Paul McCartney’s efficiency as a part of the Abu Dhabi Method One Grand Prix was 11 years in the past — nonetheless, the influence continues to resonate inside the UAE occasions trade.
As The Beatles singer, 80, prepares to headline the UK’s Glastonbury Pageant on Saturday, turning into the oldest particular person to take action, The Nationwide appears again at his epic live performance in November 2011 and why it set the usual for the remainder of the high-profile stars to play the UAE.
McCartney’s efficiency at Etihad Park stays arduous to beat relating to the quantity of back-to-back hits performed.
Starting with The Beatles’ Good day Goodbye, he took 30,000 followers on a two-and-a-half hour journey with 37 songs spanning 5 a long time.
Along with The Beatles favourites equivalent to Hey Jude, A Day within the Life and Let It Be, McCartney additionally carried out hits from Wings (Dwell and Let Die and Band on the Run) and key solo tracks equivalent to Perhaps I am Amazed.
As chief govt of Flash Leisure, John Lickrish was tasked with placing collectively the live performance as a part of the nonetheless fledgling Abu Dhabi F1 Grand Prix.
“It was the third Method One race and we had been already off to an amazing begin with acts like Beyonce in 2009 and Prince the next 12 months,” he recollects.
“So there was already a rising buzz about Abu Dhabi as a go to vacation spot for giant artists.
“But it surely was actually McCartney in 2011 who took us to the subsequent stage.”
Getting McCartney to the UAE was a results of regular development.
The live performance trade is comparatively tight, Lickrish says, with brokers and tour promoters working with a variety of artists at any given time.
Probably the most highly effective figures is the UK’s Barrie Marshall with a profession spanning 4 a long time.
In addition to being McCartney’s long-term agent and tour promoter, his present steady consists of Elton John, Lionel Richie, Celine Dion and Tina Turner.
He additionally sorted a number of the worldwide excursions of the late George Michael, certainly one of which included a 2008 cease at Zayed Sports activities Metropolis Stadium.
Marshall flew in to Abu Dhabi to make sure all the pieces went easily.
“He’s actually old fashioned in the way in which he does issues,” Lickrish says.
“Additionally, he’s very well mannered. He would say: ‘If I ask you to do one thing and I do not say please and thank you’ll have to forgive me’.”
Impressed by the Flash Leisure operation, the profitable present laid the seeds to deliver McCartney to Abu Dhabi three years later.
Lickrish recollects the preparation for the Abu Dhabi F1 race-day live performance, from monetary negotiations to the technical necessities, as being easy.
McCartney and the band had been additionally up for it.
They arrived in Abu Dhabi two days earlier than the present and every week after sending a teaser video to UAE followers from rehearsals within the UK.
Lickrish remembers McCartney as being very welcoming backstage.
“He was very laid-back, pleasant and calm,” he says.
“He was additionally enthusiastic about performing on this a part of the world for the primary time and he was practising Arabic phrases like ‘marhaba’ (good day) and ‘shukran’ (thanks).”
McCartney’s present stays probably the greatest concert events carried out within the UAE.
In my report for The Nationwide, I describe how McCartney turned the sector “right into a stadium-sized karaoke membership.”
In a reflective column, journalist Sarah Ferguson recalled the communal environment, with the present being “a really memorable evening of fabulous music surrounded by nice pals”.
Standing facet of stage and watching McCartney belting out the hits, Lickrish’s recollects his satisfaction being tempered by a rising accountability.
“We knew that we’ve raised the bar relating to expectations of what we are able to do right here in Abu Dhabi,” he says. “I knew it was a present folks would bear in mind for a very long time and make different touring artists take discover.”
Certain sufficient, Abu Dhabi’s stature as a live performance vacation spot was cemented on the again of McCartney’s efficiency with main acts, from The Rolling Stones, Eminem and Weapons N’ Roses to The Weeknd and Pink, all bringing their giant scale productions to town within the ensuing years.
Lickrish has little question McCartney will ship a equally memorable present at Glastonbury.
“His voice is nice and the songs converse for themselves,” he says. “And with the numerous demographic of the viewers you’ll be able to really feel that will probably be a extremely stunning expertise.”
For Abu Dhabi to be a part of the outstanding journey of one of many world’s best dwelling artists, all we are able to say is “shukran”, Paul.
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Up to date: June 25, 2022, 5:55 AM