Paul McCartney live: Nippon Budokan, Tokyo
Tuesday 28 April 2015 | Out There Tour | Tokyo, Japan
Overview
On 28 April 2015, Paul McCartney performed at the Nippon Budokan in Tokyo as part of the Out There Tour. The concert was the 69th show of a 91-date world tour running from May 2013 to October 2015, and was attended by 11,833 fans.
The show was notable for a significantly revised setlist, including the first-ever live performance of the Beatles song Another Girl.
Historical Significance
The Nippon Budokan holds a unique place in Beatles history. In June–July 1966, The Beatles performed five concerts at the venue during their final world tour — the only time the band played Japan. The shows were controversial at the time, as Japanese authorities considered the Budokan a sacred martial arts venue, and protests were held against the concerts.
McCartney's return to the Budokan in 2015 carried deep personal resonance, and he acknowledged the venue's significance during the show. He would return again during his One On One Tour in 2017.
Band Line-up
- Paul McCartney – vocals, bass, guitar, piano
- Paul “Wix” Wickens – keyboards, vocals
- Brian Ray – guitar, bass, vocals
- Rusty Anderson – guitar, vocals
- Abe Laboriel Jr – drums, vocals
Setlist Notes
The 28 April setlist was a significant departure from the standard Out There Tour running order. Several regular staples were omitted, including The Long And Winding Road, Band On The Run, Eleanor Rigby, and Helter Skelter.
In their place, McCartney performed Another Girl — a track from the Help! album (1965) that had never previously been performed live. The inclusion was widely noted by fans and music press as a rare and unexpected addition to his live repertoire.
Other highlights included:
- Eight Days a Week
- Junior's Farm
- All My Loving
- Jet
- Another Girl – first-ever live performance
- Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!
- Something
- Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da
- Back in the USSR
- Live and Let Die
- Hey Jude
- Yesterday
- Golden Slumbers / Carry That Weight / The End
Artist Comment
“It was sensational and quite emotional remembering the first time and then experiencing this fantastic audience tonight… it was crazy. We loved it.” — Paul McCartney
Venue Location
FAQs
What was special about the 28 April 2015 Budokan setlist?
McCartney performed Another Girl live for the first time ever — a track from the 1965 Help! album that had never previously appeared in his live show.
What is the Nippon Budokan's connection to The Beatles?
The Beatles performed five concerts at the Budokan in June–July 1966 during their final world tour — the only time the band played Japan. The shows were controversial, as the venue was considered a sacred martial arts arena.
How many people attended?
11,833 fans attended the 28 April 2015 show.
What tour was this part of?
The Out There Tour, which ran from May 2013 to October 2015 across 91 dates worldwide.
Editorial Note
The 28 April 2015 Budokan show stands as one of the most historically layered concerts of McCartney's solo career — performed at a venue inseparable from Beatles history, with a setlist that reached back to 1965 for a song no audience had ever heard him play live.
Also on 28 April in Beatles History
- Paul McCartney Live at Estadio de Liga, Quito – 28 April 2014
- Recording: Eleanor Rigby – 28 April 1966
- View all events on 28 April in Beatles History
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