Former Beatle Sir Paul McCartney made a surprise visit to his home city yesterday to record with James Corden an episode of Corden’s Carpool Karaoke, a feature of his US TV program The Late Late Show. In the show, the British late night TV host drives around in a car with a celebrity while singing karaoke. Musicians and singers are the most likely to appear on the show and they often sing their own songs with Corden, in between which he interviews them. James Corden has previously said that Paul McCartney would be the dream guest on his Carpool Karaoke, so it seems that he has finally got his wish.
The pair were seen walking around the Pier Head at the waterfront, followed around by surprised fans and tourists. Many of these were there to photograph the statue of The Beatles, which is based on a famous photograph of the group walking in Liverpool in the early 1960s. Naturally, Corden and McCartney took a selfie with the statue (above). They were also seen around Allerton Road and at the Penny Lane junction with the road – which features many of the locations mentioned in McCartney’s hit Penny Lane. The two photos below show him and Corden next to the shelter in the middle of the roundabout, now an empty bistro, and the two men on Church Road outside Tony Slavin barbers which is also mentioned in the song. The two men were also filmed visiting Paul’s childhood home on Forthlin Road. It should be noted, for those who don’t realise it, but Penny Lane itself is across the other side of Allerton Road from Church Road and the locations mentioned in the song are not actually on Penny Lane itself. Penny Lane is the name used by Liverpudlians for the junction of Allerton Road, Church Road and Penny Lane and is known to locals as a bus interchange. At the time of Paul McCartney’s youth in Liverpool, he, John Lennon and George Harrison would get buses from here to go into the city centre.
Photos from the Twitter user Jacob_1878 and by Tony Navarro.
Following his trip around the Penny Lane area with James Corden, Sir Paul McCartney visited the Philharmonic Dining Rooms, also known as the Philharmonic Pub, on Hope Street to perform a secret gig to just 50 people. The photo to the right shows McCartney in the Phil and was taken from the Twitter account beatlesnumber9. Those who weren’t fortunate enough to see the gig itself gathered outside the pub hoping to catch a glimpse of the former Beatle (below). McCartney is said to have performed two new songs, which has increased the existing rumours that a new album is forthcoming. Some fans took to Twitter to share their pleasure and surprise at seeing Macca perform. Sean Kennedy wrote: “I have just seen Macca live. I’m on Carpool Karaoke. My life is complete. Thank you.” Mike at Mike__dps wrote: “My head has fallen off. Just seen Paul McCartney play a gig to 50 people in the Philharmonic pub in Liverpool. Absolutely made my life. Thank you for the music Paul . The Beatles X X X.”
The Philharmonic Pub (below left) is located on Hope Street – a road that joins the city’s two cathedrals – and is across the road from the Philharmonic Hall (below centre). Members of The Beatles drank in the pub in their days in Liverpool. It is one of Liverpool’s oldest and most ornate public houses and has long been associated with musicians from the city and from the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. The pub is also famous for its listed men’s toilets (below right).
Sources & Further Reading:
- Paul McCartney stuns fans with surprise Liverpool visit – alongside another very famous face – Liverpool Echo – Saturday 9 June 2018 – by Luke Mintz
- People LOVED Paul McCartney’s secret Liverpool gig – Liverpool Echo – Sunday 10 June 2018 – by Lorna Hughes
- Sir Paul McCartney’s Carpool Karaoke to be shown next week – Liverpool Echo – Thursday 14 June 2018 – by Alan Weston
- VIDEO – James Cordon previews his Paul McCartney Carpool Karaoke – Thursday 14 June 2018 – YouTube (Entertainment Weekly)
- INCLUDES VIDEO CLIP: First look at Paul McCartney’s Carpool Karaoke appearance recorded around Liverpool – Liverpool Echo – Tuesday 19 June 2018 – by Emilia Bona, Senior General Reporter
- James Corden tears up at Paul McCartney’s carpool karaoke – BBC – Friday 22 June 2018
- Watch Paul McCartney stun Carpool Karaoke fans with surprise gig at Philharmonic pub – Liverpool Echo – Friday 22 June 2018 – by David Raven
STEPHEN NULTY 