Wings - Meet The Band

Picture the scene: It’s 1970, and your band (the biggest band in the world) is breaking up. You’ve left London and retreated to the Scottish countryside with your young family, where you can shut out the noise and connect with nature. You find yourself at a crossroads, faced with a choice that will define the rest of your life and career: Do you give up music altogether? Or do you pick your instruments up and start again?

This was the choice facing Paul when The Beatles disbanded. Luckily for us, he chose the latter option and began releasing his own albums; first with McCartney in April 1970, followed by RAM with his wife Linda in May 1971. With each new record Paul got his groove back, and, missing the camaraderie that came with being part a group, he started looking for other musicians to join him. 

And just like that, over a few short summer days on the McCartney farm in Scotland, Wings was born. Starting with Paul, Linda, Denny Laine and Denny Seiwell, the band went through a few line-up changes over the next decade, welcoming Henry McCullough, Jimmy McCulloch, Geoff Britton, Joe English, Steve Holley and Laurence Juber at various points in time.

More than 40 years after the band's final tour, Wings continue to find new audiences. The group's story is currently being celebrated through the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame's major exhibition, Paul McCartney and Wings, the first museum exhibition dedicated to exploring the band's extraordinary journey from formation to farewell. Fans can also dive deeper into the band's history through the acclaimed documentary, Man on the Run on Amazon Prime, the internationally bestselling oral history, Wings: The Story of a Band on the Run, and its forthcoming paperback edition, as well as the self-titled definitive collection of their music, WINGS.

So, what can we tell you about these incredible musicians who made rock and roll history? 

Paul McCartney ⁠ ⁠
⁠Member: 1971 – 1981 ⁠ ⁠
⁠Instruments: Vocals, guitar, bass guitar, drums, keyboards

Founding member of Wings. Paul remained the group’s de facto leader and primary songwriter through the course of seven studio albums with Wings and numerous lineup changes. The name ‘Wings’ also came from Paul: it was inspired by the birth of Paul and Linda's daughter Stella, and Paul's vision of an angel for her safe delivery.

Linda McCartney ⁠
⁠Member: 1971 – 1981
⁠⁠Instruments: Keyboards, vocals

Founding member of Wings. Linda joined the band following a request from her husband Paul, and her artistry influenced both the group’s sound and its image. Along with her vocal harmonies and work on the ARP Odyssey and Minimoog keyboards, Linda contributed to album artwork and was one of the first examples of a female musician in an otherwise all-male rock band.

Denny Laine ⁠
⁠Member: 1971 – 1981
⁠⁠Instruments: Guitar, vocals, keyboards

Founding member of Wings. Paul knew Denny Laine as the frontman of Birmingham group The Moody Blues, and along with Paul and Linda, he would go on to be the only other constant member of Wings. His songwriting credits in the group include five songs from London Town, as well as ‘Mull of Kintyre’ .

Denny Seiwell ⁠
⁠Member: 1971 – 1973 ⁠
⁠Instrument: Drums

Founding member of Wings. Denny Seiwell first worked with Paul and Linda on the RAM recording sessions in New York, after a successful (and low-key) audition. He relocated to the UK to play with Wings and contributed to Wild Life and Red Rose Speedway, before leaving the group just before the Band on the Run sessions in Lagos.

Henry McCullough ⁠
⁠Member: 1972 – 1973
⁠⁠Instrument: Guitar

Henry McCullough was a Londonderry-born guitarist who joined Wings after building an impressive reputation with bands including Eire Apparent, Joe Cocker’s Grease Band and Spooky Tooth. He played on several of Wings’ early hits, including ‘Hi, Hi, Hi’, ‘Live and Let Die’ and the iconic guitar solo on ‘My Love’, before leaving the group ahead of the Band on the Run sessions in Lagos.

Jimmy McCulloch ⁠
⁠Member: 1974 – 1977 ⁠
⁠Instruments: Guitar, vocals

Scottish guitarist Jimmy McCulloch joined Wings in 1974 after impressing Paul with his work on his brother’s album McGear, becoming a key part of the band's most commercially successful line-up. Despite being only 21 when he joined, he already had a decade of professional experience and his melodic guitar work became a defining part of Wings' sound, while he also contributed vocals and songwriting on tracks including ‘Medicine Jar’ and ‘Wino Junko’

Geoff Britton ⁠
⁠Member: 1974 – 1975
⁠⁠Instrument: Drums

Geoff Britton joined Wings in 1974 after emerging as the successful candidate from a series of auditions to replace departed drummer Denny Seiwell. He played on key recordings including ‘Junior's Farm’, ‘Sally G’ and early Venus and Mars sessions. Although his time in the band was short-lived, Britton contributed to an important transitional period as Wings rebuilt their line-up and prepared for a new chapter. ⁠ ⁠

⁠Joe English ⁠ ⁠
⁠Member: 1975 – 1977 ⁠⁠
⁠Instruments: Drums, vocals

American drummer Joe English joined Wings in 1975 during the recording of Venus and Mars, bringing a powerful playing style that helped drive the band through its biggest touring years. He performed on the Wings Over the World tour and took lead vocal on ‘Must Do Something About It’ from At the Speed of Sound. English remained with the group until 1977, when homesickness led him to leave and return to the United States.

Steve Holley ⁠ ⁠
⁠Member: 1978 – 1981 ⁠
⁠Instrument: Drums

London-born drummer Steve Holley joined Wings in 1978 after impressing Paul at an informal audition arranged through Denny Laine. Alongside Laurence Juber, he became part of the band's final line-up, performing on Back to the Egg and the subsequent UK tour. Holley has often credited his time with Wings as an important creative learning experience, particularly in developing confidence as a musician.

Laurence Juber ⁠ ⁠ ⁠
⁠Member: 1978 – 1981 ⁠ ⁠ ⁠
⁠Instrument: Guitar

Guitarist Laurence Juber joined Wings in 1978, completing the group's final line-up following Jimmy McCulloch's departure. A highly accomplished session musician with a background in jazz and popular music, Juber brought technical versatility and musicianship to Back to the Egg and Wings' final tour. Following the band's dissolution, he established a successful career as a solo performer, composer and acclaimed acoustic guitarist.