Paul McCartney to tour Australia in October

Modern technology united Paul McCartney on stage with John Lennon for a brief, magical moment at last year’s Glastonbury Festival, and this year it’s Australia’s turn.

McCartney, 81, will bring his Got Back tour here for six shows, including Melbourne on October 21, Sydney on October 24, and Brisbane on November 1. The tour comes six years since the legendary Liverpudlian last played in Australia, and six decades since the Beatles’ debut album.

The tour begins on October 18 in Adelaide, where McCartney played with the Beatles in 1964. Before his 2017 tour, McCartney’s previous Australian tour was three decades ago in 1993.

Last year at Glastonbury, McCartney’s three-hour show featured guest appearances from Bruce Springsteen and Foo Fighters’ frontman Dave Grohl, but it was a virtual duet with Lennon, who was killed in New York in 1980, that attracted global attention.

On-stage vision of Lennon singing I’ve Got A Feeling – originally recorded in 1969 during the Beatles’ rooftop concert in London – was matched to the band’s live performance, with McCartney sharing verses with his former bandmate.

“It’s kind of magic for me, because at one point I’m just backing John up,” McCartney said.

“I’m playing guitar and he’s singing ... ‘Everybody had a good year’. And then I join him with ‘I got a feeling’. So now there’s two of us together. And now I’ve got to actually really keep in with him.

“And that’s beautiful because that’s like it was when you played live ... to be conscious of the other person, and do your part right alongside him. It’s very emotional for me. I love it. Really.”