On this evening Paul McCartney saw trumpet player David Mason performing Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto Number 2 in F Major with the English Chamber Orchestra from Guildford Cathedral, on the the BBC 2 television series Masterworks. Impressed with what he heard, McCartney decided to use him for the final overdub on ‘Penny Lane’.
Mason was telephoned the following day by George Martin, and booked for a studio session on 17 January 1967. There, he added the famous piccolo trumpet solo.
In the evening McCartney and Ringo Starr saw Jimi Hendrix perform for the first time, at one of Hendrix’s regular shows at the Bag O’Nails club in London.
Last updated: 30 November 2010
Also on this day...
- 2017: Beatles poster artist Tony Booth dies
- 2016: Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr pay tribute to David Bowie
- 1990: Paul McCartney live: Wembley Arena, London
- 1968: Recording: Wonderwall Music by George Harrison
- 1965: Live: Another Beatles Christmas Show
- 1964: Live: The Beatles’ Christmas Show
- 1963: The Beatles live: Plaza, Old Hill
- 1963: The Beatles live: Cavern Club, Liverpool (lunchtime)
- 1963: UK single release: Please Please Me
- 1962: The Beatles live: Cavern Club, Liverpool (lunchtime)
Want more? Visit the Beatles history section.
So on the same day, Paul finds inspiring exposure to David Mason performing Bach, and Jimi Hendrix performing, well, Jimi Hendrix — how Macca sponged up musical influences!