Wings Live at the Winter Gardens, Bournemouth – 15 May 1973
Tuesday 15 May 1973 | Live Performance | Winter Gardens, Bournemouth, England
On the evening of Tuesday 15th May 1973, Wings performed at the Winter Gardens in Bournemouth — the fourth night of their 18-date UK tour, which had opened at the Hippodrome in Bristol on 11 May. The support act was Brinsley Schwarz. The day had begun in bright sunshine, and by the time Wings took the stage, the audience was, in the words of one fan who was there, at ‘fever pitch’.
The Winter Gardens, Bournemouth
The Winter Gardens is one of Bournemouth’s most historic entertainment venues, located on Exeter Road in the town centre. Opened in 1875 as a glass-and-iron pavilion for concerts and exhibitions, it has hosted some of the most significant live performances in the south of England over more than a century. By 1973 it was an established stop on the UK touring circuit for major acts.
The venue had a particular resonance for McCartney: The Beatles had performed at the Winter Gardens on 16 November 1963, during the height of Beatlemania. The 1973 Wings show was a return to a venue that carried its own history.
The Band
The Wings lineup that performed in Bournemouth was the classic early-1973 configuration of the group:
- Paul McCartney — vocals, guitar, bass guitar
- Linda McCartney — vocals, keyboards
- Denny Laine — vocals, guitar, bass guitar
- Henry McCullough — guitar, vocals
- Denny Seiwell — drums
This was the lineup that had recorded Wild Life (1971) and Red Rose Speedway (1973), and that would travel to Lagos, Nigeria, later that year to record Band on the Run — though by the time they reached Lagos, both McCullough and Seiwell would have left the group. The Bournemouth show was therefore one of the last significant live performances by this particular incarnation of Wings.
The Support Act: Brinsley Schwarz
The support act was Brinsley Schwarz — the pub rock group whose members included Nick Lowe and Ian Gomm, and who were one of the most respected live acts on the British circuit in the early 1970s. Their presence on the bill gave the evening a musical credibility that went beyond the standard package tour format, and the fan accounts suggest they were well received.
Eyewitness Accounts
Two fan accounts of the Bournemouth show were published in the Wings Fun Club newsletter, and they capture the atmosphere of the evening with unusual vividness.
“The 15th started off in bright sunshine and warmth. I had been a fan of the Beatles for 10 years, but never actually witnessed a live performance. Once inside the pace hotted up, the first band, Brinsley Schwarz came on and played some really good numbers. There was an interval followed by a juggling act. By this time I had reached fever pitch. – ‘Wings’ – Everyone clapped, screamed and whistled. The curtains opened and Wings walked on. They went into their opening number and then rocked into ‘Big Barn Bed’, I stared at Paul in disbelief, the sound Wings were getting together on stage far surpassed any recording! Seaside Woman, written by Linda, and I was flooded with happiness … but it had to end … it seems like a dream looking back, even tho’ I know I saw Paul McCartney and WINGS!!!”
“Last Tuesday I and three friends went to see Paul and Wings at Bournemouth. As soon as the band walked on stage, the applause was deafening, as it was after each of the numbers they performed. It was the first time I had seen Paul live, and he looked much slimmer and sleeker than I had imagined. Linda, too, looked much prettier; the camera does not do her justice! I thoroughly enjoyed every second of the concert. Denny L’s version of ‘Say You Don’t Mind’ makes Colin Blundstone’s look positively anaemic. All the numbers were superb, ending up with ‘The Mess’ and ‘Hi, Hi, Hi’ which really got the audience on their feet. When Wings came back on stage to do ‘Long Tall Sally’ everybody was joining in, Paul belting it out in his inimitable rocker voice. Too much!”
— Robert Shaw, Wings Fun Club newsletter
The Setlist
The 15-song set opened with ‘Soily’ and moved through the full range of Wings’ early catalogue, from the Wild Life material to the recent Red Rose Speedway singles. ‘Live and Let Die’ — the James Bond theme released in April 1973 — was a highlight, as was the encore of ‘Long Tall Sally’, which brought the audience to its feet. Denny Laine’s version of ‘Say You Don’t Mind’ — the Colin Blundstone song — was singled out by one fan as a particular standout.
- 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
Wings 1973 UK Tour: Full Date List
- 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: 15 May 1973
- Date: Tuesday 15 May 1973
- Venue: Winter Gardens, Exeter Road, Bournemouth
- Tour: Wings 1973 UK Tour
- Tour date number: 4 of 18
- Support act: Brinsley Schwarz
- Songs performed: 15
- Beatles at this venue: 16 November 1963
- Notable: One of the last shows by the McCullough/Seiwell lineup before both left ahead of the Lagos sessions
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Wings play Bournemouth?
Yes — Wings performed at the Winter Gardens in Bournemouth on 15 May 1973, the fourth night of their 18-date UK tour. The support act was Brinsley Schwarz. The Beatles had also performed at the Winter Gardens on 16 November 1963.
What did Wings play at Bournemouth in 1973?
Wings performed a 15-song set including ‘Live and Let Die’, ‘Maybe I’m Amazed’, ‘My Love’, ‘Hi, Hi, Hi’, and an encore of ‘Long Tall Sally’. Denny Laine’s version of ‘Say You Don’t Mind’ was singled out by fans as a highlight.
Who was in Wings in 1973?
The 1973 Wings lineup was Paul McCartney, Linda McCartney, Denny Laine, Henry McCullough (guitar), and Denny Seiwell (drums). Both McCullough and Seiwell left the group before the Lagos sessions that produced Band on the Run later that year.
Who were Brinsley Schwarz?
Brinsley Schwarz were a British pub rock group whose members included Nick Lowe and Ian Gomm. They were one of the most respected live acts on the British circuit in the early 1970s and served as the support act for Wings on the 1973 UK tour.
Did The Beatles ever play the Winter Gardens in Bournemouth?
Yes — The Beatles performed at the Winter Gardens in Bournemouth on 16 November 1963, during the height of Beatlemania. The Wings show on 15 May 1973 was McCartney’s return to the venue nearly a decade later.
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