We read so much about fans in the UK and the US that followed the Beatles or waited for them, that it is nice to see a story from a different country. In March of 1976, Wings toured Europe for a small sets of concert dates. This is a story about how Erik Bakker, one of the editors of the fanzine, The Beatles Unlimited spent 43 hours waiting and seeing Paul and the rest of Wings.
It was from the April 1976 (issue #14) issue of "With a little help from my friend," but there is a note that says 'this article is a very short abstract from Beatles Unlimited 6, a special 32 page issue on Wings in Holland' So if anyone has that magazine, there is a much longer story in there (hopefully I will locate it one of these days).
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It was from the April 1976 (issue #14) issue of "With a little help from my friend," but there is a note that says 'this article is a very short abstract from Beatles Unlimited 6, a special 32 page issue on Wings in Holland' So if anyone has that magazine, there is a much longer story in there (hopefully I will locate it one of these days).
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| Paul and Erik (March 26) |
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| Paul and Linda with Henk as they leave the hotel on March 25 |
Wings Over Holland
By Erik M. Bakker
When on March 24 (1976) and company finally came through the customs at Schiphol Airport there were some 20 people waiting in the hall. A group of security-men, a few excited air hostesses and some ten taxi-drivers, and of courses the editors of Beatles Unlimited (Henk Hager and myself). As we were the only fans, we were able to take the first of our over 800 photographs made in those 43 hours.
I drove my car at high speed through the Amsterdam peak-hour to stay close to the black eight-seater limousine Paul, Linda and Children, Jimmy and Joe were in. We managed to stay behind them, thus being able to shoot some pictures of the arrival at the Amstel Hotel where some 50 fans were present to welcome Paul and Wings. Not one of those fans was as “loyal” as I was, for I am the only one who followed Wings the whole 43 hours of their visit. Henk “dropped out” after the concert and didn’t join in the last day of their stay.
In the evening we saw Paul, Linda and Heather again giving some autographs as they were leaving for the Neil Young concert at the Ahoy Sports Palace at Rotterdam. Jimmy and Joe already left earlier and Denny and his wife came out at about ten to have dinner. In the meantime we had bought some bottles of Bols Old Genever (Dutch gin) which we gave to the members of the band. The first was Denny who arrived at 1:15am signing a BU issue, then Paul and Linda who arrived just after Denny. Jimmy and Joe didn’t return until a quarter to three.
The next day we saw some people of the company coming in and going out, a.o Joe, who wanted to do some shopping. Joe talked to us and posed for a whole series of pictures.
In the afternoon we followed the black limousine again and in a hectic pursue to Rotterdam we nearly collided in the confusion of the arrival. The concert was due at eight, but at 7:30 we were in the hall, talking to the security men we had gotten to know in those two days and decided to say in the middle aisle near the stage when at last the concert started at 20.10 hours.
It was a great concert. The show started with the Venus and Mars/Rockshow/Jet medley followed by the programme as we knew it from the British and Australian tour. Only alteration were three new songs from “Speed of Sound”, Let ‘em in/Silly Love Songs/Beware my love. Highlights were “Live and let die,” “Yesterday” and “Lady Madonna.”
The next day I was back again early at the hotel and they came out at about 12 o’clock. Again I followed Paul’s limousine through the busy traffic and again managed to keep in tough and overtook them on the highway to the airport. When Paul stepped into the hall of Schiphol Airport, I gave him two sets of Beatles Unlimited and told him issue 6 would be a special on Wings. Linda also joined in and asked about the special. Waving at us, the group went to the customs and disappeared from our sight.
An unforgettable experience, 43 hours of Wings in Holland.