1979: Wings’ Last Flight

When on Saturday December 29, 1979, Wings is closing the Concerts for the People of Kampuchea, nobody knows that this will be their last performance. So it wasn’t planned, but the signs that it was a declining business for Wings, were already visible.

The Concerts for the People of Kampuchea was a series of four charity concerts organized by McCartney at the request of former UN Secretary General Kurt Waldheim. Queen set the ball rolling on December 26, followed by bands such as The Clash, The Pretenders and The Who on December 27 and 28. The last day was for Elvis Costello & The Attractions, Rockpile and Wings. The closure was played by the Rockestra, a McCartney-led supergroup consisting of more than thirty British artists, many of which also played on the Back to the Egg-track with the same name:

Video: Rockestra Theme (live 1979)

More than a week earlier, Wings had the first leg of a new world tour ended on Monday, December 17, with a concert in Glasgow. The Wings UK Tour ‘79 was the first one with a new line-up: Steve Holly on drums and guitarist Lawrence Juber were the latest acquisitions. And there was a brand new setlist, inluding, of course, many songs taken from the latest Wings' album Back to the Egg: amongst them Arrow Through Me, Spin It On, the single Getting Closer and Old Siam, Sir:

Video: Old Siam, Sire (live 1979)

There are also new Beatles-songs on the setlist: Let It Be, Fool On The Hill and Got To Get You Into My Live get their live debut. A new song is played as well, Coming Up, of which the live version becomes a hit single in the US six months later. Remarkable is the choice for Cook Of The House, with Linda's lead vocals. At first glance, the band went on the road again with new impetus. But appearances are deceptive. 

McCartney's focus on the band seems to have become less: He hasn’t been very busy with the succession of the departed Jimmy McCulloch and Joe English. The new members were brought in by Denny Laine. And when he starts touring with the new band, after a commercially disappointing album, he has the feeling they didn't practice enough and that Wings isn’t ready yet for a big tour. Drummer Steve Holly remembers McCartney discontent:

During the performances in England it happened that I was thrilled and delighted coming off stage and said, ‘That was great’. And he replied, ‘It was okay.’ So I think that the band did not bring what he wanted, did not meet his expectations.

The first signs of decay are evident during a live interview on the American television show Tomorrow. When asked if everything goes well with Wings, it is especially Linda who clarifies, in her own way. At first, Paul answers positively: “We’re still enjoying it, I suppose when we’re not enjoying it, we’re knock it on the head. But at the moment we’re enjoying it.”
Right after that answer, Linda knocks him on the head. 



The rest is history: The band still goes to Japan for the second part of the world tour, but Paul's arrest for drug possession throws a spanner in the water. Wings will not perform again and will be disbanded officially in 1981. Years later the bootleg Wings' Last Flight appears, which includes the final concert in Glasgow and the performance at The Concerts for the People of Kampuchea. As a last reminder of a passed era.

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André Homan

André Homan is a Dutch writer and journalist.

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