Paul McCartney Live at Königsplatz, Munich – 17 May 2003

Q: What was the Back In The World Tour?

Paul McCartney's 2003 European tour, 33 dates from 25 March to 1 June, continuing from the Driving World Tour of 2002. It included landmark shows at the Colosseum in Rome and Red Square in Moscow.

May 17, 2026

Paul McCartney Live at Königsplatz, Munich – 17 May 2003

Saturday 17 May 2003 | Live, Paul McCartney
Königsplatz, Munich, Germany

On 17 May 2003, Paul McCartney performed an outdoor concert at the Königsplatz in Munich — the 27th date of the Back In The World Tour and the first of two consecutive nights at the venue. The 38-song set was one of the longest of the tour, and the Königsplatz — a grand neoclassical square in the heart of Munich — provided one of the most historically resonant settings of McCartney's touring career.

The Königsplatz

The Königsplatz — King's Square — is a large neoclassical public square in Munich, designed in the early 19th century and flanked by three monumental buildings: the Propylaeum, the Glyptothek (a museum of ancient sculpture), and the State Collection of Antiquities. It was used by the Nazi regime for mass rallies in the 1930s and 1940s, giving it a complex and weighty historical significance. McCartney performing there in 2003 — in front of a large outdoor crowd — was a striking reclamation of the space for popular culture.

The Back In The World Tour

The Back In The World Tour ran from 25 March to 1 June 2003, covering 33 dates across Europe. It was a continuation of the Driving World Tour of 2002, using the same band and a largely similar setlist, and took its name from the international version of McCartney's 2002 live album. The tour included landmark outdoor shows — most notably a concert at the Colosseum in Rome on 10–11 May 2003, and the Königsplatz shows in Munich — as well as a historic performance at Red Square in Moscow on 24 May, the first rock concert ever held there.

The Band

Paul 'Wix' Wickens — vocals, keyboards, guitar, percussion, harmonica
Brian Ray — vocals, guitar, bass
Rusty Anderson — vocals, guitar
Abe Laboriel Jr — vocals, drums

The Setlist

The 38-song set spanned McCartney's entire career:

'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'

'Something' was performed as a solo ukulele tribute to George Harrison, who had died on 29 November 2001. 'Here Today' was McCartney's tribute to John Lennon. 'Two of Us' — the Lennon-McCartney song from Let It Be — was a poignant inclusion in the context of both tributes. 'Yesterday' was performed solo on acoustic guitar.

Back In The World Tour: Complete Date List

25 Mar 2003: Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy, Paris
28 Mar 2003: Palau Sant Jordi, Barcelona
29 Mar 2003: Palau Sant Jordi, Barcelona
1 Apr 2003: Sportpaleis, Antwerp
2 Apr 2003: Sportpaleis, Antwerp
5 Apr 2003: Hallam FM Arena, Sheffield
9 Apr 2003: MEN Arena, Manchester
10 Apr 2003: MEN Arena, Manchester
13 Apr 2003: National Indoor Arena, Birmingham
14 Apr 2003: National Indoor Arena, Birmingham
18 Apr 2003: Earls Court Exhibition Centre, London
19 Apr 2003: Earls Court Exhibition Centre, London
21 Apr 2003: Earls Court Exhibition Centre, London
22 Apr 2003: Earls Court Exhibition Centre, London
25 Apr 2003: GelreDome, Arnhem
27 Apr 2003: Kölnarena, Cologne
28 Apr 2003: Kölnarena, Cologne
30 Apr 2003: Preussag Arena, Hanover
2 May 2003: Parken Stadium, Copenhagen
4 May 2003: Globe Arena, Stockholm
5 May 2003: Globe Arena, Stockholm
8 May 2003: König-Pilsener-Arena, Oberhausen
10 May 2003: Colosseum, Rome
11 May 2003: Piazza del Colosseo, Rome
14 May 2003: Wiener Stadthalle, Vienna
15 May 2003: Sportaréna, Budapest
17 May 2003: Königsplatz, Munich
18 May 2003: Königsplatz, Munich
21 May 2003: AOL Arena, Hamburg
24 May 2003: Red Square, Moscow
27 May 2003: RDS Arena, Dublin
29 May 2003: Hallam FM Arena, Sheffield
1 Jun 2003: King's Dock, Liverpool

Key Facts: 17 May 2003

Venue: Königsplatz, Munich, Germany
Tour date: 27 of 33
Songs performed: 38
Band: Paul 'Wix' Wickens, Brian Ray, Rusty Anderson, Abe Laboriel Jr
Tour: Back In The World Tour (25 March – 1 June 2003)
Other landmark shows on tour: Colosseum, Rome (10–11 May); Red Square, Moscow (24 May)
'Something': Solo ukulele tribute to George Harrison (died 29 November 2001)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Königsplatz in Munich?

A large neoclassical public square in Munich, flanked by the Propylaeum, the Glyptothek, and the State Collection of Antiquities. It was used by the Nazi regime for mass rallies in the 1930s and 1940s, and has since been reclaimed as a venue for major public events and concerts.

What was the Back In The World Tour?

Paul McCartney's 2003 European tour, running from 25 March to 1 June across 33 dates. It continued from the Driving World Tour of 2002 with the same band and a similar setlist, and included landmark shows at the Colosseum in Rome and Red Square in Moscow.

How many songs did McCartney play in Munich on 17 May 2003?

38 songs, spanning his entire career from The Beatles through Wings to his solo work.

How did McCartney perform 'Something' on the Back In The World Tour?

As a solo ukulele tribute to George Harrison, who had died on 29 November 2001.

What was significant about the Red Square concert on this tour?

McCartney's concert at Red Square in Moscow on 24 May 2003 was the first rock concert ever held there — one of the most historically significant performances of his career.