Wings live: Théâtre Antique, Arles – 13 July 1972

Wings performed at the Théâtre Antique in Arles, France, on Thursday 13 July 1972 — the third night of the Wings Over Europe Tour, and Paul McCartney’s first European concerts since The Beatles’ final tour in 1966.

Wings at the Théâtre Antique, 13 July 1972

The Théâtre Antique in Arles is one of the most remarkable concert settings in Europe — a Roman amphitheatre built in the first century BC, capable of holding around 10,000 spectators. Wings’ performance there on 13 July 1972 was the third date of their unannounced, spontaneous tour of Europe, which had opened just four days earlier in Ollioules.

The tour was famously informal. McCartney had decided to take Wings on the road without advance publicity, loading the band and their equipment into a convoy of vehicles and driving through France and beyond, booking venues as they went. It was a deliberate attempt to recapture the spirit of early touring — and a sharp contrast to the stadium-scale productions of The Beatles’ final years.

The Wings Over Europe Tour

The Wings Over Europe Tour ran from 9 July to 24 August 1972, taking in France, Germany, Switzerland, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Norway, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany. It was Paul McCartney’s first European tour since The Beatles played their final concert at Candlestick Park, San Francisco, on 29 August 1966 — a gap of nearly six years.

The tour was notable for its spontaneity and its intimacy. Rather than playing arenas, Wings performed in theatres, concert halls, and open-air venues — including the extraordinary Roman setting of the Théâtre Antique in Arles. The band travelled by bus, and the tour had a loose, freewheeling quality that McCartney later recalled with great affection.

The setlist

1. ‘Bip Bop’
2. ‘Smile Away’
3. ‘Mumbo’
4. ‘Give Ireland Back to the Irish’
5. ‘1882’
6. ‘I Would Only Smile’
7. ‘Blue Moon Of Kentucky’
8. ‘The Mess’
9. ‘Best Friend’
10. ‘Soily’
11. ‘I Am Your Singer’
12. ‘Henry’s Blues’
13. ‘Say You Don’t Mind’
14. ‘Seaside Woman’
15. ‘Wild Life’
16. ‘My Love’
17. ‘Mary Had A Little Lamb’
18. ‘Maybe I’m Amazed’
19. ‘Hi, Hi, Hi’
20. ‘Long Tall Sally’

The set drew heavily from the Wild Life album (released December 1971) and included ‘Give Ireland Back to the Irish’ — the controversial single that had been banned by the BBC following Bloody Sunday. ‘Maybe I’m Amazed’ and ‘Long Tall Sally’ provided the crowd-pleasing moments, while ‘Henry’s Blues’ gave guitarist Henry McCullough a solo showcase.

Wings in 1972

Wings comprised Paul McCartney (vocals, guitar, bass guitar), Linda McCartney (vocals, keyboards), Denny Laine (vocals, guitar, bass guitar), Henry McCullough (guitar, vocals), and Denny Seiwell (drums).

Denny Laine (1944–2023) had been the lead singer of The Moody Blues, singing their 1964 hit ‘Go Now’. He was a founding member of Wings and remained with McCartney until the band’s dissolution in 1981. He died in December 2023.

Henry McCullough (1943–2016) was an Irish guitarist who had played at Woodstock with the Grease Band, Joe Cocker’s backing group. He left Wings in 1973 before the Band on the Run sessions in Lagos. He died in June 2016.

Denny Seiwell had played drums on McCartney’s Ram album (1971) before joining Wings. He also departed before the Lagos sessions in 1973.

Linda McCartney (1941–1998) was a photographer and animal rights activist who had married Paul in 1969. Despite limited musical experience, she became a full member of Wings and performed with the band throughout their existence.

All 25 Wings Over Europe Tour dates

• 9 July 1972: Châteauvallon, Ollioules, France
• 12 July 1972: Théâtre de la Mer, Juan-les-Pins, France
• 13 July 1972: Théâtre Antique, Arles, France (this show)
• 16 July 1972: Olympia Theatre, Paris, France
• 18 July 1972: Circus-Krone-Bau, Munich, Germany
• 19 July 1972: Stadthalle, Offenbach am Main, Germany
• 21 July 1972: Tonhalle, Zürich, Switzerland
• 22 July 1972: Pavillon, Montreux, Switzerland
• 1 August 1972: KB Hallen, Copenhagen, Denmark
• 4 August 1972: Messuhalli, Helsinki, Finland
• 5 August 1972: Kupittaan Urheiluhalli, Turku, Finland
• 7 August 1972: Gröna Lund, Stockholm, Sweden
• 8 August 1972: Idrottshuset, Örebro, Sweden
• 9 August 1972: Njårdhallen, Oslo, Norway
• 10 August 1972: Scandinavium, Gothenburg, Sweden
• 11 August 1972: Olympen, Lund, Sweden
• 12 August 1972: Fyns Forum, Odense, Denmark
• 14 August 1972: Vejlby-Risskov Hallen, Aarhus, Denmark
• 16 August 1972: Rheinhalle, Düsseldorf, Germany
• 17 August 1972: De Doelen, Rotterdam, Netherlands
• 19 August 1972: Martinihal, Groningen, Netherlands
• 20 August 1972: Concertgebouw, Amsterdam, Netherlands
• 21 August 1972: Congresgebouw, The Hague, Netherlands
• 22 August 1972: Kinema Roma, Antwerp, Belgium
• 24 August 1972: Deutschlandhalle, Berlin, Germany

Arles, France

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Frequently Asked Questions

When did Wings play the Théâtre Antique in Arles?

Wings performed at the Théâtre Antique in Arles, France, on 13 July 1972, the third night of the Wings Over Europe Tour.

What was the Wings Over Europe Tour?

The Wings Over Europe Tour was an informal, largely unannounced tour of Europe that ran from 9 July to 24 August 1972, covering 25 dates across France, Germany, Switzerland, Scandinavia, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany. It was Paul McCartney’s first European tour since The Beatles in 1966.

Who was in Wings in 1972?

Wings in 1972 comprised Paul McCartney, Linda McCartney, Denny Laine, Henry McCullough, and Denny Seiwell.

What is the Théâtre Antique in Arles?

The Théâtre Antique is a Roman amphitheatre in Arles, southern France, built in the first century BC. It can hold around 10,000 spectators and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the Roman and Romanesque Monuments of Arles.

Why was ‘Give Ireland Back to the Irish’ controversial?

‘Give Ireland Back to the Irish’ was written by Paul McCartney in response to Bloody Sunday (30 January 1972), when British soldiers shot 28 unarmed civilians in Derry. The BBC banned the single, which made it one of the most controversial releases of McCartney’s career.

What happened to Henry McCullough and Denny Seiwell?

Both Henry McCullough and Denny Seiwell left Wings in 1973, before the Band on the Run recording sessions in Lagos, Nigeria. McCullough died in June 2016; Seiwell continues to perform.