A performance by Paul McCartney at the Cavern Club saw him backed by an unlikely rock legend on guitar, and people are only just realising the pair even performed together
A guitarist who took to the stage with Paul McCartney has stunned fans after they realised who it is. A recording of a performance at The Cavern Club in 1999 was posted to X, leaving users stunned after noting the instrumentalist backing The Beatles legend. Paul McCartney performed the hit song ‘I Saw Her Standing There’ at the club with a little help from his friends.
Turns out, the friends in question are two of the most well-regarded musicians around. Deep Purple’s Ian Paice appeared in the performance, giving the song an extra layer of music history. But the guitarist performing with McCartney and Paice is also someone music fans may recognise.
Fans are thrilled as many who have “never seen this before” realised David Gilmour was performing alongside McCartney.
The Pink Floyd guitarist and solo musician has been friends with the former Beatle for some time, even performing on Wings’ final album, Back to the Egg. Fans were thrilled by the performance McCartney, Gilmour, and Paice gave to the Cavern Club crowd.
One user wrote: “Supergroup!” Another added: “This conert is a hidden gem. In my playlist for quite a long time now.” A third wrote: “I’ve never heard this before. While listening, I imagined a Pink Floyd-style, ten-minute psychedelic version of the song.”
Others were full of praise for the surprising collaboration, with many suggesting the performance gave rise to some of the best music in history. They wrote: “Arguably one of best guitarist, bass player and drummer to hit a stage in our lifetimes…”
Gilmour was clearly pleased with the performance, joking at the time: “I’ve been in The Who, I’ve been in The Beatles, and I’ve been in Pink Floyd. Top that, motherf***er.”
He went on to suggest the performance he gave at the Cavern Club, which is still delighting members of the public today, is one of the best moments of his career.
Gilmour said: “Managing to persuade him to sing I Saw Her Standing There at the Cavern, with me doing the John Lennon parts, was absolutely fantastic.”
McCartney went on to praise Gilmour and said he can do absolutely anything a musician needs to do. He said: “He can play everything: bass, guitar, piano, drums … And on all these instruments, he’s at a very good level.
“We cannot, therefore, mystify him, he knows exactly what he wants. We owe him certain productions which were not of the greatest interest. But he definitely deserves the success and respect he enjoys.”
