2014

Paul did spend some time in the studio, but in 2014 it was to help others. He worked with former bandmate (Lead guitarist in Wings II), Henry McCulloch’s album, BALLYWONDERLAND. The track he helped out on was “Live Long Rock & Roll.”

In January, to celebrate the Beatles’ 50th anniversary of their first trip to America, the Beatles U.S. albums were reissued in a boxset (later during the year, another boxset called “The Japan Box” would be released as well).

Early 2014 saw him work for the first time with Kanye West. He would again work with him in September of 2014.

Three songs were released with Paul’s varying degrees of help.
The album ONLY ONE, released on December 31st had Paul on organ and production of “Only One” single. Paul is also listed as one of SIX co-writers.

“FourFiveSeconds,” a January 2015 single by Rihanna. Paul is listed as acoustic guitar and co-producer. He is also one of NINE listed co-writers.

March of 2015 saw “All Day,” of the album of the same title. Paul plays guitar, whistles and background vocals. He is also one of SEVENTEEN listed co-writers.

Even in 2014-15, Paul still yearned to be relevant with younger audiences, and working with red hot artists, much like he used producers.

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January 25th, in Los Angeles, at the 56th Grammy Awards, Paul was nominated for and WON all five awards, and he performed as well.

1. “Best Rock Song” for “Cut Me Some Slack” which he co-wrote with Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselic and Pat Smear (the documentary “Sound City: Reel to Real” featuring Paul McCartney also won the Best Compilation Soundtrack).
2. “Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package” for the 2013 “Wings Over America” re-issue.
3. “Best Surround Sound Album” for “Live Kisses“.
4. “Best Music Film” for “Live Kisses“.
5. The Beatles had received the “Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award“ the night before.

Paul was joined on stage by Ringo Starr to perform “Queenie Eye“, from the “NEW” album.

The day after the Grammy Awards, a special event “The Night That Changed America: A Grammy Salute to The Beatles” was held, with the participation, again, of Paul and Ringo. This was broadcast on February 9th.

Paul McCartney arrived in Japan for his new leg of the “Out There” tour, on May 15.

Unfortunately, a few days after his arrival, it was reported that McCartney had been bedridden by an unspecified virus on doctor’s orders. At first, concerts were postponed; but in the end, the entire Asian leg of the tour had to be cancelled, as well as some US dates scheduled in June. McCartney would return to Japan and Korea, in April 2015.

I remember at the time “fearing” that this could end up much worse than rescheduling concert dates. But Paul pulled through and thankfully no health scares since then.

“Meat Free Monday” celebrated it’s five year mark on June 16th, with Paul writing a new song, which featured fans contributing to the music video.

Mid June of 2014 saw him hook up the Hollywood Vampires, on their self titled album, on his 1969 written, “Come And Get it.”

According to band member Joe Perry (Aerosmith): “We were really grateful to have him come in and cut the track. I mean, for all of us, it was like, ‘Holy shit, we’re actually doing a session with Paul McCartney….I mean, talk about an ego leveler.”

Perry added that during the session, which was done live in the studio, he, Johnny Depp and Alice Cooper “were looking at each other like, ‘I can’t believe this is happening.’”

Like many other musicians who grew up during the 1960s, Perry credited The Beatles with inspiring his career path. “I remember watching them on Ed Sullivan when I was 14…I mean, that why I’m doing what I’m doing today.

And to have [McCartney] just strolling in like any [of the] other cats that played on [the album] was really amazing. I still can’t believe it. Getting to play it live with the guy who wrote it, and a Beatle was, like, stunning.”

Mid June of 2014also had Paul and his band rehearsing for the next leg of their “Out There!” world tour. In 2014 he would perform thirty six shows in seven countries.

“A Hard Days Night” 50th anniversary included a release on DBD and Blu-Ray on June 24th in the US. July 4th saw it open in select US theaters in honor. July 21st, it was released in Europe.

July 28th saw the next set of Archive Releases. This year it was VENUS AND MARS and AT THE SPEED OF SOUND. Both albums were available in a variety of physical and digital formats, including Standard Editions (2 disc CD’s), Deluxe (3 disc, 2 CD’s/1 DVD) with books, Vinyl and Digital. At this point vinyl was just special gate fold editions, and only in black.

He attended LIPA’s 2014 graduation ceremony.

He signed a guitar used to raise money to help elephants. Starting August 13, 2014, the auction for a Martin guitar started. The auction ended on August 24, and the proceeds went to the Nature Conservancy’s African Elephant Initiative.

“To have Sir Paul’s support and working with Martin Guitar is a real honor. This caliber of collaboration will make a difference to help end the worst poaching crisis in history.”

August 16th had Paul appear again at the 5th “Apollo in the Hamptons” benefit concert. Paul danced onstage and sang with an all-star cast that included Jamie Foxx, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie at the fundraiser for the Apollo Theater. The event also included performances by Gladys Knight, Jon Bon Jovi, Sting, The Roots and Pharrell Williams.

The DESTINY ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK was released on September 26th, with a single pulled from it, “Hope For The Future.”

“Hope For The Future” was produced by Giles Martin, son of George. First tracks were laid down in 2012 at Hog Hill Mill studio, before further recording took place at Avatar Studio in September 2012.

Some orchestral and choral overdubs were also added at Abbey Road Studios in late November 2012. Credit details also mentioned some work at AIR Studios

November 7th saw Paul, and Carrie Underwood star at a private concert From Paul McCartney, Carrie Underwood Star At billionaire Ron Baron’s (forbes.com) Investment Conference. Over 4000 investors from across the country and abroad convened at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York. The highly-anticipated annual conference, in its 23rd year, is famous not just for big-name CEO speakers but also superstar performers who remain a surprise until the moment they take stage.

Paul instantly fired up the audience in the opera house when he appeared. “I love you Paul!” One investor jumped up from her seat and screamed the moment McCartney appeared.

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On November 20th Paul collaborated with a company name Jaunt, using its virtual reality technology to provide an immersive experience of his recent concert at San Francisco’s Candlestick Park. He would work again with Jaunt in 2018 for the “Pure McCartney VR” Documentary Series.

From Jaunt: Completely immersive VR footage of Paul’s Historic Candlestick Park concert ready for download. Earlier this year Paul made history when he performed the last concert at San Francisco’s Candlestick Park, the very same stadium that saw The Beatles last public concert 48 years ago, almost to the day. A new app launched today by Jaunt allows fans to relive the magic of that night—more accurately experience it for the first time in a completely immersive 360-degree virtual environment offering access to Paul like never before: the Jaunt VR app puts you right there in the crowd, onstage, backstage, or even right by Paul’s side in the midst of the climactic pyro, as he performs ‘Live and Let Die’ live at Candlestick.

Finally, in December, Ringo Starr first learned he was receiving the 2015 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s Award for Musical Excellence when Paul McCartney called him up about two weeks ago. “He said, ‘Would you accept the award?’” Starr says. “I said, ‘Sure, man.’ He said he’d been talking to Dave Grohl and other people and they were stunned that I wasn’t in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and he needed something to do that night and he’s going to give me the award.”

Next 2015……….