Band on the Run: A History of Paul McCartney and Wings (Paperback)

~ Garry McGee (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Just as Disney fans are either "Mouse" or "Duck" people, Beatlemaniacs are either John or Paul people. Although perhaps not without interest to both camps, McGee's book aims at Paul people who are also Wings fans, which raises some special challenges, such as evaluating Linda McCartney's contribution to the band and Paul's willingness to share credit and remuneration for Wings' commercial success. McGee is frank about the latter. For instance, he cites Denny Laine's situation vis-a-vis "Mull of Kintyre," for which he should have been paid millions but, as a contractual collaborator, got very little. Such was doing business within Wings. As for Linda's musicianship, while no one lauds her keyboard virtuosity, and some disdain her singing, Wings guitarist Henry McCullough says, "it didn't make any difference because she was playing a part"-- rather like hired hand Sid Vicious in the Sex Pistols, eh? McCartney says he doesn't regret Wings or think it was "that much of a mess." High praise. As a book-length exploration of McCartney's first post-Beatles band, this is the stuff. Mike Tribby
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Description

The author traces the history of Wings and delves into the inner dynamics of the group, its commercial and artistic success, and its demise.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Taylor Trade Publishing; 1 edition (April 25, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0878333045
• ISBN-13: 978-0878333042
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #765,074 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best book on McCartney's post-Beatles career, May 11, 2003

By	John Doc Holliday (Northern Virginia) - See all my reviews

Of all the books on Paul McCartney, this is the best one on his career, post-Beatles. Unlike most other bios, this one gets about as deep as it can in telling Wings' story.

I found this book very even-handed in its approach. No whitewashes or hatchet jobs. It even tells the stories of the recordings of some of McCartney's and Wings' lesser works, "Ram" and "Red Rose Speedway," two albums rarely discussed in other books.

The book offers a list of every Wings concert, as well as the set lists from their tours.

As of now, this is the best Wings bio out there, and is worthy of any McCartney fan's time.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars band on the run a history of paul mccartney and wings, May 18, 2003

By	jan (mason city iowa) - See all my reviews

if your a fan of wings and paul mccartney this is the one book you must have. garry has done his research well and has got the whole story behind the scenes. it tells the fans why wings was so successful and of all the problems withen the band. the book tells all the sides and has not sugar coated them. the book also contains many rare wings promo material, a complete discography and a interview with former guitarist henry mccullough.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Based on twenty years' worth of research and interviews, May 15, 2003

By	Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

Band On The Run: A History Of Paul Mccartney And Wings by Garry McGee (who spend more than twenty years in collecting materials and interviews for this book) is the informative biography of the famous former Beatles member that concentrates exclusively on the music Paul McCartney made after he left the Beatles and strived to refine his music with a personally chosen group of studio musicians. Based on twenty years' worth of research and interviews, Band On The Run successfully strives to present an accurate portrait of Paul McCartney, the Wings band, and their musical contribution to popular culture in the twentieth century.