Backstage: McCartney Rocks Red Square with President Putin in the audience in 2003 in pics & video
No Lies Radio Music – By Teri Perticone – October 20, 2017
Photo: Paul McCartney former Beatle plays Red Square in Moscow 2003.
This is a great example of the healing power of music and it’s ability to bring people together. Even if they don’t agree on politics President Putin has always admired the Beatles music and ex-Beatle Paul McCartney has always wanted to play Moscow. BBC News has this to say on Saturday, 24 May, 2003:
Thousands of Russians have packed Red Square to see rock legend Sir Paul McCartney perform his first-ever concert in the former Soviet republic.
McCartney told the audience, “We have come here tonight to rock Red Square”, before kicking off the show with the Beatles’ classic All My Loving.
All My Loving – McCartney & band live in Red Square Moscow 2003.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, who earlier gave Sir Paul a personally-guided tour of the Kremlin, was among the audience.
Photo President Putin watching McCartney concert in Red Square Moscow 2003.
The show marked the first time an ex-Beatle had played in the famous Moscow venue, after the band was prohibited from performing there by the former Soviet regime.
The BBC’s Nikolai Gorshkov in Moscow says people in the audience wept and hugged each other and many called their less lucky friends on mobile phones to let them hear the concert.
McCartney, he says, mastered some Russian to tell the audience how great it was and how happy it made him.
Fans felt the same.
“I’ve waited my whole life for this,” said Vladimir Snopov, 52, who had travelled 900 kilometres (550 miles) to be there.
Tickets for the concert changed hands for many times more than the average monthly Russian wage of about $100.
‘Alien ideology’
Hours before the event, McCartney and his wife Heather took tea in the Kremlin with President Putin.
Photo: Russian President Vladimir Putin gave Sir Paul a personally-guided tour of the Kremlin.
Mr Putin, who was a KGB agent when the Fab Four topped the charts around the world, admitted to his guest that The Beatles had been “a breath of fresh air” during Soviet times.
He said Beatles music “was considered propaganda of an alien ideology”.
Mr Putin said that while Beatles’ music was not banned by the Communist regime, “the fact that you were not allowed to play in Red Square in the 1980s says a lot.”
McCartney said he gave President Putin a private performance of The Beatles’ song Let It Be.
Paul McCartney – Let It Be (Live) in Red Square Moscow, Russia.
Asked about The Beatles’ hit “Back in the USSR”, McCartney said he did not know a lot about the former Soviet Union when he co-wrote the song with John Lennon.
“It was always a mystical land,” he told reporters. “It’s nice to see the reality. I always suspected that people had big hearts. Now I know that’s true.”
Paul McCartney & Vladimir Putin
Paul McCartney – Back In The USSR (Reprise) Live in Red Square Moscow, Russia
Lyrics: Flew in from Miami Beach BOAC Didn’t get to bed last night On the way the paper bag was on my knee Man i had a dreadful flight I’m back in the U.S.S.R. You don’t know how lucky you are boy Back in the U.S.S.R. Been away so long I hardly knew the place Gee it’s good to be back home Leave it till tomorrow to unpack my case Honey disconnect the phone I’m back in the U.S.S.R. You don’t know how lucky you are boy Back in the U.S. Back in the U.S. Back in the U.S.S.R. Well the Ukraine girls really knock me out They leave the West behind And Moscow girls make me sing and shout That Georgia’s always on my my my my my my my mind. I’m back in the U.S.S.R. You don’t know how lucky you are boy Back in the U.S.S.R. Well the Ukraine girls really knock me out They leave the West behind And Moscow girls make me sing and shout That Georgia’s always on my my my my my my my mind. Show me round your snow peaked mountains way down south Take me to your daddy’s farm Let me hear your balalaika’s ringing out Come and keep your comrade warm. I’m back in the U.S.S.R. hey You don’t know how lucky you are boy Back in the U.S.S.R.
Photo: The Band: Paul McCartney – Bass/Guitars/Piano/Vocals (center) Brian Ray – Guitars/Bass/Vocals Rusty Anderson – Guitars/Vocals Abe Laboriel Jr. – Drums/Vocals Wix Wickens – Keyboards/Vocals.
Video source: www.youtube.com
Posted by Teri Perticone
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