Paul McCartney Unveils a Quote and Preface Excerpt from His New Book, “Wings: The History of the Group on the Run”

Paul McCartney’s New Book Announcement

Paul McCartney recently unveiled the cover and shared an excerpt from the preface of his upcoming book, Wings: The History of the Group on the Run. Check it out below.

• READ MORE: One Hand Claps Review: Paul McCartney and Wings Film Shows the Master at Work

The announcement regarding the new book first emerged in February, confirming that the iconic singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and former member of The Beatles will share the oral history of his renowned group, Wings.

Release Date and Content Details

The book is set to be released on November 4 and comprises over 42 hours of brand-new interviews, alongside historical discussions and previously unheard recordings from McCartney’s personal archive.

Additionally, it will feature around 150 photographs of Wings taken over the years, many of which have never been seen before. These were captured by Linda McCartney, Mike McCartney, Clive Errorousmit, Henry Dilz, Robert Ellis, and Paul himself. Other notable items include mementos, diary entries, and manuscript lyrics of Paul’s work.

In the announcement, the book is described as “a significant chronicle of the triumphant musical renaissance of the McCartney era in the 1970s, as well as the evolution of one of the most iconic groups of the decade, told by the people who lived it.”

The cover, revealed on April 30, showcases Paul, Linda, Denny Laine, Henry McCullough, and Denny Seiwell together during a tour in Spain in 1972, with a photograph taken by his wife and collaborator, Linda McCartney.

A new excerpt from the preface, penned by McCartney, states: “Suddenly Wings found its moment. We experienced a generational shift, as if we were riding a magic carpet. Working on this book conjured countless beautiful memories of our time together.”

The press release mentions that the upcoming book will revisit some of the group’s most unforgettable moments in various locations, including Scotland, New York, Los Angeles, New Orleans, Nashville, Lagos, Japan, the Virgin Islands, Morocco, Montserrat, and many more, all set against the backdrop of the political and social climate of the 1970s.

The anecdotes included in the book also come from noteworthy contributions by Linda McCartney, Denny Laine, Mary McCartney, Stella McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, George Martin, Sean Lennon, Chrissie Hynde, Dustin Hoffman, Twiggy, and all members of the band.

“This remarkable ensemble tells the story of a group that made history—selling over 22 million albums and becoming the first band to achieve over two million sales in the UK singles charts with ‘Mull of Kintyre,’” the new description states. “The band that pushed boundaries both in the studio and during live performances, from their initial university tours to pioneering large-scale concerts long before stadiums became typical venues for rock shows.”

It was previously reported that the stories captured in the book would include experiences such as the band’s robbery in Nigeria, unexpected performances in UK university halls, and the creation of hits including “Let ‘Em In,” “Live and Let Die,” “Band on the Run,” and many more.

“I’m thrilled to be transported back to the time that was Wings and to relive some of our madcap adventures in this book,” Macca shared when the book was initially announced in February.

“Starting over after The Beatles often felt like a wild adventure. There were some incredibly tough moments, and I frequently questioned my choices. But as time passed, I thought: ‘Well, this is really great.’ We proved that Wings could be a phenomenal band, performing for large audiences just as The Beatles did and leaving a lasting impact. It was a tremendous noise.”

In other news related to Paul McCartney, it was confirmed that an exhibition displaying 36 rare photographs taken by him in the early 60s recently surfaced at a store in Vancouver, along with recordings by the group.

Around the same time, director Sam Mendes revealed plans for four future Beatles films and opened casting for the Fab Four, a decision that left fans divided.

As for Wings news, last year saw the theatrical release of the film One Hand Claps, along with an accompanying live-in-studio album from 1974 and the 50th anniversary celebration of their third album, “Band on the Run,” released in 1973.