Paul McCartney and Wings’ Band on the Run
Featuring special guest Erik Mattox
The December 6 event is a listening party and discussion focusing on Band on the Run, the classic, Grammy-winning 1973 album from Paul McCartney and Wings.
The fraught circumstances under which the album was made stand in contrast to the power and accessibility of the music. McCartney endured the sudden departure of nearly half his band, armed robbery, accusations of cultural appropriation and – though he didn’t know it at the time – the potential of contracting cholera. But along with wife Linda and band mate Denny Laine, he rallied, creating what today is looked upon as a height – possibly the pinnacle – of his post-Beatles creative output. The album featured three hit singles: “Jet,” “Helen Wheels” and the title track, but the rest of the album is superb as well, showcasing the qualities that have made McCartney one of the most successful songwriters of all time.
On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Paul McCartney and Wings’ iconic Band on the Run album, Bill Kopp’s Music to Your Ears takes an opportunity to explore this groundbreaking and massively successful album, one that helped get McCartney’s career back on track, setting him up for the globetrotting Wings Over the World Tour just a year and a half later.
Joined by special co-host (and fellow McCartney fanatic) Erik Mattox, Bill Kopp will play key tracks from Band on the Run along with other relevant recordings, helping to place the album in its historical and pop-cultural context. The evening is the latest installment of the popular Music to Your Ears discussion series, hosted by Asheville Guitar Bar and sponsored by AshevilleFM.
ABOUT THE DISCUSSION SERIES
Music to Your Ears is Bill Kopp’s monthly discussion series hosted by Asheville Guitar Bar and sponsored by AshevilleFM. On the first Wednesday of each month, music enthusiasts gather to discuss an important album, artist or musical movement. An interactive evening, Music to Your Ears isn’t a lecture; it’s a discussion led by experts and designed to enrich the listening experience. The character of each session is defined by the participants (that’s you). The conversation goes where the attendees take it: the person seated next to you might have attended Woodstock or seen The Beatles in concert. The insights of everyone in the room are what make each and every Music to Your Ears a unique experience.
ABOUT BILL KOPP
With over 500 bylines in Western North Carolina publications (Mountain Xpress, Bold Life, WNC Magazine and more), Asheville-based author and music journalist is an acknowledged expert on popular music. Author of two books – Reinventing Pink Floyd: From Syd Barrett to The Dark Side of the Moon and Disturbing the Peace: 415 Records and the Rise of New Wave – Bill Kopp writes for publications across the country and abroad. A contributing editor at Goldmine Magazine and contributing writer at GRAMMY.com, he has authored more than 30 album liner note essays and conducted more than 1000 interviews. He regularly hosts lecture/discussions on artists and albums of historical importance, and is a frequent guest on music-focused radio programs and podcasts.