Thank you, 2024: The Year in Numbers
31.12.2024
Phew! Paul has crammed a lot into the last year! From 23 sold-out shows across Latin America and Europe, to more than 250 photographs exploring his unique view on Beatlemania touring across North America and Japan, over here at PaulMcCartney.com we’ve had fun celebrating it all.
Look back at some of our highlights from 2024, as we review the year in numbers…
9 previously unheard ‘underdubbed’ tracks
Celebrating 50 years of Band on the Run, in February 2024 Paul released a special edition of the record which features ‘underdubbed’ mixes of nine original tracks.
Paul said: “This is Band on the Run in a way you’ve never heard before. When you are making a song and putting on additional parts, like an extra guitar, that’s an overdub. Well, this version of the album is the opposite, underdubbed.”
Find out more and listen to the ‘underdubbed’ tracks here.
5 pound coin collection
In December 2024, Paul was honoured with his own official coin collection. Created and released by The Royal Mint, the coin is part of their Music Legends series which celebrates the life and career of Britain’s greatest musicians. The £5 coin is available in a variety of finishes, including coloured, gold and silver editions.
Paul said: "This feels like a huge honour. It’s not anything I would have ever expected to happen when I was a kid."
You can read the full Royal Mint Q&A with Paul here, and find out more about the coin – including how to get hold of one yourself – by checking out The Royal Mint’s website.
4 new exhibition venues
Paul McCartney Photographs 1963-64: Eyes of the Storm first opened at the National Portrait Gallery, London in 2023, but 2024 saw it go on tour across the globe! The Brooklyn Museum in New York was the first to open its exhibition doors in January; Paul went along to the opening, and sent a message to a fan who was there to greet The Beatles in 1964, creating his viral video moment of the year! Next, the exhibition opened in Tokyo, Japan, before heading to Portland Art Museum on the west coast of the US, and moving onto Knowledge Capital Event Lab in Osaka, Japan.
Paul said: “It’s amazing to see my old photos displayed so wonderfully, and of course, they bring back great memories to me because it’s all the boys!”
Look out for more venues coming in 2025, including the de Young Museum in San Francisco! See all current and upcoming Eyes of the Storm venues here.
2 very special guests
Of course, the end of 2024 saw Paul head back on the road, bringing his acclaimed Got Back tour to audiences in Latin America and Europe! There are so many numbers we could associate with this tour: 23 shows, 11 countries, a 3 hour set list… But the final concert of the year gave us two moments of magic we’re not likely to forget. At The O2 in London, Paul surprised everyone by bringing out not one but two special guests: Rolling Stone Ronnie Wood and fellow Beatle Ringo Starr!
Paul said: “What a year 2024 has been. It’s been great fun getting back on the road with the Got Back tour, because of these enthusiastic audiences in Latin America and Europe.”
1 hand clapping
Finally, there was one long-awaited release in the summer of 2024 that had us all feeling like Christmas had come early. Fifty years after it was originally recorded at Abbey Road Studios, One Hand Clapping – the much sought after live sessions by Paul McCartney and Wings – was given an official audio release. Then, in September, the One Hand Clapping film which documented the band’s time in the studio received a theatrical release, and we all went to the cinemas in droves to go see it on the big screen!
Paul said: “Looking at it now, it captured a really special little period. Beautiful to see Linda, good to see Geoff Britain on drums, and of course Denny, who we sadly lost, and Jimmy McCulloch. So, it was lovely to see them in full flow.”
Looking ahead to 2025, we know that Paul has many more exciting projects up his sleeve... 👐 We can’t reveal too much, but sign up to the Wings Fun Club to be the first to find out more!
Whether you’ve listened to his music, been to his show, visited his exhibition or ‘liked’ what you saw on social media – thank you for being a fan, and for helping to make the last year so special. Happy New Year, and we’ll see you in 2025!
