Comme nous vous l’avions annoncé ce dimanche dans une dépêche d’actualité, Paul Mccartney a donné ce 22 Février 2003, à l’occasion de l’anniversaire de l’épouse d’un milliardaire américain, un concert privé, et à cette occasion a demandé un cachet d’un million de dollar qu’il a reversé à l’association Adopt-a-Minefield défendue par son épouse. Nous vous livrons ci après une photo de l’évènement et le communiqué officiel émanant du staff de Paul.
MACCA PLAYS SURPRISE BIRTHDAY GIG FOR CHARITY
SUNDAY FEBRUARY 23RD – PAUL McCARTNEY fan Wendy Whitworth got the ultimate birthday present at her party last night (Saturday February 22nd) when her husband hired Macca himself to play at the bash – for a fee of $1 million.
TV executive Wendy was stunned and left in tears of joy when her financier husband Ralph sprang his special surprise at her 50th birthday party – as she and 150 guests were given a private 90-minute rock show by Macca and his band at a party in San Diego, California.
Mr. Whitworth offered Paul McCartney $1 million dollars to play a personal show for his wife. Macca agreed – but then he instantly gave away the massive fee to charity.
Paul played the birthday concert – one of the smallest gigs of his life – only on condition that he could donate the $1 million fee to Adopt A Minefield, the anti-landmines charity backed by him and his wife Heather.
Wendy, the executive producer of CNN’s « The Larry King Show, » had no idea of the surprise in store when she joined family and friends including Larry King and NBC Today show host Katie Couric at the private party in her honour at The Ranch Blues Club, San Diego.
The party began at 7.00 pm; two hours later Ralph Whitworth made an announcement that « now we’re going to play a bit of rock and roll for Wendy » – and to her shock Macca and his band took to the stage.
Paul, for whom the show was also a warm-up gig for his upcoming concert tour of Europe that starts next month, then led his band through a 19-song set that included the songs « Let It Be, » « Yesterday, » « Back In The USSR, » « Lady Madonna, » « We Can Work It Out, » « Hey Jude, » « She’s Leaving Home » and « Maybe I’m Amazed. »
« Wendy Whitworth’s jaw hit the floor when Paul took to the stage », said one onlooking member of the McCartney crew, « The gig had been arranged in total secrecy and only her husband was in on the secret. She was totally gobsmacked and she was reduced to tears by the shock of it all ».
Paul further surprised Wendy when he called her up onto the stage, presented her with his gift of 50 roses, and then had her dance at his side as he led his band through the Beatles rock song « Birthday. »
After the show, Paul said: « Normally I don’t do this sort of gig, but I was chuffed (delighted) to do it because it was a win-win show. Ralph gets to be the great husband for organising the surprise, his wife gets a rocking party, I get to rehearse the band for the tour and, most important, Adopt-A-Minefield gets $1 million. It was a very human evening and we all had a fabulous time ».
Heather Mills McCartney, who was in the audience at the show, said the $1 Million would help many survivors of landmine attack to rebuild their lives.
Said Heather: « This money will enable Adopt A Minefield to fit new limbs for thousands of landmine survivors so that they can walk again. This birthday party will be a great present for them ».
