Paul McCartney’s Triumphant Return to the Cavern Club — Rock ’n’ Roll Reborn
When Paul McCartney lost his beloved wife Linda in 1998, he turned to the kind of music that first made him fall in love with life itself — the raw, unfiltered joy of 1950s rock ’n’ roll. The result was Run Devil Run, an album that pulsed with the same wild energy that once set Liverpool ablaze. It was part tribute, part catharsis — and entirely McCartney.
To bring the project to life, Paul assembled a powerhouse lineup: David Gilmour of Pink Floyd, Ian Paice of Deep Purple, Mick Green from The Pirates, along with Pete Wingfield and Chris Hall. And when it came time to debut the album live, there was only one stage that made sense — the legendary Cavern Club in Liverpool, the birthplace of The Beatles and the very cradle of McCartney’s musical soul.
Back to Where It All Began
On December 14, 1999, McCartney stepped once more into the Cavern — his first performance there since 1963. The air inside the small, brick-walled club seemed charged with electricity, nostalgia, and emotion. Only 300 lucky fans were crammed inside, shoulder to shoulder, while millions more tuned in via BBC Radio 2 and BBC1 broadcasts.
“I’m going back for just one night as a tribute to the music that has always thrilled me and always will,” Paul said beforehand. “I can’t think of a better way to close out the century than with a rock ’n’ roll party at the Cavern.”
A Night of Rock ’n’ Roll Resurrection
The original Cavern may have been demolished in the 1970s, but its spirit lived on — and on that night, Paul brought it roaring back to life. Backed by his world-class band, McCartney tore through a 13-song set that reminded everyone in the room why rock ’n’ roll was born in the first place. It was loud, loose, and gloriously alive.
The setlist mixed fiery covers and tracks from Run Devil Run, each played with a youthful ferocity that defied the years. When McCartney launched into “I Saw Her Standing There,” the entire room erupted. For a few minutes, it felt like 1961 again — sweaty, joyous, and free.
More Than a Concert — A Homecoming
What unfolded that night wasn’t just a performance. It was a celebration, a healing, and a reminder of how deeply McCartney’s heart still beats for the music that shaped him. David Gilmour’s soaring guitar lines, Ian Paice’s powerhouse drumming, and Paul’s unmistakable voice combined to form something timeless. Each note was a tribute — to Linda, to Liverpool, and to the roots of rock itself.
As the night drew to a close, Paul stood beneath the familiar low arches of the Cavern, grinning ear to ear. It wasn’t about fame, nostalgia, or even The Beatles. It was about music — the kind that refuses to die, no matter how much time passes.
The Spirit Lives On
To close out the 20th century, Paul McCartney didn’t just revisit his roots — he reignited them. The Cavern Club once again became the heart of rock ’n’ roll, pulsing with rhythm, sweat, and soul. And in that small room in Liverpool, one of music’s greatest legends proved once more that true rock never fades. It just keeps finding its way home.