The Beatle who grew Wings: New doc Man On the Run is a re-evaluation of Paul McCartney’s second act
Courtesy Amazon Studios
The relentless artistry of Paul McCartney withstands time. The man, once part of the most influential band ever, reinvents himself with Wings. At 83, the living legend still plays to concert halls with his songs resounding as ever.
Self-confession from the younger generation: I first knew “Live and Let Die” from Shrek the Third…growing up in a post-Beatles generation, I did not know McCartney was Wings. If someone told me then a guy behind “Yellow Submarine” was the same man who created the song sung by frog choir at King Harold’s funeral, there would have been a certain amount of disbelief. And so I am living proof that he accomplished what he set out to do: McCartney created music under a new image not pulling from previous fame.
As a producer on the documentary, McCartney presents the story as he lives it. Man on the Run highlights his pursuit towards his personal peace of growing up. It leaves the me with greater understanding of McCartney’s contribution to music and the persistence he displays in life and song.
McCartney’s voice counts us in as “Silly Love Songs” lays out an overarching reason to revisit the past in the documentary. “You think that people would have had enough…”
We’re brought to the beginning of the 80s and the Beatles news that shook the world. McCartney sets the record straight as a remaining voice of the original group: it was John Lennon who announced he was leaving the group in Fall 1969. Paul’s subsequent reaction to disappear was because he didn’t know who he was without the Beatles. He never thought he’d make music again, and people thought he was dead.
It was Linda who nursed him away from a developing drinking problem and back to music in their dilapidated stone farmhouse on the westernmost Isle of Scotland. So when he released new music and was the first to formally announce leaving the Beatles, he received flak for the group’s breakup. The self-effacing man states in his own words today: “If I hear someone damning Paul McCartney, I tend to agree with them.”
His early work post-Beatles, as well as resulting solo work, was criticized worldwide. Even early music critic Le Roi in the first-ever edition of The Penny Pitch, July 1980—our origins—gave post-Wings “McCartney II” one star, saying, “CBS paid millions of $$’s too much for this.”
Courtesy Amazon Studios
McCartney’s probable perfectionist and workaholic tendencies—as well as irrelevance in the landscape of rock revolution, “Mary had a little f*cking lamb, are you kidding me?” says rock musician Nick Lowe—were touched upon to establish credit as dual-sided narration, but not explored in depth.
Original Wings members felt that McCartney wanted the Beatles round two. With his baby face recognizable in a claim to fame there could be no common ground that he sought to create between members.
We’re running with the man in pursuit of the greater story.
Witnessing Wings come to fruition from McCartney’s perspective is captivating. The group starts from square one to build a name and discography from the ground up. They amass fame beyond McCartney’s Beatles recognition and produce hits in and of themselves. The journey is a fascinating watch.
His love for his late wife, Linda Eastman McCartney, endures throughout the film. She is captured in voice and image. A lot of what he was able to do, he attributes to her. Her side of Wings is explored, along with her steadfast character, which silently endures widespread criticism for being a singer and keyboardist in the band. Hers and Paul’s joint sketches and notes, alongside some of the children’s, scatter the documentary and solidify a long-lasting love.
Man on the Run gifts a new angle with which to listen to McCartney’s music—from McCartney and Ram to One Hand Clapping and all of Wings’ oeuvre in between. “What a great aim, to grow up,” McCartney concludes.
