what looked like thousands of drones. It was a total surprise and just took things to a new height. I’ve never seen anything like it. All of this on top of over two hours of hits. We love Paul.”

It’s funny that when you’re away from home, time can go so slowly, and that being on a tour
like this with so many stops can feel like you’ve been gone forever, but then when you reach the final date, you look back and it’s all gone by so quick! That’s what went through my head as we drove to the last venue on what has been - for me, as well as so many thousands of other people - a phenomenally exciting tour.

And what a way to conclude the adventure that has been the last seven and a half weeks, and our stay here in Mexico City. It’s a day that is literally unlike any other on this tour, because it is not the normal set-up and routine that we have become used to. This isn’t a standalone Got Back show, this is the final day of the Corona Capital Festival. Even the location takes some getting used to: as I walk through the bustling crowds in the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, the Formula One race track in the heart of Mexico City, I feel surrounded by so much positivity and joy. I stop and speak to some, adding to the growing list of amazing people I have met on this trip. It suddenly makes me appreciate the lifetime of memories made over the thousands of miles we have covered, and I am immediately thankful for being blessed with this great fortune. It just seemed very unreal that this was all coming to an end.

As I arrived backstage, there was a palpable sense of excitement as other artists who were performing that day were hanging out around Paul’s designated compound, desperately hoping to catch a glimpse of the headline act. They were not playing quite as cool as they might usually do! 

Meanwhile, out front the excitement levels are tenfold, as the stage screens project images of fans in the 80,000+ crowd holding up pictures of Paul on their phone. Whenever the cameras move away from the phones, a chorus of boos erupt, and so the cameramen rush back to find more. So funny! We also see the vast selection of Paul-themed T-shirts being sported around the site, with an abundance of Beatles, Wings and solo logos adorning many a Mexican chest.

Paul got to his dressing room at 9pm, and was joined shortly thereafter by some famous friends he wanted to catch up with - an added bonus of being on a festival bill, as opposed to performing at your own gig. Jack White and St Vincent got to sit and chill with Paul before he took the stage, on the side of which watching proceedings was Beck, while in the audience I bumped into Travis’ Fran Healy and his son.  The following day at the airport on the way home I bumped into my old school friend Richard Jones (from The Feeling) and his wife Sophie Ellis Bextor. They’d both watched and loved the show after their own brilliant performance. The stars were out! 

He’d been so relaxed beforehand, relaxed and making jokes with us, before finding the time for one last, quick pre-show Spanish lesson. It can be quite bewildering when one minute I’m lost in conversation with Paul, wherein he can feel like a friend, but he’s also a hero of mine, not to mention my boss, and then the next, he’s on stage fulfilling the dreams of thousands of people and you can just feel their elation being played out in a sea of smiles, waving hands, and jubilant screams.

As I watch this show, I am once again blown away by the awareness of connectivity. The following day, in their glowing review, one of the newspapers reported of “a communal hysteria that few will erase from their hearts”. My mind wandered back to the start of this tour, when I started this blog in Los Angeles. During rehearsals there, Paul was speaking with a reporter from Uruguay, who asked him about the power of music. “If you try to analyse music,” Paul replied, “you realise that it’s just frequencies, that there’s nothing but frequencies, notes that fit together, but something magical happens when they come together in a beautiful way.”  

This had all been playing out in front of me over the last two months, and here something magical was happening again at our last show of the tour. The notes were commingling and bringing people together. Collectively, we forget our problems. We are transported somewhere else for a few special hours. “Listening to good music always soothes my soul,” Paul had told the reporter that day. “That’s the power of music, even if scientifically speaking it’s nothing more than a collection of frequencies. And we’re the only ones in the animal kingdom who can do that. Whales make sounds, but only humans compose songs. That’s magical too.”

At the end of a night not to be forgotten, I knew that the next time I would see Paul would be when the tour resumed in Europe in December. Saying our goodbyes before some well-deserved time off, I did manage to ask Paul what he was most excited about for the next leg, and our last gigs of the year.

“They’re all places I love,” he said, graciously. “Paris is always a beautiful city to visit, and normally a great crowd for us, so I anticipate having fun there. Madrid is lovely, and as I learned a bit of Spanish in school, it’s always nice to talk a little bit in the local language, so I’m looking forward to that. Manchester is next to my old hometown, and even though there’s always been a rivalry between there and Liverpool, it’s a great city, and we love it really. Then, to finish it all up around Christmas time in London is exciting, as we can all go into the holidays and be very glad to simply have a wonderful Christmas time!”

So, to all the fans and new friends we met in Central and South America: ¡hasta pronto!