Wings Live at the Hardrock Concert Theatre, Manchester – 16 May 1973

May 16, 2026

Wings Live at the Hardrock Concert Theatre, Manchester – 16 May 1973

Wednesday 16 May 1973 | Live, Paul McCartney, Wings
Hardrock Concert Theatre, Withy Grove, Manchester, England

On 16 May 1973, Wings performed at the Hardrock Concert Theatre in Manchester — the fifth night of their 18-date 1973 UK Tour and the first of two consecutive nights at the venue. The support act was Brinsley Schwarz. It was Paul McCartney's first UK tour since The Beatles had stopped touring in 1966 — a return to the road that had been building since Wings' unannounced university tour in February 1972.

The Wings 1973 UK Tour

The 1973 UK Tour was Wings' most ambitious live undertaking to date. Opening on 11 May at the Hippodrome in Bristol, it ran through 18 dates across England, Wales, and Scotland, with three consecutive nights at the Hammersmith Odeon in London as its centrepiece. The tour had been preceded by a European leg earlier in the year, and followed Wings' first major chart successes: 'My Love' had reached number one in the US in April 1973, and 'Live and Let Die' — the James Bond theme — had been released in June and would become one of the defining songs of McCartney's post-Beatles career.

The support act throughout the tour was Brinsley Schwarz, the pub rock group whose members included Nick Lowe and Ian Gomm. The band were a respected fixture of the early 1970s British rock scene, and their presence on the tour reflected McCartney's preference for booking acts he admired rather than obvious commercial choices.

The Hardrock Concert Theatre

The Hardrock Concert Theatre was located on Withy Grove in Manchester city centre — a major live music venue that hosted some of the biggest acts of the early 1970s. The building later became part of the Printworks entertainment complex, which still occupies the site today. In 1973 it was one of the premier concert venues in the north of England, and a natural stop on any major UK tour.

The Wings Lineup

Wings in May 1973 were a five-piece: Paul McCartney on vocals, guitar, and bass guitar; Linda McCartney on vocals and keyboards; Denny Laine on vocals, guitar, and bass guitar; Henry McCullough on guitar and vocals; and Denny Seiwell on drums. It was the most stable and accomplished lineup Wings had yet fielded, and the one that had recorded Red Rose Speedway — released on 4 May 1973, just a week before the tour opened.

McCullough and Seiwell would both leave Wings abruptly in August 1973, just before the Band on the Run sessions in Lagos. Their departures left McCartney, Linda, and Laine to record the album as a trio — a crisis that produced one of the most celebrated albums of McCartney's solo career.

The Setlist

The 15-song set drew heavily from the Wild Life and Red Rose Speedway albums, alongside the Bond theme and a selection of older material:

'Soily'
'Big Barn Bed'
'When the Night'
'Wild Life'
'Seaside Woman'
'Little Woman Love'
'C Moon'
'Live and Let Die'
'Maybe I'm Amazed'
'My Love'
'Go Now'
'Say You Don't Mind'
'The Mess'
'Hi, Hi, Hi'
'Long Tall Sally'

'Go Now' was a Denny Laine showcase — the song had been a number one hit for Laine's former group the Moody Blues in 1964. 'Say You Don't Mind' was another Laine feature, a song he had written and recorded as a solo artist. 'Long Tall Sally' — the Little Richard classic that The Beatles had covered on their 1964 EP — closed the show as a rock and roll throwback. 'Live and Let Die' was performed with full pyrotechnics, one of the most spectacular moments of any Wings concert of the period.

A Fan's Account

The Wings Fun Club newsletter published an account from fan Billy Carrol, who had travelled from Ireland for the Manchester shows:

"I stood there with my mouth open, there was actually Paul, only a few yards away. I had waited ten years to see him, and finally made it, not only did I see the concert but… There I was in Piccadilly, when who should walk by, but Denny Seiwell. He went into a cafe. I plucked up the courage and went in after him, and actually spoke to him. Then, ended up with having a meal with him. Later on, I went into the hotel they were staying at, and who should I see, but Denny Laine. It was worth travelling from Ireland for, but hope against hope, I didn't just manage to bump into Paul. So near, yet so far away. Tell you the truth I don't think my poor heart would actually have stood up to that. I was excited enough, talking to people that actually came into contact with Paul."

— Billy Carrol, Wings Fun Club newsletter

Wings 1973 UK Tour Dates

11 May 1973: Hippodrome, Bristol
12 May 1973: New Theatre, Oxford
13 May 1973: Capitol Theatre, Cardiff
15 May 1973: Winter Gardens, Bournemouth
16 May 1973: Hardrock Concert Theatre, Manchester
17 May 1973: Hardrock Concert Theatre, Manchester
18 May 1973: Empire Theatre, Liverpool
19 May 1973: University of Leeds
21 May 1973: Guild Hall, Preston
23 May 1973: Odeon, Edinburgh
24 May 1973: Green's Playhouse, Glasgow
25 May 1973: Hammersmith Odeon, London
26 May 1973: Hammersmith Odeon, London
27 May 1973: Hammersmith Odeon, London
4 July 1973: City Hall, Sheffield
6 July 1973: Odeon, Birmingham
9 July 1973: Odeon, Leicester
10 July 1973: City Hall, Newcastle upon Tyne

Key Facts: 16 May 1973

Venue: Hardrock Concert Theatre, Withy Grove, Manchester
Later became: Part of the Printworks entertainment complex
Tour night: 5 of 18
Support: Brinsley Schwarz
Songs performed: 15
Lineup: Paul McCartney, Linda McCartney, Denny Laine, Henry McCullough, Denny Seiwell
Album just released: Red Rose Speedway (4 May 1973)
McCullough & Seiwell departure: August 1973

Frequently Asked Questions

Where was the Hardrock Concert Theatre in Manchester?

The Hardrock Concert Theatre was located on Withy Grove in Manchester city centre. The building later became part of the Printworks entertainment complex, which still occupies the site today.

What did Wings play in Manchester on 16 May 1973?

Wings played a 15-song set including 'Live and Let Die', 'Maybe I'm Amazed', 'My Love', 'Hi, Hi, Hi', and 'Long Tall Sally'. Denny Laine featured on 'Go Now' and 'Say You Don't Mind'.

Who supported Wings on the 1973 UK Tour?

Brinsley Schwarz, the British pub rock group whose members included Nick Lowe and Ian Gomm.

What was the Wings lineup in May 1973?

Paul McCartney (vocals, guitar, bass), Linda McCartney (vocals, keyboards), Denny Laine (vocals, guitar, bass), Henry McCullough (guitar, vocals), and Denny Seiwell (drums). McCullough and Seiwell both left Wings in August 1973.