Paul McCartney live: Super Bowl XXXVI, Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans

Paul McCartney performed at the Super Bowl XXXVI pregame ceremony at the Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, USA, on 3 February 2002.

The Super Bowl was played between the National Football Conference champions St Louis Rams and the American Football Conference champions New England Patriots. The Patriots defeated the Rams 20–17.

Prior to the game, an ensemble of singers including Barry Manilow, Yolanda Adams, James Ingram, Wynonna Judd, and Patti LaBelle performed Manilow’s song ‘Let Freedom Ring’. Following speeches by players and former presidents, Mary J Blige and Marc Anthony performed ‘America The Beautiful’ with backing by the Boston Pops Orchestra.

McCartney then performed ‘Freedom’, written in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Afterwards Mariah Carey and the Boston Pops Orchestra performed the national anthem., performed “America the Beautiful”. Paul McCartney then sang his post-9/11 song “Freedom”. Afterwards, singer Mariah Carey, accompanied by the Boston Pops Orchestra, performed ‘The Star Spangled Banner’.

McCartney’s band was Paul ‘Wix’ Wickens (vocals, keyboards, guitar, percussion, harmonica), Brian Ray (vocals, guitar, bass), Rusty Anderson (vocals, guitar), and Abe Laboriel Jr (vocals, drums). This was Ray’s first live performance with the band.

McCartney had previously performed at the Louisiana Superdome during the New World Tour on 24 April 1993.