Filming: Love Awake by Wings – 14 June 1979

Thursday 14 June 1979 | Promotional Film Shoot | Lympne Castle, Lympne, Kent, England

On Thursday 14 June 1979, Wings filmed a promotional clip for 'Love Awake' — a track from their forthcoming album Back to the Egg — at Lympne Castle in Lympne, Kent. The shoot was directed by Keith 'Keef' McMillan, who filmed promotional clips for several other Back to the Egg songs during the same week. The video featured Wings miming to 'Love Awake' before an open fire in the kitchen of the castle.

The Setting

Lympne Castle is a medieval fortified manor house in the village of Lympne in Kent, situated on the escarpment above the Romney Marsh with views across the English Channel towards France. The castle dates from the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries and was substantially restored in the early twentieth century. Its atmospheric interiors — stone walls, open fireplaces, and ancient kitchens — provided an evocative backdrop for the 'Love Awake' promo, with the band gathered around the hearth in an intimate, candlelit setting.

The choice of Lympne Castle was not incidental: Back to the Egg had been partly recorded at the castle in late 1978, making it one of the most significant locations in the album's creation. The promotional shoot in June 1979 — the week after the album's release — returned Wings to the place where much of the record had been made.

'Love Awake'

'Love Awake' is a gentle, melodic ballad on Back to the Egg, written by Paul McCartney. It is one of the more understated tracks on the album — a quiet, intimate song that contrasted with the harder-edged material elsewhere on the record. The castle kitchen setting of the promotional clip suited the song's warmth and domesticity.

Keith 'Keef' McMillan and the Back to the Egg Promos

Keith 'Keef' McMillan was one of the leading directors of promotional music videos in the late 1970s and early 1980s. During the week of 12–14 June 1979, he directed a series of promotional clips for Back to the Egg songs at locations in and around Lympne, Kent:

• 12 June 1979: 'Spin It On' and 'Getting Closer' at the Eagle Parachute Centre, Lympne Airport; 'Again and Again and Again' in a rapeseed field nearby
• 14 June 1979: 'Love Awake' at Lympne Castle

The concentration of filming in a single week, at locations within a few miles of each other, reflected the efficiency of the promotional campaign for Back to the Egg — an album that was released on 8 June 1979, just days before the shoots took place.

Back to the Egg

Back to the Egg was Wings' sixth and final studio album, released on 8 June 1979. Recorded partly at Lympne Castle and partly at Replica Studios in London, it was an attempt by McCartney to respond to the energy of the punk and new wave movements. It featured the celebrated 'Rockestra' sequence — a supergroup recording session including Pete Townshend, John Bonham, David Gilmour, and Ronnie Lane. The album reached number 6 in the UK and number 8 in the US.

Wings in June 1979

• Paul McCartney — vocals, bass, guitar, keyboards
• Linda McCartney — vocals, keyboards
• Denny Laine — guitar, vocals
• Laurence Juber — lead guitar
• Steve Holly — drums

Key Facts: 14 June 1979

• Date: Thursday 14 June 1979
• Location: Lympne Castle, Lympne, Kent, England
• Director: Keith 'Keef' McMillan
• Song: 'Love Awake'
• Album: Back to the Egg (released 8 June 1979)
• Setting: Castle kitchen, before an open fire
• Related shoots same week: 'Spin It On', 'Again and Again and Again', 'Getting Closer' (12 June, Lympne Airport)

Frequently Asked Questions

Where was the 'Love Awake' promotional video filmed?

The 'Love Awake' promotional clip was filmed at Lympne Castle in Lympne, Kent on 14 June 1979. Wings mimed to the song before an open fire in the castle kitchen. The shoot was directed by Keith 'Keef' McMillan.

What is 'Love Awake'?

'Love Awake' is a ballad by Paul McCartney that appears on Wings' final studio album Back to the Egg, released 8 June 1979. It is one of the more intimate and understated tracks on the record.

What is Lympne Castle?

Lympne Castle is a medieval fortified manor house in Lympne, Kent, dating from the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. It sits on the escarpment above the Romney Marsh with views across the English Channel. Back to the Egg was partly recorded there in late 1978, making it central to the album's creation.

Who directed the Back to the Egg promotional videos?

Keith 'Keef' McMillan directed the promotional clips for several Back to the Egg songs during the week of 12–14 June 1979, including 'Spin It On', 'Again and Again and Again', 'Getting Closer' (all 12 June, Lympne Airport), and 'Love Awake' (14 June, Lympne Castle).

What is Back to the Egg?

Back to the Egg was Wings' sixth and final studio album, released 8 June 1979. Recorded partly at Lympne Castle, it featured a 'Rockestra' session with Pete Townshend, John Bonham, David Gilmour, and others. It reached number 6 in the UK and number 8 in the US.

What other Back to the Egg promos were filmed in the same week?

On 12 June 1979, Keith 'Keef' McMillan directed promos for 'Spin It On' and 'Getting Closer' at the Eagle Parachute Centre, Lympne Airport, and 'Again and Again and Again' in a nearby rapeseed field. The 'Love Awake' clip at Lympne Castle followed on 14 June.

→ Filming: Spin It On, Again And Again And Again, Getting Closer – 12 June 1979

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