Wings Live at the Capital Centre, Landover – 16 May 1976

Sunday 16 May 1976 | Live, Paul McCartney, Wings
Capital Centre, Landover, Maryland, USA

On 16 May 1976, Wings performed at the Capital Centre in Landover, Maryland — the 37th night of the 65-date Wings Over the World Tour and the second of two consecutive nights at the venue. The 29-song set included five Beatles songs performed live for the first time since 1966, and 'Live and Let Die' with full pyrotechnics. It was one of the largest and most ambitious concert tours of the decade.

The Wings Over the World Tour

The Wings Over the World Tour ran from 9 September 1975 to 21 October 1976, covering the UK, Australia, Europe, and North America across 65 dates. It was the most ambitious concert tour of McCartney's post-Beatles career to that point — and, by any measure, one of the largest rock tours of the 1970s. The North American leg, which had begun on 3 May 1976 in Fort Worth, Texas, was the centrepiece: a run of arena and stadium shows that took Wings through the eastern seaboard, the midwest, and the west coast.

The tour supported Wings at the Speed of Sound, released on 25 March 1976, and drew heavily from Venus and Mars (1975) and Band on the Run (1973). It was filmed for the concert film Rockshow, which was released theatrically in 1980.

The Capital Centre

The Capital Centre was a major indoor arena in Landover, Maryland — in the Washington DC metropolitan area — that opened in 1973 and hosted some of the biggest acts of the 1970s and 1980s. Wings played two consecutive nights there on 15 and 16 May 1976. The venue was demolished in 2002 and replaced by the FedExField stadium complex.

The Wings Lineup

Wings on the Over the World Tour were a nine-piece: Paul McCartney on vocals, guitar, bass guitar, and keyboards; Linda McCartney on vocals and keyboards; Denny Laine on vocals, guitar, and bass guitar; Jimmy McCulloch on guitar and vocals; and Joe English on drums. They were augmented by a four-piece horns and brass section: Howie Casey (saxophone), Tony Dorsey (trombone), Steve Howard (trumpet and flugelhorn), and Thaddeus Richard (saxophone and clarinet). The expanded lineup gave the live show a fullness and power that the studio recordings alone could not replicate.

The Setlist

The 29-song set was one of the longest of any major rock tour of the period, and included a substantial selection of Beatles material performed live for the first time since the group's final concert at Candlestick Park in August 1966:

1. 'Venus and Mars'
2. 'Rock Show'
3. 'Jet'
4. 'Let Me Roll It'
5. 'Spirits of Ancient Egypt'
6. 'Medicine Jar'
7. 'Maybe I'm Amazed'
8. 'Call Me Back Again'
9. 'Lady Madonna'
10. 'The Long and Winding Road'
11. 'Live and Let Die'
12. 'Picasso's Last Words (Drink to Me)'
13. 'Richard Cory'
14. 'Bluebird'
15. 'I've Just Seen a Face'
16. 'Blackbird'
17. 'Yesterday'
18. 'You Gave Me the Answer'
19. 'Magneto and Titanium Man'
20. 'My Love'
21. 'Listen to What the Man Said'
22. 'Let 'Em In'
23. 'Time to Hide'
24. 'Silly Love Songs'
25. 'Beware My Love'
26. 'Letting Go'
27. 'Band on the Run'
28. 'Hi, Hi, Hi'
29. 'Soily'

The Beatles songs in the set — 'Lady Madonna', 'The Long and Winding Road', 'I've Just Seen a Face', 'Blackbird', and 'Yesterday' — were among the most anticipated moments of the tour. McCartney had not performed Beatles material in a concert setting since 1966, and their inclusion was a significant statement about his relationship with that catalogue. 'Live and Let Die' was performed with full pyrotechnics. 'Yesterday' was performed solo on acoustic guitar.

Wings Over the World Tour: Complete Date List

UK (September 1975)

• 9 Sep 1975: Gaumont Theatre, Southampton
• 10 Sep 1975: Hippodrome, Bristol
• 11 Sep 1975: Capitol Theatre, Cardiff
• 12 Sep 1975: Free Trade Hall, Manchester
• 13 Sep 1975: Hippodrome, Birmingham
• 15 Sep 1975: Empire Theatre, Liverpool
• 16 Sep 1975: City Hall, Newcastle upon Tyne
• 17 Sep 1975: Hammersmith Odeon, London
• 18 Sep 1975: Hammersmith Odeon, London
• 20 Sep 1975: Usher Hall, Edinburgh
• 21 Sep 1975: Apollo, Glasgow
• 22 Sep 1975: Capitol Theatre, Aberdeen
• 23 Sep 1975: Caird Hall, Dundee

Australia (November 1975)

• 1 Nov 1975: Perth Entertainment Centre, Perth
• 4 Nov 1975: Apollo Stadium, Adelaide
• 5 Nov 1975: Apollo Stadium, Adelaide
• 7 Nov 1975: Hordern Pavilion, Sydney
• 8 Nov 1975: Hordern Pavilion, Sydney
• 10 Nov 1975: Festival Hall, Brisbane
• 11 Nov 1975: Festival Hall, Brisbane
• 13 Nov 1975: Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Melbourne
• 14 Nov 1975: Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Melbourne

Europe (March 1976)

• 20 Mar 1976: Falkoner Theatre, Copenhagen
• 21 Mar 1976: Falkoner Theatre, Copenhagen
• 23 Mar 1976: Deutschlandhalle, Berlin
• 25 Mar 1976: Rotterdam Ahoy, Rotterdam
• 26 Mar 1976: Pavillon de Paris, Paris

North America (May–June 1976)

• 3 May 1976: Convention Center, Fort Worth
• 4 May 1976: The Summit, Houston
• 7 May 1976: Olympia Stadium, Detroit
• 8 May 1976: Olympia Stadium, Detroit
• 9 May 1976: Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto
• 10 May 1976: Richfield Coliseum, Richfield
• 12 May 1976: Spectrum, Philadelphia
• 14 May 1976: Spectrum, Philadelphia
• 15 May 1976: Capital Centre, Landover
• 16 May 1976: Capital Centre, Landover
• 18 May 1976: Omni Coliseum, Atlanta
• 19 May 1976: Omni Coliseum, Atlanta
• 21 May 1976: Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale
• 22 May 1976: Boston Garden, Boston
• 24 May 1976: Madison Square Garden, New York City
• 25 May 1976: Madison Square Garden, New York City
• 27 May 1976: Riverfront Coliseum, Cincinnati
• 29 May 1976: Kemper Arena, Kansas City
• 31 May 1976: Chicago Stadium, Chicago
• 1 Jun 1976: Chicago Stadium, Chicago
• 2 Jun 1976: Chicago Stadium, Chicago
• 4 Jun 1976: Civic Center, St Paul
• 7 Jun 1976: McNichols Sports Arena, Denver
• 10 Jun 1976: Kingdome, Seattle
• 13 Jun 1976: Cow Palace, Daly City
• 14 Jun 1976: Cow Palace, Daly City
• 16 Jun 1976: Sports Arena, San Diego
• 18 Jun 1976: Community Center, Tucson
• 21 Jun 1976: The Forum, Inglewood
• 22 Jun 1976: The Forum, Inglewood
• 23 Jun 1976: The Forum, Inglewood

Europe (September–October 1976)

• 19 Sep 1976: Wiener Stadthalle, Vienna
• 21 Sep 1976: Dom Sportova, Zagreb
• 25 Sep 1976: Piazza San Marco, Venice
• 27 Sep 1976: Olympiahalle, Munich
• 19 Oct 1976: Empire Pool, London
• 20 Oct 1976: Empire Pool, London
• 21 Oct 1976: Empire Pool, London

Key Facts: 16 May 1976

• Venue: Capital Centre, Landover, Maryland, USA
• Tour night: 37 of 65
• Songs performed: 29
• Beatles songs in set: 'Lady Madonna', 'The Long and Winding Road', 'I've Just Seen a Face', 'Blackbird', 'Yesterday'
• Lineup: Paul McCartney, Linda McCartney, Denny Laine, Jimmy McCulloch, Joe English + Howie Casey, Tony Dorsey, Steve Howard, Thaddeus Richard (horns)
• Tour film: Rockshow (released 1980)
• Capital Centre demolished: 2002

Frequently Asked Questions

How many nights did Wings play at the Capital Centre in May 1976?

Two consecutive nights — 15 and 16 May 1976. The 16 May show was night 37 of the 65-date Wings Over the World Tour.

What Beatles songs did Wings play on the Over the World Tour?

'Lady Madonna', 'The Long and Winding Road', 'I've Just Seen a Face', 'Blackbird', and 'Yesterday' — all performed live for the first time since The Beatles' final concert in August 1966.

Who were the horn section on the Wings Over the World Tour?

Howie Casey (saxophone), Tony Dorsey (trombone), Steve Howard (trumpet and flugelhorn), and Thaddeus Richard (saxophone and clarinet).

Was the Wings Over the World Tour filmed?

Yes — the tour was filmed for Rockshow, a concert film released theatrically in 1980.

What happened to the Capital Centre?

The Capital Centre in Landover, Maryland opened in 1973 and was demolished in 2002, replaced by the FedExField stadium complex.

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