# The Paul McCartney World Tour

The Paul McCartney World Tour was a worldwide concert tour by Paul McCartney, notable for being McCartney's first tour under his own name, and for the monumental painted stage sets by artist Brian Clarke. The 103-gig tour, which ran from 1989 through 1990, included a concert played to what was then the largest stadium crowd in the history of rock and roll.

## Tour

The World Tour was Paul McCartney's first world tour under his own name; it was also his first major tour outing in ten years, following the Wings UK Tour 1979, and his first world tour since the 1976 Wings Over the World Tour (both also with Linda McCartney).
While the tour coincided with the release of the solo album Flowers in the Dirt, and promoted that record by inclusion of its songs in the set list, The Paul McCartney World Tour has been characterised as thematically more about him embracing his Beatles past; for the first time in any of his tours, a substantial number of Beatles songs were featured in the set list.
The tour was documented by the 1990 live albums Tripping the Live Fantastic and Tripping the Live Fantastic: Highlights!, and the 1991 concert film Get Back. A one-hour tour documentary was also aired on Channel 4 in the UK, titled From Rio to Liverpool.

### Set designs

The sets for the tour were designed by regular McCartney collaborator, the artist Brian Clarke, who together with Linda McCartney created the album cover for Flowers in the Dirt. The hand-painted stage set backdrops, notable for their scale, were executed under Clarke’s supervision by the scenic painters Elms Lesters, at the Los Angeles Painting Rooms. The scale designs for the tour, individual artworks by Clarke in acrylic and paper collage on Velin, were first publicly exhibited in 1990, at the Mayor Gallery in London. Elements from the sets appear as the graphic basis of much of the promotional material.

### Tour booklet

Concert attendees received, free of additional charge, a lavish 9x12-inch 98-me page booklet, containing the tour itinerary, lengthy profiles of the band members, descriptions of the tour's stage and logistics, and an extended description of Friends of the Earth's mission. Two-thirds of the booklet consisted of McCartney's reflections upon his life and career, illustrated by many photographs.

## Set list

The following set list is obtained from the September 28, 1989 concert in Scandinavium, Gothenburg. It is not intended to represent all dates throughout the tour.
* "Figure of Eight"
* "Jet"
* "Rough Ride"
* "Got to Get You into My Life"
* "Band on the Run"
* "Ebony and Ivory"
* "We Got Married"
* "Maybe I'm Amazed"
* "The Long and Winding Road"
* "The Fool on the Hill"
* "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band"
* "Good Day Sunshine"
* "Can't Buy Me Love"
* "Put It There"
* "Things We Said Today"
* "Eleanor Rigby"
* "This One"
* "My Brave Face"
* "Back in the U.S.S.R."
* "I Saw Her Standing There"
* "Twenty Flight Rock"
* "Coming Up"
* "Let It Be"
* "Ain't That a Shame"
* "Live and Let Die"
* "Hey Jude"

### Encore

* "Yesterday"
* "Get Back"
* "Golden Slumbers"
* "Carry That Weight"
* "The End"

## Tour dates

List of 1989 concerts :
| Date | City | Country | Venue |
| 26 September 1989 | Drammen | Norway | Drammenshallen |
| 28 September 1989 | Gothenburg | Sweden | Scandinavium |
| 29 September 1989 | Stockholm | Sweden | Isstadion |
| 30 September 1989 | Stockholm | Sweden | Isstadion |
| 3 October 1989 | Hamburg | West Germany | Alsterdorfer Sporthalle |
| 4 October 1989 | Hamburg | West Germany | Alsterdorfer Sporthalle |
| 6 October 1989 | Frankfurt | West Germany | Festhalle |
| 7 October 1989 | Frankfurt | West Germany | Festhalle |
| 9 October 1989 | Paris | France | Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy |
| 10 October 1989 | Paris | France | Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy |
| 11 October 1989 | Paris | France | Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy |
| 16 October 1989 | Dortmund | West Germany | Westfalenhalle |
| 17 October 1989 | Dortmund | West Germany | Westfalenhalle |
| 20 October 1989 | Munich | West Germany | Olympiahalle |
| 21 October 1989 | Munich | West Germany | Olympiahalle |
| 22 October 1989 | Munich | West Germany | Olympiahalle |
| 24 October 1989 | Rome | Italy | Palaeur |
| 26 October 1989 | Milan | Italy | Palatrussardi |
| 27 October 1989 | Milan | Italy | Palatrussardi |
| 29 October 1989 | Zürich | Switzerland | Hallenstadion |
| 30 October 1989 | Zürich | Switzerland | Hallenstadion |
| 2 November 1989 | Madrid | Spain | Palacio de los Deportes |
| 3 November 1989 | Madrid | Spain | Palacio de los Deportes |
| 5 November 1989 | Lyon | France | Halle Tony Garnier |
| 7 November 1989 | Rotterdam | Netherlands | Rotterdam Ahoy |
| 8 November 1989 | Rotterdam | Netherlands | Rotterdam Ahoy |
| 10 November 1989 | Rotterdam | Netherlands | Rotterdam Ahoy |
| 11 November 1989 | Rotterdam | Netherlands | Rotterdam Ahoy |
| 23 November 1989 | Inglewood | United States | Great Western Forum |
| 24 November 1989 | Inglewood | United States | Great Western Forum |
| 27 November 1989 | Inglewood | United States | Great Western Forum |
| 28 November 1989 | Inglewood | United States | Great Western Forum |
| 29 November 1989 | Inglewood | United States | Great Western Forum |
| 3 December 1989 | Rosemont | United States | Rosemont Horizon |
| 4 December 1989 | Rosemont | United States | Rosemont Horizon |
| 5 December 1989 | Rosemont | United States | Rosemont Horizon |
| 7 December 1989 | Toronto | Canada | SkyDome |
| 9 December 1989 | Montreal | Canada | Montreal Forum |
| 11 December 1989 | New York City | United States | Madison Square Garden |
| 12 December 1989 | New York City | United States | Madison Square Garden |
| 14 December 1989 | New York City | United States | Madison Square Garden |
| 15 December 1989 | New York City | United States | Madison Square Garden |
List of 1990 concerts :
| Date | City | Country | Venue |
| 2 January 1990 | Birmingham | England | National Exhibition Centre |
| 3 January 1990 | Birmingham | England | National Exhibition Centre |
| 5 January 1990 | Birmingham | England | National Exhibition Centre |
| 6 January 1990 | Birmingham | England | National Exhibition Centre |
| 8 January 1990 | Birmingham | England | National Exhibition Centre |
| 9 January 1990 | Birmingham | England | National Exhibition Centre |
| 11 January 1990 | London | England | Wembley Arena |
| 13 January 1990 | London | England | Wembley Arena |
| 14 January 1990 | London | England | Wembley Arena |
| 16 January 1990 | London | England | Wembley Arena |
| 17 January 1990 | London | England | Wembley Arena |
| 19 January 1990 | London | England | Wembley Arena |
| 20 January 1990 | London | England | Wembley Arena |
| 21 January 1990 | London | England | Wembley Arena |
| 23 January 1990 | London | England | Wembley Arena |
| 24 January 1990 | London | England | Wembley Arena |
| 26 January 1990 | London | England | Wembley Arena |
| 1 February 1990 | Auburn Hills | United States | The Palace of Auburn Hills |
| 2 February 1990 | Auburn Hills | United States | The Palace of Auburn Hills |
| 4 February 1990 | Pittsburgh | United States | Civic Arena |
| 5 February 1990 | Pittsburgh | United States | Civic Arena |
| 8 February 1990 | Worcester | United States | Worcester Centrum |
| 9 February 1990 | Worcester | United States | Worcester Centrum |
| 12 February 1990 | Cincinnati | United States | Riverfront Coliseum |
| 14 February 1990 | Indianapolis | United States | Market Square Arena |
| 15 February 1990 | Indianapolis | United States | Market Square Arena |
| 18 February 1990 | Atlanta | United States | The Omni |
| 19 February 1990 | Atlanta | United States | The Omni |
| 3 March 1990 | Tokyo | Japan | Tokyo Dome |
| 5 March 1990 | Tokyo | Japan | Tokyo Dome |
| 7 March 1990 | Tokyo | Japan | Tokyo Dome |
| 9 March 1990 | Tokyo | Japan | Tokyo Dome |
| 11 March 1990 | Tokyo | Japan | Tokyo Dome |
| 13 March 1990 | Tokyo | Japan | Tokyo Dome |
| 29 March 1990 | Seattle | United States | Kingdome |
| 31 March 1990 | Berkeley | United States | California Memorial Stadium |
| 1 April 1990 | Berkeley | United States | California Memorial Stadium |
| 4 April 1990 | Tempe | United States | Sun Devil Stadium |
| 7 April 1990 | Irving | United States | Texas Stadium |
| 9 April 1990 | Lexington | United States | Rupp Arena |
| 12 April 1990 | Tampa | United States | Tampa Stadium |
| 14 April 1990 | Miami Gardens | United States | Joe Robbie Stadium |
| 15 April 1990 | Miami Gardens | United States | Joe Robbie Stadium |
| 20 April 1990 | Rio de Janeiro | Brazil | Maracanã Stadium |
| 21 April 1990 | Rio de Janeiro | Brazil | Maracanã Stadium |
| 23 June 1990 | Glasgow | Scotland | S.E.C.C. Arena |
| 28 June 1990 | Liverpool | England | King's Dock |
| 30 June 1990 | Stevenage | England | Knebworth Park |
| 4 July 1990 | Washington, D.C. | United States | RFK Stadium |
| 6 July 1990 | Washington, D.C. | United States | RFK Stadium |
| 9 July 1990 | East Rutherford | United States | Giants Stadium |
| 11 July 1990 | East Rutherford | United States | Giants Stadium |
| 14 July 1990 | Philadelphia | United States | Veterans Stadium |
| 15 July 1990 | Philadelphia | United States | Veterans Stadium |
| 18 July 1990 | Ames | United States | Cyclone Stadium |
| 20 July 1990 | Cleveland | United States | Cleveland Stadium |
| 22 July 1990 | Raleigh | United States | Carter–Finley Stadium |
| 24 July 1990 | Foxborough | United States | Foxboro Stadium |
| 26 July 1990 | Foxborough | United States | Foxboro Stadium |
| 29 July 1990 | Chicago | United States | Soldier Field |

## Box office score data

| Venue | City | Tickets sold / available | Gross revenue |
| The Palace of Auburn Hills | Auburn Hills | 35,294 / 35,294 | $1,005,879 |
| Civic Arena | Pittsburgh | 29,365 / 29,365 | $836,903 |
| Worcester Centrum | Worcester | 29,600 / 29,600 | $728,545 |
| Riverfront Coliseum | Cincinnati | 14,545 / 14,545 | $414,533 |
| Market Square Arena | Indianapolis | 30,650 / 30,650 | $873,525 |
| The Omni | Atlanta | 29,784 / 29,784 | $848,844 |
| California Memorial Stadium | Berkeley | 118,352 / 118,352 | $3,550,560 |
| Sun Devil Stadium | Tempe | 66,546 / 66,546 | $1,996,380 |
| Texas Stadium | Irving | 57,337 / 57,337 | $1,863,453 |
| Rupp Arena | Lexington | 19,951 / 19,951 | $568,604 |
| Tampa Stadium | Tampa | 58,241 / 58,241 | $1,747,230 |
| Joe Robbie Stadium | Miami Gardens | 95,410 / 95,410 | $2,862,300 |
| RFK Stadium | Washington, D.C. | 91,892 / 91,892 | $2,756,760 |
| Giants Stadium | East Rutherford | 105,082 / 105,082 | $3,415,165 |
| Veterans Stadium | Philadelphia | 102,695 / 102,695 | $3,107,980 |
| Cyclone Stadium | Ames | 53,763 / 53,763 | $1,747,298 |
| Cleveland Stadium | Cleveland | 66,476 / 66,476 | $1,994,280 |
| Carter–Finley Stadium | Raleigh | 51,260 / 51,260 | $1,537,800 |
| Foxboro Stadium | Foxborough | 85,938 / 85,938 | $2,578,110 |
| Soldier Field | Chicago | 55,630 / 55,630 | $1,807,975 |
| Total | Total | 1,197,811 / 1,197,811 (100%) | $36,242,124 |

## Personnel

* Paul McCartney – lead vocals, guitars (acoustic, electric and bass), keyboards
* Linda McCartney – backing vocals, keyboards, percussion
* Hamish Stuart – backing vocals, guitars (acoustic, electric and bass)
* Robbie McIntosh – backing vocals, electric guitar
* Paul "Wix" Wickens – backing vocals, keyboards
* Chris Whitten – drums, percussion