Sir Paul McCartney brought the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee concert to a close at the Victoria Memorial outside Buckingham Palace, London.
He played a five-song set, opening with ‘Magical Mystery Tour’, followed by ‘All My Loving’, ‘Let It Be’, ‘Live And Let Die’, and ‘Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da’.
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).
The band members were in high spirits on Twitter in the lead-up to the concert, posting photographs from around London and gossip from the soundcheck.
Looks like Wix has a serious case of Royal Fever. http://t.co/qeW7HGVN
— Brian Ray (@brianrayguitar) June 5, 2012
“@ebertchicago: S. Fry finds the coverage of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee "mind-numbingly tedious." almost as tedious as waiting to play
— Brian Ray (@brianrayguitar) June 4, 2012
It's an incredible feeling to play a once in a lifetime gig…
for a second time!!! #guiltypleasure #Jubilee
: ) >— abe laboriel jr (@ogabejr) June 4, 2012
Ready for soundcheck @ the Palace for the Queen's Jubilee. Hope the sun comes out to play.
They've polished the statue! #jubilee— Brian Ray (@brianrayguitar) June 4, 2012
Stevie Wonder sounded rediculously good at soundcheck. #jubilee
— Brian Ray (@brianrayguitar) June 4, 2012
Stevie Wonder & band just kicked a seriously grooving Superstition @ soundcheck!!!
Wow!!!
: ) >— abe laboriel jr (@ogabejr) June 4, 2012
just digging on stevie wonder's stellar Soundcheck for the queens jubilee tonight
— Rusty Anderson (@rustyanderson1) June 4, 2012
The kit, getting ready for the palace…
: ) > pic.twitter.com/vOGx1OI9— abe laboriel jr (@ogabejr) June 3, 2012
The Diamond Jubilee Concert had performers from every decade of the Queen’s 60-year reign, including Sir Cliff Richard, Sir Elton John, Sir Tom Jones, Dame Shirley Bassey, Kylie Minogue, Robbie Williams and will.i.am.
The event was seen by 18,000 ticket holders, with tens of thousands more watching from the Mall. The three-hour concert was also broadcast by the BBC.
For the closing song, ‘Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da’, the band was joined by all the acts from the night. McCartney played a Höfner bass guitar emblazoned with a Union flag design. The lining of his jacket, which he took off before the song, also had the same design.
After the final song a speech was given by Prince Charles in tribute to the Queen. The event ended with the Queen lighting a beacon flame, and a firework display.
Also on this day...
- 2023: Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band live: Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery, Woodinville
- 2022: Paul McCartney live: JMA Wireless Dome, Syracuse
- 2022: Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band live: Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion, Gilford
- 2016: Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band live: Seneca Allegany Casino, Salamanca
- 2012: The Beatles named as UK’s biggest-selling singles act in Queen’s reign
- 2011: Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band live: National Palace of Arts Ukraina, Kyiv
- 2007: UK album release: Memory Almost Full by Paul McCartney
- 2004: Paul McCartney live: Zentralstadion, Leipzig
- 2000: Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band live: Chastain Park Amphitheater, Atlanta
- 1993: Paul McCartney live: Silverdome, Pontiac
- 1991: US album release: Unplugged (The Official Bootleg) by Paul McCartney
- 1976: Wings live: Civic Center, Saint Paul
- 1969: US single release: The Ballad Of John And Yoko
- 1968: Recording, mixing: Revolution 1
- 1967: McCartney and Harrison watch Jimi Hendrix in London
- 1965: UK EP release: Beatles For Sale No 2
- 1964: The Beatles’ world tour begins in Copenhagen, Denmark
- 1964: Recording, mixing, editing: Long Tall Sally, Matchbox, I Call Your Name, Slow Down, When I Get Home, Any Time At All, I’ll Cry Instead
- 1963: The Beatles live: Town Hall, Birmingham
- 1962: Rehearsal: Cavern Club, Liverpool
- 1961: The Beatles live: Top Ten Club, Hamburg
- 1960: The Silver Beetles live: Grosvenor Ballroom, Wallasey
Want more? Visit the Beatles history section.
That was a nice concert. I especially enjoyed Tom Jones who at 72 still had an amazing voice – and looked fanastic with his silver hair! 😉
Too bad this can’t be said about Paul, his age shows more and more in his voice AND his looks…
Still in a very good shape considering his age and touring shedule…
I agree, Paul’s voice was not in very good shape. I wonder if he ever considers dropping the songs a step or two. That would help.
Paul looked amazing. I loved seeing him, he looks in great shape for his age.
And he was sick. Everyone is, like, criticizing the man, I thought people would have the capacity to see he was sick. Until a month ago he was giving great performances, with a great vocal in it, and a few weeks ago(in the LIPA thing), he said he wasn’t feeling so well, he’s not 20 any more so obviously it’s a lot difficult for him to recover especially when it affects his vocal ability. So I think it was a phenomenal performance regarding him being a little bit under the weather.
Everyone was fine. I liked most of the performances. A lot of great musicians.
THANK YOU for pointing this out. It was clear when he was talking during the concert that he was sick. Finally got to see him in Nashville, TN two years ago. He sang great and it was hard to believe I was actually SEEING him. Hands down the best concert I have ever been to! I’ve loved this man since I was 7 1/2 years old in 1964. To see him was the ultimate thrill.
Thought he might have squeezed “Her Majesty” into the set list somewhere.
He started his set with Her Majesty in the Golden Jubilee concert, ten years ago, followed up with a sheepish little apology to Her Maj!