Group
Wings
Paul McCartney’s band
- From
- United Kingdom
- Active
- 1971–1981
- Rating
- ★ 4
- Releases
- 102
- rock
- soft rock
- classic rock
- pop rock
- pop
About
Wings, sometimes billed as Paul McCartney and Wings, were a British rock band from 1971 to 1981, formed in London. The core members were Paul McCartney, a former member of the Beatles, on vocals and bass, his wife Linda McCartney on keyboards, and Moody Blues alumnus Denny Laine on guitar and vocals. They were noted for their commercial successes, musical eclecticism, and frequent personnel changes. They went through three lead guitarists and four drummers; the core trio of the McCartneys and Laine, however, remained intact throughout the group's existence.
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Originally consisting of the McCartneys, Laine, and drummer Denny Seiwell, the band's first two albums, Wild Life (1971) and Red Rose Speedway (1973), the latter featuring guitarist Henry McCullough, were viewed as artistic disappointments beside Paul McCartney's work with the Beatles. After the release of the title track of the James Bond film Live and Let Die, McCullough and Seiwell resigned from the band. The McCartneys and Laine then released 1973's Band on the Run, a commercial and critical success that spawned two top-ten singles in "Jet" and the title track. Following that album, the band recruited guitarist Jimmy McCulloch and drummer Geoff Britton, only for Britton to quit shortly afterward and be replaced by Joe English. With the new line-up, Wings released 1975's Venus and Mars, which included the US number-one single "Listen to What the Man Said", and undertook a highly successful world tour over 1975–76. Intended as more of a group effort, Wings at the Speed of Sound (1976) was issued midway through the tour and featured the hit singles "Silly Love Songs" and "Let 'Em In".
In 1977, McCulloch and English departed before the release of Wings' only UK number-one single, "Mull of Kintyre", which became one of the best-selling UK singles in history. Following the 1978 album London Town, the McCartneys and Laine added guitarist Laurence Juber and drummer Steve Holley. The resulting album, Back to the Egg, underperformed and received negative reviews. During the supporting tour, Paul McCartney was arrested in Japan for cannabis possession, putting the band on hold. Following a US number one with a live-recorded version of "Coming Up" (1980), Wings disbanded in 1981 after Laine departed. In total, Wings had six number-one singles on the Billboard Hot 100.
Members
-
Paul McCartney eponymous
Discography
Albums
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Wild Life Apple Music
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Band on the Run
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Red Rose Speedway
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Banda En Fuga
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Venus and Mars Apple Music
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Wings at the Speed of Sound
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London Town Apple Music
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Back to the Egg Apple Music
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Completed Rarities (Vol. 1)
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Back to the Egg Apple Music
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Wild Life Sessions
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The Alternate London Town
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The Nashville Sessions
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Sunny Side Up
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Back to the Egg Sessions
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London Town Sessions
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Wings at the Speed of Sound Sessions
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Wings Over Europe
Singles
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Hi, Hi, Hi / Junior’s Farm (One Hand Clapping)
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Junior’s Farm (One Hand Clapping Sessions)
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Band on the Run (Underdubbed mix)
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Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five
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Love My Baby (From ‘One Hand Clapping’)
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Rock Show (new version)
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Letting Go (extended version)
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Maybe I’m Amazed
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Old Siam, Sir
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Getting Closer / Spin It On
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Goodnight Tonight
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Getting Closer / Baby’s Request
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Arrow Through Me
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I've Had Enough
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With a Little Luck
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London Town Apple Music
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Seaside Woman
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Mull of Kintyre / Girls School
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Silly Love Songs / Cook of The House
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Let ’em In / Beware My Love
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Listen to What the Man Said
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Letting Go
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Venus and Mars / Rock Show
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Jet / Mamunia
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Band on the Run / Zoo Gang
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Junior’s Farm / Sally G
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Walking in the Park With Eloise / Bridge on the River Suite
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Band on the Run / Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five
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Jet / Let Me Roll It
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Helen Wheels / Country Dreamer
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My Love / The Mess
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Live and Let Die / I Lie Around
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Mrs. Vandebilt / Bluebird
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Hi, Hi, Hi / C Moon
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Mary Had a Little Lamb / Little Woman Love
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Give Ireland Back to the Irish
Live
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One Hand Clapping
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Over Europe Summer ’72 Volume 1
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Over Europe Summer ’72 Volume 2
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Wings Over St. Paul
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Cow Palace 1976
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Gemeente Groningen 1972
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Gemeente Amsterdam 1972
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Brighton Live 1979
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All Over America 1976
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Rockshow
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Wings Over Australia 1975
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Let ’em Out, Vol. 6: Pugin’s Hall Rehearsals
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Let ’em Out, Vol. 7: Pugin’s Hall Rehearsals
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Let ’em Out, Vol. 2: Elstree Rehearsals
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Let ’em Out, Vol. 5: Rehearsals & Outtakes
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Let ’em Out Vol. 4: World Tour Rehearsals
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1976-05-04: Houston, TX, USA
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First Flight 1972
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Wings Over Los Angeles
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Live in New Castle 1973
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1976-06-23 & 24: Wings Over Los Angeles: The Forum, Los Angeles, CA, USA (remaster version)
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Wings Over Amsterdam
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1976‐05‐22: Wings Over Boston: Boston Garden, Boston, MA, USA
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Last Flight:The Complete 1979 Glasgow Concert
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Wings Over America II
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Got Any Toothpicks? (Live 1972)
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Maybe I’m Amazed
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Wings Over America Apple Music
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1976-03-26: Wings Over Europe: Pavilion, Paris, France
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RRRRRROOOCK SHOW
Compilations
Links
Tribute
Also known as
Paul McCartney & Wings · Paul McCartney & the Wings · Paul McCartney and Wings · Suzy and the Red Stripes · The Country Hams · The Wings
Identifiers
- MusicBrainz
- d922d727-240a-4432-9a88-05a7cf9bc403
- ISNI
- 0000000107247688
Data from MusicBrainz, saved 7 Nov 2026. Photo from Wikimedia Commons, covers from the Cover Art Archive and Apple Music.