How Paul McCartney Chose His Guitarist

[@joesimon2018]

He knew how to play "Raunchy"

[@wanderer1955]

Actually it was 20 Flight Rock.

[@DCfromBC]

Paul meeting John: 20 Flight Rock. George meeting John: Raunchy.

[@jastorino]

Go on George, you show him!……Raunchy, note perfect….you’re in! 😆

[@mangroybuchanan7473]

Good one

[@VoxMax-dl3yx]

Epic!🤣👍

[@termsofusepolice]

Paul's manager asked Paul, "If you could have anyone, who would you want to be your guitarist?" Paul said, "Brian May." Paul's manager is a little hard of hearing. The rest is history. :-)

[@warthogA10]

🤣😆

[@NLBassist]

I once asked Gibson for pictures of Brian Ray for my musician's magazine. The Brian Ray signature guitar by Gibson was just out. I got an answer from Gibson: Brian May is not a Gibson artist. I kid you not.....

[@shahaffiq5860]

I don't think I've ever seen a video Brian and Paul play together. I'm sure Brian will love it because he's a Beatles fan.

[@larryhall2805]

Marcus Miller actually tells a similar story about his first recording session with Miles Davis.

[@brianwilliams9154]

Good one!

[@Klaus80804]

Wow, big respect here. To learn all McCartney material (Beatles, Wings, solo) on bass, acoustics and electric guitar, plus back-up vocals, without knowing what the set list would look like, and without being sure he will get the job, thats a lot of work. I doubt that many players would prepare so well. He really deserved this job.

[@Glicksman1]

I'm sure he deserves his job, but who wouldn't do all that he did so that he could play with Macca?

[@markv.5962]

It would have been cool if Abe could have gotten him a set list. Oh well, didn’t matter in the end. That’s how good Brian is

[@interstellar618]

Brian is a seriously awesome dude whos led a crazy R&R life. We're not best buds or anything but i've known him for over 30 years and he's the real deal. Love that he plays with McCartney. He' deserves the gig

[@joe6096]

I saw Paul in 2003 thinking these guys would be just another backup band for him like he's had over the years since Wings disbanded. Good to see they're still together. I saw him (them?) again in 2016. Probably what helps is that none of them have an ego and they really understand why everyone is in the arena or stadium. Probably something hard to do with some rock musicians. You're leading rock bands and making records on a minor level but you're the top guy at that level. So you're used to being treated like that. Then you move up to Paul McfreakinCartney. They're not here to see you anymore.

[@ChristopherCudworth]

That story of him practicing and learning blows me away . Musical people are geniuses.

[@geespar1]

Seems like a cool guy, his reaction was like any of us would have been, he appreciates his luck getting the gig. He really took it seriously and earned it though, imagine setting yourself up to learn all the guitar and bass parts from all McCartney’s music!

[@bunnycat4153]

He is such an exceptional musician, entertainer (song writer), and all around human being!!! I’m totally 100% bias tho because he put me on the phone with Smokey Robinson when I was a little girl. Plus he’s also the best uncle ever to two of my most fave people on earth (one of which is even named after my own mother) so yeah… he’s definitely the best dude EVER!!! I just love watching him shine! So humble!!!!

[@stephenpatt952]

...and it couldn't happen to a more talented, genuinely kind guy...Brian is a delight to work with, and deserves every bit of success he's getting. S

[@debradonato5659]

2O02-2023‼️20 Yrs with Paul McCartney‼️Congrats Brian

[@cyclesgoff9768]

1 Do as your told. 2 Don’t argue ( See rule no 1). 3 Don’t draw any attention from me.

[@Mike_LaFontaine75]

The rules for every sideman ever.

[@cyclesgoff9768]

lowandlazy57 😎

[@drumsNstuff79]

Brian is the perfect example of how connections can take you places you never knew. Simply getting a gig with Abe Laboriel Jr. led to the McCartney audition after Abe got the gig. He was handed the ball and ran with it. He did his homework to get the gig, do it well, and the rest is history. Plus Brain is just a great musician, and great guy and totally knows what it takes to make Paul's legendary catalog sound it's best. Wings and the Beatles never rocked harder theses days!

[@tomcoryell]

The lesson from this is: do the work.

[@debradonato5659]

Brian Rays ends ups being 1 of Paul’s Guitarists ♥️🌟💙🎸🎸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@stevehornshaw4478]

These stories, these guys just amazing but more so that they feel trusting and relaxed enough with you to open up. You are a master interviewing just prodding enough to get your interviewee talking. Joe it's a privilege to see a master like you at work. Huge thanks as always.

[@MusiciansHallofFameMuseum]

Thanks Steve... Joe

[@paulsummers2640]

Joe, you are the world heavyweight champion of interviewers. I wish everyone listened as well as you. Keep letting musicians tell great memories.

[@Chaomhainn]

Being a dabbler and a professional are two different things. A dabbler is more less a garage type learning sometimes OTJT, ( On The Job Training) A professional is someone like Brian Ray goes to the extent of sitting down at home then takes what he has put in on his time to gather any material related to the job . Then all of that is taken and comes together at a rehersal with part or all of the band . That kind of attitude usually will wins the game in the end . 04/03/2022

[@JBGuitarInstruction]

Thanks for the uplifting interviews. This is amazing and inspiring story.

[@moniquedouglas2448]

They chose the right guy! He does a great job switching between guitar and bass which allows Paul to do the same. And he can sing the harmonies too.

[@ivanjulian2532]

That's ultimately why Paul needed him. A lot of people are unaware how many guitar parts were recrded by Paul back in 60s and 70s. But he also played bass too. All up they're a great band. At a musicianship level they're as good as ever. Alas, Paul's voice has wearied with the passing of time - as you'd expect of someone about to turn 80 years of age. But purely as musicians on musical instruments, they're as good as any band on the planet.

[@trevorgwelch7412]

Brian Ray has " the gift of music " ... Great interview .

[@BubbaZen10]

I saw Paul in like '90. Went on a lark, decided to go by myself at the last minute and rode my bicycle down to ASU Sundevil stadium. Paid 35 bucks, which was kind of a lot at the time! (funny to think now) Just such a great show, and a great memory now. I'll tell ya, there's nothing like hearing 65,000+ people singing/chanting nah nah nah nah nah nah nah, nah nah nah nah, HEY JUDE!! ;)

[@lbj9023]

so true!! that part in hey jude gave me goosebumps, an experiene of a lifetime

[@BubbaZen10]

@@lbj9023 right?! I just got them again thinking about it! 65+ thousand people all just singing and smiling at each other. In actual peace and harmony. 😁 I hope that happens again for us all in the future. Love really IS all ya need.

[@lorenzo6mm]

Laurence Juber. Plays and SINGS Beatles like no body else.

[@wolfgang4078]

Robbie McIntosh was the man !

[@mwdanny]

14 thumbs down are people that have accomplished nothing in their lives. This is such a great story. Who wouldn’t want this opportunity?!?

[@billmitchell3329]

Daniel Balzano envy is alive and well!

[@LemonsAndSalt69]

Says a high School graduate, who's accomplished so little in life, he has time to monitor the like-button on KZbin videos.

[@mwdanny]

@@LemonsAndSalt69 I have a song in a Marvel Movie and I’ve recorded songs for Puff Daddy. I’ve played live on MTV. I’m a working musician who gets paid for his craft. What have you done? Spoiler alert. I don’t care.

[@Aderin.]

​@@LemonsAndSalt69 damn

[@4444colin]

Very happy for Brian. Love those Chance combinations of events and situation's leading to a miracle outcome. ☎️🎻📀🤓

[@larrypower8659]

Luck = Preparation meets Opportunity.

[@fibboobbif]

Funny, some years ago i eventually had the chance to "interview" former Wings drummer Geoff Britton, when he was visiting my garden party in spain. I took him into my studio and asked him about his playing with Paul... He told me he had to compete with some 50 other top drummers in an audition, and even Mitch Mitchell showed up. Everyone showed his best, but some (like Mitchell) were overplaying. Geoff was one of the last players, and had prepared to play Wings songs... but days later Paul wanted (let) him play ancient stuff like jazz n rock n roll, and that was giving him the job in summer 1974, until 1975 "Mars & Venus" when Joe English came, after Britton and guitarist Jimmy McCulloch had several fights...

[@SIRONEDRAGON]

thanks for that story

[@fibboobbif]

@@SIRONEDRAGON The full, correct story is here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gJTPlZdoor1sY6s

[@fibboobbif]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/j6mThJh7oamJjM0

[@speedingmoto4013]

thanks, for that. i had wondered. i liked britton's playing better. did not understand his departure

[@jmad627]

fibbo obbif very interesting clip, thanks for that link.

[@kellymccartney659]

it would be an honor to play for paul mccartney

[@AlJohnsGuitar]

What an awesome interview. Thank you.

[@PeterStrachanMusic]

Awesome guitarist.. Awesome bass player.. Awesome singer.. Awesomely lucky.......

[@MarcoPolo-je5ej]

Tremendous musician and a great person, too.

[@theflyingfrog]

A great musician and a humble guy. What’s not to love?

[@boomerang1125]

I saw Paul McCartney and his band perform back in 2002 with Abe, Brian and the guys. They were simply great. It's 18 years later and the band is still going strong. Great musicianship!

[@joe6096]

Paul made the observation that this group is the longest he's ever been with the same people in a band. Pretty wild if you think about it. Paul was 60 when they formed and the rest of the guys must have been in their 30s and early 40s.

[@macmusic08]

Joe That truly is mind boggling, how long this band has been together and how obviously happy they all are to this day. You can see it on their faces when you watch them play. To me, this speaks volumes about the professionalism and character of Paul McCartney. For the gigantic, legend that he is, he is also clearly a good guy to play with and work for.

[@SIRONEDRAGON]

Joe... I remember Abe Laboriel SR. telling me that Abe Jr had just called him and told his dad that Paul and the band got the OK to play in an old Roman coliseum that had not been used since 70 AD.

[@MikeDial]

The dream of every guitarist my age. Wow.

[@godfree2canada]

can't beat Robbie McIntosh

[@lesinboston9208]

I've seen Paul with these guys 4 times. Super tight! Close your eyes and you can't tell they are not the Beatles.

[@johnpandolfino8663]

What a story......nice to hear him tell it......

[@aussiecoastie72]

Yeah Brian is great ! I saw him with Paul last night in Newcastle Australia ❤ great show

[@r.k.2000]

Brian Ray's older sister Jean was a folk musician, and was the inspiration for Neil Young's Cowgirl in the Sand and Cinnamon Girl.

[@franram7426]

You do know this isn't Brian May???? It's Brian Ray.

[@r.k.2000]

@@franram7426 Yes, I changed the last name to Ray, lol. Thanks for the heads up on my typo

[@franram7426]

@@r.k.2000 Well ..... NOW, it's a cool bit of trivial. Cinnamon Girl is one of my favorites....

[@bunnycat4153]

One of my fave funfacts too!

[@luiscorro1924]

Amazing story. He is also a splendid solo artist as well. His solo music is really good.

[@redbarchetta8782]

Saw Brian with Paul and got to say Paul is a lucky man to have a guitarist like Brian.

[@peetyw8851]

Excellent documentary. Thank you.

[@BrianKlobyGuitar]

Awesome interview... cool stuff :)

[@mikenaykki2173]

Wow! Great interview.👍👍🎸😎

[@dennismason3740]

Boy. Do I have a Brian Ray story, 1971. We were in the same class - Pali High.

[@BeatlesBowieKrimson]

Just tell us the general topic.

[@dennismason3740]

@@BeatlesBowieKrimson - I refuse to reduce the history with indifferent interpretations. Short version - the Prince and the Pauper. Full story upcoming when I can type. y975y79gh3cksaxwyu['3 d,w

[@bunnycat4153]

Hmmm, mine could possibly be better… he actually put me on the phone with Smokey Robinson when I was like only 6 years old (or something) & I genuinely thought I was talking to Smokey the Bear the whole time, sooooo… needless to say, Mr. Robinson was NOT impressed with my ability to refrain from playing with matches, but you know! 🤣🤦🏻‍♀️ I just wish I could go back in time!!!

[@dennismason3740]

@@bunnycat4153 - I love your story. At six I would have been thrilled to talk to Smoky the Bear. My Brian Ray story spans decades - it's a re-telling of the Prince and the Pauper.

[@JD-vv7tq]

MAN OH MAN. If only Paul needed a HARMONICA Player !

[@Joe-mz6dc]

Such a great player! Love his playing.

[@kurtaaron9478]

He3 seems like a very cool, and down to earth guy. Rock on Brian Ray!

[@Powertuber1000]

What's this about CDs? That's still my main music format.

[@GTsuji]

PowerTuber 3.0 Too bad today’s kids won’t know how good CDs are. So much better than MP3 files.

[@alexanderwalther7302]

@@GTsuji Think I'm a Dinosore. Listen to my fav Albums on a recordplayer, a wonderful sound listening with Headphones, or on CD. It's great. Don't need any MP3 ore IPhone. Greets and shine on

[@cornucopia8591]

@@alexanderwalther7302 If you are a dinosaur sir, then I wondering who am I, because I still have my 78 prm shellacs))) Just couldn't throw them away they reminds me of my childhood.

[@shoelessjoe1905]

He played and knew all the words to Twenty Flight Rock...

[@janetsampson1779]

I'm a singer songwriter heavily influenced by Paul McCartney and I couldn't have done it,I probably would have passed out!,Paul McCartney and the Beatles were the whole reason I ever picked up a guitar in the first place and actually playing with my hero would have been to much,ahhh! Bob

[@giveitathink6749]

Good on ya!

[@Scottocaster6668]

Paul asks:"Do you like Yoko ?" The wrong answer will lead you to the door.

[@joe6096]

Wouldn't it be funny if the first thing Brian played for Paul was 20 Flight Rock lol..... "Your IN!"

[@josephtabar492]

Thank you Joe for answering my question. I have pondered for years since the age of about 14 and that is who was playing those killer guiltar riffs in McCartney's hottest songs like BAND ON THE RUN, and LIVE AND LET DIE. Two years later I would begin to learn how to play guitar myself. We always talk about the big players, like the Clapton, Hendricks, and Page however there were many players that were contributing great work in making their more on rock and roll. Brian Ray is one such musician that caught my attention as a youth. PS Paul McCartney has a killer drummer also, but I'm sure you already know this Joe. Take care and keep up the good work this channel is always amazing with the history you present.

[@MusiciansHallofFameMuseum]

Joe…. I don’t think that was Brian playing on those original albums. Denny I think was the guitarist then. Brian has been guitarist the last decade or so. Best, Joe

[@jacquescousteau217]

It boggles my mind how many negative comments there are. Why do people feel the need to denigrate someone in favour of someone else ? This guy was better,Carol trounced McCartney ,and that kind of crap. Thank God there are people like Joe that know more about the music than possibly anyone, and has the humility ,and smarts to ask the right questions,and let’s the musicians speak. There’s nobody like Joe,and look at the number of people he’s interviewed. I would think every musician is flattered to be interviewed by a peer,rather than some hack from Rolling Stone magazine ...

[@MusiciansHallofFameMuseum]

Thanks JC..... maybe the kindest comments I have received. I’m very humbled and appreciative. Sincerely....Joe

[@mikemclenison8200]

Great snippet!

[@blite13]

Hello Billy.....or as George called him, William. Biiilllllyyyy SSShhhheeeeerrrrsss.

[@homeontherange733]

Paul's band is so tight. When i heard you and the rest of the band play "please please me", It sounded tighter than the original studio version.

[@gibsondrummer]

Unimaginable

[@digrdug6121]

Saw him pretend to throw a tambourine into the crowd and tossed it right to the security guy in the corner. Couldn't believe it

[@renditioners]

he always asks his mate Harvey to recommend somebody, Harvey the family friend,

[@johnsears4197]

Paul is on dozens of top 5 lists for his bass playing alone

[@ministerofdarkness]

Not a bad gig! 🎸

[@bi5048]

The first glance I thought I read Brian May.

[@dannymcrooster4089]

This man and the other a very, very good, man. And the drummer, too.

[@edwardinedgewood]

Great story

[@markymarco2570]

01:42 "guitor"

[@RockHardRiffs]

“...and THAT is....the rest of the story.” And a great story it is 🎸

[@debradonato408]

I’ve Aways wondered That

[@jimbaxter8488]

It's ALL 'who you know' .....period....

[@davidlanham99]

That would suck having to tell people you're not going to use them if you're Paul McCartney.

[@edwinearl4584]

Cool story. 🎸

[@Paul_305]

He should interview and induct adrin belew

[@MusiciansHallofFameMuseum]

Hi Paul... I know Adrian. He use to live here in Nashville. He may still. When things get close to normal again I’ll try to get a interview with Adrian. Thanks... Joe

[@keitholsen9448]

I'd also hope that you will do this, Adrian Belew is incredible and very creative

[@thefilmandmusic]

I wonder if he had to read the parts at the first rehearsal..

[@sgillaspie1]

WOW!

[@jimmyfrombrooklyn8550]

It’s got to be a dream come true to be able to be part of that band. That said, Sir Paul’s band is amazing! They certainly do that music justice! Every song they play is a part of history and they honor that history at every show.

[@edwardprice140]

Ricky Skaggs brought me here, on Grand Ole Opry, Saturday, April 18, 2020

[@MusiciansHallofFameMuseum]

thanks Edward.... best....Joe

[@janetbaxter5034]

Hit thumbs down by mistake,

[@cpollero53]

Because failure to prepare is preparing to fail...

[@briane5706]

He’s good.Very good in fact!

[@MusiciansHallofFameMuseum]

Thanks for watching Brian ….Joe

[@ingebittner1715]

❤

[@epipick]

Robbie McIntosh was his best choice.

[@JulienCohenMusic]

Who is David cohen?

[@jeanlind7540]

They both seem great but Liverpool band would have been great!!

[@gregsullivan7408]

Just a shame he doesn't look like a typical rock guitarist. 🤣 (I was just saying to a friend that if you asked A.I to generate the face of a typical rock guitarist, this is the face that would pop out 😉) It is indeed a great story!

[@templecameron4495]

he got sam moss's les paul,,,,nuff said

[@mchristr]

I thought Denny Lane (Laine?) was Paul's guitarist. Man, I'm really behind the times.

[@MusiciansHallofFameMuseum]

Hi Miles.... Denny did play guitar with “Wings”. Thanks... Joe

[@joe6096]

Yes he was, 40 years ago lol

[@MrYogipee]

Yeah, anyone who can play exactly like The Beach Boys is his guitarist.

[@MojozCozmos]

has someone else do it... of course he does lol

[@WillyMcCoy50]

Paul simply picks the person that is steeped in pander culture. Ever the populist.

[@wayneg296]

👍👍😎✌️

[@FantomWireBrian]

Mick Taylor would've been a better choice. McCartney could've had a great "Blues cover band on the run" 😎

[@strat0871]

Brian Ray resembles to David Bowie

[@bobnorman4730]

He looks like a blonde Jagger.

[@christopherbowman7799]

Yeah just thinking how good is that

[@ADGreen-es6hm]

He reminds me of David Bowie

[@FRANKSNAKE71]

Looks a bit like Bowie for sure!🎸

[@robertfurner1729]

what happens when you are a true professional…do thecwork, learn, impliment repeat

[@regaltip8A]

Sorry current band is OK but the Back To The Egg line up with Denny Laurence and Steve Holley.......NO COMPARISON.

[@Klaus80804]

Well, I liked the "Wings over America" line-up better. But maybe this is because they had the better live setlists and more successful albums back then. The "Back to the egg" line up broke up before it could come to full blossom. I have the Glasgow bootleg, and I miss a lot of the songs from the "Wings over XYZ" years.

[@Larrymarx]

2:53 Probably the most interesting/best question ever to ask; how did it feel to play *Bass* in front of Paul McCartney