How to Get Paul McCartney’s New Book on Post-Beatles Career

Paul McCartney has written a new book about his life and career after The Beatles split in 1970.

“I’m so very happy to be transported back to the time that was Wings and relive some of our madcap adventures through this book,” McCartney, 82, said in a statement announcing Wings: The Story of a Band on the Run.

The 528-page book features more than 150 black-and-white and color photographs, many of which were previously unreleased, of McCartney and his 1970s band Wings. Paul formed the rock supergroup with wife Linda McCartney, ex Moody Blues guitarist Denny Laine and prolific session drummer Denny Seiwell in 1971.

Paul is the credited author of Wings: The Story of a Band on the Run, with editing from historian Ted Widmer based on “dozens of hours” of interviews with the living members of Wings. The book provides an oral history on every Wings album as well as poignant and harrowing stories of life on the road as a touring band in the 1970s.

“Starting from scratch after The Beatles felt crazy at times,” Paul said. “There were some very difficult moments and I often questioned my decision. But as we got better I thought, ‘OK this is really good.’ We proved Wings could be a really good band. To play to huge audiences in the same way The Beatles had and have an impact in a different way. It was a huge buzz.”

Fans can preorder Wings: The Story of a Band on the Run‘s hardcover or ebook editions right now via Amazon, Barnes & Noble or other retailers ahead of its publication on Tuesday, November 4.

Wings topped the U.S. album chart with 1973’s Red Rose Speedway before hitting the No. 1 spot again later that same year with Band on the Run. The group received an Album of the Year nomination for Band on the Run in 1975, and the record would go on to become Paul’s most successful post-Beatles project.

The rock supergroup had a very busy year in 1973 as they also performed the title track from the James Bond film Live and Let Die, which hit No. 2 on the U.S. singles chart and became the most commercially successful Bond theme up to that point.

There were numerous lineup changes throughout Wings’ 10 years together. Guitarist Jimmy McCulloch helped redefine Wings’ sound when he joined in 1974 after stints in Thunderclap Newman and Stone the Crows, but McCulloch tragically died at 26 years old in 1979 from heart failure.

A latter-day incarnation of Wings — featuring the McCartneys, Laine and guitarist Laurence Juber — won Best Rock Instrumental Performance at the 1980 Grammy Awards for the track “Rockestra Theme,” from the band’s final studio album Back to the Egg. “Rockestra Theme” featured Wings performing with an all-star collection of rock icons, including The Who’s Pete Townshend, Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham and bassist John Paul Jones, The Shadows frontman Hank Marvin and Faces drummer Kenney Jones, among many others.

Wings cofounder Laine quit the group in 1981 over disputes with Paul over songwriting credits for their 1977 U.K. No. 1 single “Mull of Kintyre.” While the McCartneys initially planned to continue Wings, 1982’s Tug of War was ultimately released as a solo project for Paul.

Various members of Wings have performed together for one-off concerts and convention appearances over the years without the McCartneys. Linda died in April 1998 at age 56 following a three-year battle with breast cancer, and Laine died in December 2023 from interstitial lung disease.

Paul and his daughter Mary McCartney celebrated Wings’ legacy in 2001 with the release of the ABC documentary Wingspan, featuring never-before-seen footage of the McCartneys recording and touring during the 1970s. A compilation album, titled Wingspan: Hits and History, was certified double platinum after hitting No.2 on the Billboard Singles Chart.

Elsewhere, it was reported in December 2024, that Gladiator II star Paul Mescal was in talks to play Paul in filmmaker Sam Mendes‘ four upcoming Beatles biopics. Last year, Mendes announced that both living Beatles — McCartney and Ringo Starr — and the estates of the late George Harrison and John Lennon had granted all life and music rights for his upcoming movies.

“I’m honored to be telling the story of the greatest rock band of all time, and excited to challenge the notion of what constitutes a trip to the movies,” the American Beauty director said in a statement.