Paul McCartney live: AOL Arena, Hamburg – 21 May 2003

Q: Why was the Hamburg show significant?

Hamburg was where The Beatles served their musical apprenticeship between 1960 and 1962. John Lennon said: 'I was born in Liverpool, but I grew up in Hamburg.'

Q: What is the AOL Arena?

The name at the time for the Volksparkstadion in Hamburg — home of Hamburger SV, capacity around 57,000. It has since reverted to the name Volksparkstadion.

May 18, 2026

Paul McCartney live: AOL Arena, Hamburg – 21 May 2003

Wednesday 21 May 2003 | Live, Paul McCartney
AOL Arena, Hamburg, Germany

Paul McCartney performed at the AOL Arena in Hamburg on 21 May 2003 — the 29th date of the 33-date Back In The World Tour. The show was a homecoming of sorts: Hamburg was the city where The Beatles had served their musical apprenticeship between 1960 and 1962, playing thousands of hours across the Indra, the Kaiserkeller, the Top Ten Club, and the Star-Club. Three days later, McCartney would perform at Red Square in Moscow.

The AOL Arena

The AOL Arena was the name at the time for the Volksparkstadion in Hamburg — the home ground of Hamburger SV football club. The stadium had been rebuilt and modernised in the late 1990s and had a capacity of around 57,000. It has since been renamed the Volksparkstadion again. Hamburg is Germany's second-largest city and one of its principal live music markets; the venue was a natural choice for a major stadium show on the European leg of the tour.

McCartney and Hamburg

The significance of Hamburg to McCartney — and to The Beatles — cannot be overstated. Between 1960 and 1962, the group played five residencies in Hamburg clubs, accumulating thousands of hours of live performance experience that transformed them from a competent Liverpool beat group into one of the tightest live acts in the world. John Lennon later said: “I was born in Liverpool, but I grew up in Hamburg.” McCartney has returned to Hamburg on multiple occasions as a solo artist, and the city retains a special place in his personal history.

The Band

Paul 'Wix' Wickens — vocals, keyboards, guitar, percussion, harmonica. McCartney's longest-serving touring musician, with him since 1989.
Brian Ray — vocals, guitar, bass. An American guitarist and bassist who joined McCartney's band in 2002 and has remained a core member since.
Rusty Anderson — vocals, guitar. An American guitarist who joined McCartney's band in 2001 and has remained a core member since. He has also released solo albums.
Abe Laboriel Jr — vocals, drums. An American drummer and the son of celebrated bassist Abraham Laboriel Sr. He joined McCartney's band in 2001 and has remained a core member since, becoming one of the most recognisable faces of McCartney's live shows.

The Back In The World Tour

The Back In The World Tour was the European leg of McCartney's wider touring activity in 2002–03, following the North American Driving World Tour of 2002. It ran for 33 dates between March and June 2003, visiting France, Spain, Belgium, England, the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Italy, Austria, Hungary, Ireland, and Russia. The Moscow show on 24 May 2003 — at Red Square — was one of the most celebrated of McCartney's career: the first rock concert ever held in Red Square, watched by an estimated 100,000 people and broadcast live on Russian television. The tour closed on 1 June 2003 at King's Dock in Liverpool.

The Setlist

'Hello, Goodbye'
'Jet'
'All My Loving'
'Getting Better'
'Let Me Roll It'
'Lonely Road'
'Your Loving Flame'
'Blackbird'
'Every Night'
'We Can Work It Out'
'You Never Give Me Your Money'
'Carry That Weight'
'The Fool On The Hill'
'Here Today'
'Something'
'Eleanor Rigby'
'Here, There And Everywhere'
'I've Just Seen A Face'
'Calico Skies'
'Two Of Us'
'Michelle'
'Band On The Run'
'Back In The USSR'
'Maybe I'm Amazed'
'Let 'Em In'
'My Love'
'She's Leaving Home'
'Can't Buy Me Love'
'Birthday'
'Live And Let Die'
'Let It Be'
'Hey Jude'
'The Long And Winding Road'
'Lady Madonna'
'I Saw Her Standing There'
'Yesterday'
'Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)'
'The End'

Back In The World Tour Dates

25 Mar: Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy, Paris
28 Mar: Palau Sant Jordi, Barcelona
29 Mar: Palau Sant Jordi, Barcelona
1 Apr: Sportpaleis, Antwerp
2 Apr: Sportpaleis, Antwerp
5 Apr: Hallam FM Arena, Sheffield
9 Apr: MEN Arena, Manchester
10 Apr: MEN Arena, Manchester
13 Apr: National Indoor Arena, Birmingham
14 Apr: National Indoor Arena, Birmingham
18 Apr: Earls Court Exhibition Centre, London
19 Apr: Earls Court Exhibition Centre, London
21 Apr: Earls Court Exhibition Centre, London
22 Apr: Earls Court Exhibition Centre, London
25 Apr: GelreDome, Arnhem
27 Apr: Kölnarena, Cologne
28 Apr: Kölnarena, Cologne
30 Apr: Preussag Arena, Hanover
2 May: Parken Stadium, Copenhagen
4 May: Globe Arena, Stockholm
5 May: Globe Arena, Stockholm
8 May: König-Pilsener-Arena, Oberhausen
10 May: Colosseum, Rome
11 May: Piazza del Colosseo, Rome
14 May: Wiener Stadthalle, Vienna
15 May: Sportaréna, Budapest
17 May: Königsplatz, Munich
18 May: Königsplatz, Munich
21 May: AOL Arena, Hamburg
24 May: Red Square, Moscow
27 May: RDS Arena, Dublin
29 May: Hallam FM Arena, Sheffield
1 Jun: King's Dock, Liverpool

Key Facts: 21 May 2003

Venue: AOL Arena (Volksparkstadion), Hamburg, Germany
Tour date: 29 of 33
Songs performed: 38
Next show: Red Square, Moscow, 24 May 2003
Tour close: King's Dock, Liverpool, 1 June 2003

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the Back In The World Tour?

The European leg of McCartney's touring activity in 2003, running for 33 dates between March and June across France, Spain, Belgium, England, the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Italy, Austria, Hungary, Ireland, and Russia.

Why was the Hamburg show significant?

Hamburg was the city where The Beatles served their musical apprenticeship between 1960 and 1962, playing thousands of hours across the Indra, Kaiserkeller, Top Ten Club, and Star-Club. John Lennon said: “I was born in Liverpool, but I grew up in Hamburg.”

What happened at Red Square three days later?

McCartney performed at Red Square in Moscow on 24 May 2003 — the first rock concert ever held there, watched by an estimated 100,000 people and broadcast live on Russian television.

Who was in McCartney's band for the Back In The World Tour?

Paul 'Wix' Wickens (keyboards), Brian Ray (guitar/bass), Rusty Anderson (guitar), and Abe Laboriel Jr (drums).

What is the AOL Arena?

The name at the time for the Volksparkstadion in Hamburg — the home ground of Hamburger SV, with a capacity of around 57,000. It has since reverted to the name Volksparkstadion.