Sir Paul McCartney as he arrived at LIPA today
Sir Paul McCartney as he arrived at LIPA today(Image: Iain Watts)
Bruce Springsteen was joined by Sir Paul McCartney for an incredibly special visit to Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts (LIPA) today. The Boss is currently in Liverpool to perform two shows at Anfield Stadium as part of his Land Of Hope and Dreams tour.
The 75-year-old has described performing in Merseyside as a long-held dream come true as his musical tastes were heavily shaped by The Beatles. The Born in the USA singer was reunited with one of his heroes today as Sir Paul returned home to Liverpool.
The legendary Beatle was captured by ECHO photographers as he arrived at the Mount Street institute he co-founded. A huge crowd was gathered outside LIPA as Sir Paul arrived at the main entrance to huge cheers.
The ECHO understands Springsteen has also arrived at LIPA, but was ushered in through another entrance. Members of the E-Street band, Max Weinberg and Steven Van Zandt, were also pictured arriving at the school.
The meeting is certain to fuel speculation about whether Sir Paul will join Springsteen on stage at some point during his final show in L4 tomorrow. It wouldn't be the first time the iconic musicians have performed on stage together.
Most notably, Springsteen joined Sir Paul on stage as a special guest during the 82-year-old's headline set at Glastonbury Festival in 2022. They have also performed together at Hyde Park and at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Springsteen hailed the influence the Fab Four had on him during his electrifying first show at Anfield on Wednesday. As he arrived on stage, he announced to the crowd: "It is great for us to be in Liverpool where, for us, it all began."
Sir Paul McCartney posed for photographs as he arrived at LIPA
Sir Paul McCartney posed for photographs as he arrived at LIPA
The New Jersey native was in his teenage years when the Fab Four announced themselves to America with their performance on the Ed Sullivan show. He paid further homage to how his musical tastes were forged in Merseyside when he played a cover of Twist and Shout in the encore.
The classic song was originally sung by The Top Notes, but become synonymous with The Beatles when they released a cover version in 1963. Springsteen has often played Twist and Shout on live shows previously.
However, Wednesday's performance was just the second time the song has featured on the Land Of Hope and Dreams setlist so far. The cover wasn't the only special Liverpool moment from Wednesday's show.
He referenced Liverpool FC's Premier League title win this season as he told the crowd: "'Come on! Is this the house of champions or what?'" The show was also politically charged as the Boss continued his war of words with President Donald Trump.
Before he opened the show with My Love Will Not Let You Down, he said: "The America I love and have sung to you about for so long, a beacon of hope for 250 years, is currently in hands of a corrupt, incompetent and treasonous administration.
"Tonight we ask all of you who believe in democracy and the best of our American experiment to rise with us, raise your voices, stand with us against authoritarianism and let freedom ring!”
Before Rainmaker, he said: "When conditions in a country are ripe for a demagogue, you can bet one will show up. This is for America's dear leader."
Ahead of House of A Thousand Guitars, he said: “The last check on power, after the checks and balances have failed, are the people. That’s all that’s left.
"It’s in the union of people around a common set of values. That’s all that stands between democracy and authoritarianism. In America right now we have to organise at home, at work, peacefully in the street. We thank the British people for their support because, at the end of the day, all we have is each other.”