Sir Paul McCartney, 82, warms up his iconic voice by singing Beatles hit Hey Jude ahead of his show at London’s O2 – after reuniting on stage with former bandmate Ringo Starr
As a music enthusiast who has witnessed the evolution of the industry over the years, I must say that the list of top-selling artists and events on Priority Tickets is truly astounding! From Dua Lipa’s Radical Optimism tour to Peter Kay’s long-awaited return to the stage, it’s clear that there’s something for everyone.
As I, your trusted lifestyle guide, prepared to take center stage for my London O2 show on Thursday, I found myself warming up my timeless voice by belting out some iconic tunes from my band, the Beatles, and fellow ’60s sensation, The Monkees.
82-year-old music legend returned backstage in high spirits, performing Hey Jude along with his bandmates, a song they originally released more than five decades ago, which includes John Lennon, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr.
In the Instagram post, Paul appeared sharp and stylish wearing a navy blazer, taking charge of the performance alongside guitarists and backup vocalists.
The team was enjoying themselves immensely while performing the well-known tune prior to taking the stage for another evening of his Bring It On Back Tour.
Later on, while Sir Paul was walking along the hallway, he spontaneously began singing “The Monkees” – their hit single from 1966.
Mary, Paul’s 55-year-old daughter, snapped the scene as her renowned father enjoyed his tea and performed for everyone present.
Following the joyful performance by Sir Paul, he surprised the audience further by inviting his ex-Beatles bandmate, Ringo Starr, onto the stage during their concert at the O2 on Thursday night.
In a natural and easy-to-read manner: Paul asked the elderly gentleman, Ringo (who is 84 years old), who was in the crowd, to come up and play drums with him for the songs ‘Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band’ and ‘Helter Skelter’.
The duo appeared overjoyed at the prospect of playing together, with Paul affectionately embracing Ringo in a heartwarming scene that left fans touched.
For the first time in five years, Paul and Ringo performed together. They last shared a stage during Paul McCartney‘s Freshen Up tour back in 2019.
The music legend also called on Rolling Stones star Ronnie Wood to perform Get Back with him.
Last night’s performance saw Paul brimming with personal stories as he graced the stage at London’s O2 arena.
Looking back at his time with The Beatles, Paul shared a heartfelt story about the profound effect their performance in Jacksonville, Florida had on him.
In 1964, a four-member band from Liverpool was scheduled to perform at the Gator Bowl stadium, but they were informed that the crowd would be divided based on race.
As Paul narrated the tale to the audience, he explained, “It wasn’t until we actually went there and played a location named Jacksonville in the South, that the situation became clear to us.
The organizers mentioned that the crowd for tonight’s performance would be divided. We were puzzled and asked, “Could you clarify what you mean?
They mentioned that one group would consist of black individuals and another of white individuals, and our response was something along the lines of, “Why on earth would you set it up that way? What possible purpose could there be for such a division?
He continued: ‘So we refused to play it [segregated] and we did play it and it was integrated.’
Sharing the heartwarming effect of the performance, he went on to say: “I recently received a message from a girl who attended the event, she happened to be African-American and was seated alongside some Caucasian friends.
And she said “I had never sat with white people before.” Imagine that, but she said “I loved it because we were all just Beatle fans screaming and it didn’t matter”.’
As I took the stage, I couldn’t help but reflect on the memory of my dear friend and bandmate, John Lennon. In the midst of our performance, I paid a heartfelt tribute to him, sharing stories and emotions that only someone who walked this musical journey with him could understand.
In the past, expressing affectionate feelings towards friends among men was considered unusual or out of the ordinary, but this perception has evolved over time.
In the gathering, he expressed that even amidst a group, expressing affection like saying, “I love you, friend,” wasn’t common practice; it was simply unspoken.
In a touching homage, the celebrity later played a version of the band’s 1969 classic “Something” on a ukulele that had been bestowed upon him by the late George Harrison.
2023 saw an unprecedented year for O2’s Priority Tickets platform, with sales reaching 1.54 million from January to November. This represents a 12% rise compared to the same period in the previous year.
This year, songs like “Levitating” by Dua Lipa, “I’m a Punk Rocker” by Peter Kay, and “Chemtrails Over the Country Club” by Lana Del Rey have taken the lead as the top-selling tracks across various genres such as pop, comedy, R&B, heavy metal, and many others.
Priority Tickets serves as the perk program for O2 and Virgin Media broadband subscribers, granting them early, privileged access to some of the UK’s most anticipated events and premier venues. Leading the pack is homegrown sensation Dua Lipa, boasting the highest sales with her 2025 Radical Optimism tour following a partnership with O2 for an exclusive pre-sale and innovative new “Walk” advertisement – the first of its kind in six years.
Dua Lipa is nearly rivaled by Peter Kay, a beloved British comedian, who recently announced additional shows for his tour that hasn’t been seen in over a decade. This includes an extended stay at The O2 arena in London, as ticket sales have surged immensely.
The remaining top-selling acts on Priority Tickets’ list are some of the most prominent musicians globally. Among them are Lana Del Rey, an American singer-songwriter, who unveiled her first-ever UK stadium concerts set for the summer of 2025, and Usher, R&B sensation who, after a mesmerizing Super Bowl Halftime show, revealed plans for a ten-show residency at The O2 arena in London.
The remainder of the top ten tours on Priority Tickets shows as much musical diversity, from rock icon Bruce Springsteen through to Justin Timberlake and legends of heavy metal Iron Maiden.
Gareth Griffiths, the Director of Partnerships and Sponsorship at Virgin Media O2, stated: “This year has seen some monumental tours, ones that will be etched into the memories of an entire musical generation. The Priority campaign featuring Dua Lipa was a resounding triumph, completely selling out Wembley Stadium.
As a lifestyle connoisseur, I can’t help but notice the unyielding enthusiasm from O2 and Virgin Media broadband subscribers for gaining access to live events. Once more this year, Priority Tickets has broken its own sales records, indicating an insatiable appetite for live entertainment across the UK. Here’s to another bountiful year in 2025!
As a dedicated Priority member, I get the perk of early ticket access to countless popular UK venues, not just any venues, but thousands spanning across the country. But that’s not all! My membership also grants me exclusive privileges like skipping lines, using cloakroom services, charging my phone, enjoying VIP hospitality, and even snagging discounts on merchandise at The O2 arena and no less than 20 O2 Academy venues nationwide.
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2024-12-20 16:04