Piedmont Park Conservancy books a Beatle for benefit
McCartney at Philips Arena in 2005
Atlanta’s summer concert season just got a whole lot hotter.
Ex-Beatle Paul McCartney is scheduled to play The Green Concert, an Aug. 15 show in Piedmont Park.
Photo gallery of McCartney appearances in Atlanta
The booking, a benefit for the Piedmont Conservancy, was announced Wednesday morning at a Live Nation press conference held at the Midtown public park’s Magnolia Hall.
“This is, without a doubt, the biggest thing that’s ever happened to us,” Piedmont Conservancy’s Monica Thornton told the AJC. “We’re celebrating our 20th anniversary this year and this will help us to complete the park’s 53-acre expansion.”
General admission $79.50 tickets will go on sale Monday through Ticketmaster and Live Nation. But American Express card holders and park members will get first crack at the tickets when they go on sale Thursday at 10 a.m..
Unconfirmed word about the 67-year-old rock legend coming back to Atlanta first started bubbling around town Tuesday afternoon. But even veteran Atlanta concert promoter and Live Nation Atlanta president Peter Conlon was officially keeping mum at Tuesday’s 2009 Georgia Music Hall of Fame inductee luncheon.
All Conlon would confirm at the time was that the artist would “dwarf” 2007’s Piedmont Park concert featuring Dave Matthews Band and The Allman Brothers Band. That conservancy benefit drew more than 50,000 attendees and spawned a best-selling concert DVD.
McCartney’s live performance history in Atlanta surpasses even that of the indigenous Allmans.
This summer’s gig here is scheduled nearly 44 years to the day he first played here on Aug. 18, 1965, as a member of The Beatles at the city’s then-brand-new Atlanta Fulton County Stadium.
The Beatles only Atlanta appearance attracted an estimated 34,000 fans. While they were only on the ball field for about 30 minutes, attempting to bang through 12 songs over piercing shrieks, the concert left an indelible impression on an entire generation of Atlantans.
In the 1970s, McCartney returned to the city on May 18 and 19, 1976, with his post-Beatles band as a part of his famed Wings Over the World tour. The tour later became a part of what is arguably McCartney’s finest live album, the three-LP set, “Wings Over America.”
He appeared twice in the 1990s: In February in 1990 and in May 1993.
Most recently, McCartney christened The Omni’s high-tech concert venue successor, Philips Arena downtown, with sold-out shows on May 12, 2002 and Sept. 20, 2005.
Covering the 1965 Fulton County Stadium show for the Atlanta Constitution for the next day’s editions, the late reporter Celestine Sibley, who, at the time was decidedly past the band’s targeted demographic, soberly observed:
“For a brief half-hour, John, Paul, George and Ringo twisted and shuffled, snorted and yodeled from center field, climaxing a day which saw several hundred teenagers shrilling and clawing at the entrance to the ball park as early as 9 a.m.”
Atlantans shriek up a storm on Aug. 18, 1965, during the Beatles inaugural show in Atlanta.
“The limber-legged, bushy-headed Britishers tripped across the ball diamond at 9:39 p.m. while a cordon of Atlanta policemen, who had been stolidly facing the crowds for more than two hours, held the audience of writhing, squealing teenagers in their seats.”
Will you go to see McCartney this summer at Piedmont Park? Do you have memories from his Philips Arena shows, his Omni Wings 1970s concerts or were you there screaming on Aug. 18, 1965, at Atlanta Fulton County Stadium when the British bassist made his Atlanta debut?
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96 comments Add your comment
Name One
June 24th, 2009
11:26 am
Even to the most jaded, ya gotta admit this is pretty darn cool. Might be the last chance we get to see him play in the ATL.
Jeff
June 24th, 2009
11:32 am
As a resident that lives on Piedmont Park, events like this make dealing with the bums that hang out here on a daily basis worth it.
Astro
June 24th, 2009
11:34 am
I saw the 2002 should at Philips. When he broke into the first Beatles song (I Saw Her Standing There), I was brought to tears. Suddenly, it was 1965 and I was 12 again. One of the best shows I have ever seen, and I’ve seen plenty.
TI
June 24th, 2009
11:36 am
Jeff I couldnt agree more!
RAMBLE ON!!!
June 24th, 2009
11:36 am
Holly S*#$!!!
RAMBLE ON!!!
June 24th, 2009
11:37 am
oops, Holy
Michael Scharff
June 24th, 2009
11:37 am
I would love to go, but an overnight trip from Augusta combined with an $80 ticket is a little steep for my budget…
Shep
June 24th, 2009
11:41 am
Hurray! All I have to do is step out on my condo balcony and FREE concert!!!
ATL Macca Fan
June 24th, 2009
11:45 am
Check out the great Paul McCartney tribute album by Atlanta-area bands at http://www.demagogue.net
cowo
June 24th, 2009
11:54 am
Woo Hoo! Thank you, AMEX card! This will be my 14th time seeing Paul perform since the Beatles, who I saw 4 times, broke up. There are advantages to being old, but seeing the Beatles is the only I can think of!
Jason
June 24th, 2009
11:57 am
You forgot to mention McCartney’s concert in the Georgia Dome during the 1990’s. I had tickets on the floor for that show, and it was incredible!
Turd Ferguson
June 24th, 2009
12:06 pm
*crickets*
Turd Ferguson
June 24th, 2009
12:07 pm
McCartney is so Yesterday.
whatever
June 24th, 2009
12:09 pm
Why do AMEX cardholders and park members get first dibs on the tickets? Especially at $79.50. It should be a first come, first serve basis for EVERYONE. I long for the old days when you EARNED your right, not just have it given to you. And, no, AMEX cardholders and park members did NOT earn their right.
Trudy
June 24th, 2009
12:10 pm
cowo: I am jealous.
Perez Hilton
June 24th, 2009
12:15 pm
Who is Paul Mc Cartney? My face hurts.
Joshua
June 24th, 2009
12:18 pm
Thrilled to see a big name at Piedmont Park, but curious as to why the Piedmont Conservancy wouldn’t allow other festivals to have summer dates (like Atlanta Pride) and then actively solicit other events for that time. It seems antithetical to what the Beatles stood for to push back an annual community event with nearly a 35-year history in our city in exchange for a concert. Why would the conservancy say “No big events between the Peachtree Road Race (7/4) and Atlanta Pride (10/31)” and then bring in this event?
Perez Hilton
June 24th, 2009
12:18 pm
Blog censors are worse than will i am.
OZZFEST
June 24th, 2009
12:19 pm
Thank God I did not just pay $250 for tickets to see him in DC earlier this morning!
shaggy
June 24th, 2009
12:19 pm
to whatever – Puhleeze! You are just jealously whining because you will never HAVE an American Express account. They don’t give AMEX cards to burger flippers, and the price will cut into your lottery budget. Just give it up.
MWL
June 24th, 2009
12:21 pm
I couldn’t disagree with you more – the park members (and their money) are the ones who SUPPORT Piedmont Park… not the tax dollars. Without them, the park would be nothing more more than a mud puddle (remember before the conservancy was around???)… Well maybe last year it would have been a dust bowl… but at any point…. without them, this concert wouldn’t be happening… so yes… they have EARNED some perks…
Beck
June 24th, 2009
12:26 pm
Joshua,
I agree with you in principle, but sometimes the green of money speaks louder than the green movement. I’m sure this will bring in enough money to undo whatever damage gets done. I’m not usually one for “the ends justify the means” argument, but this might be a case where I finally understand that.
Josh
June 24th, 2009
12:27 pm
Though I missed the Beatles Invasion and even the death of Lennon, I was introduced to the Beatles by my Mom at an early age. I grew up idolizing them, and when McCartney came in 2002, I thought what could be a better Mother’s Day present than taking her to see the show. It was a blast from top to bottom, and I’m so glad I got to share the experience with her. “Though she was born a long, long time ago, your mother should know…” Thanks Mom!
D in Dunwoody
June 24th, 2009
12:34 pm
Joshua is right. Let’s not forget that the Atlanta Jazz Festival also got kicked out of the park. That festival gave us a whole weekend of great music every year, FREE. Now I’m supposed to pay 80 bucks for one show by a has-been?
P.S: I’m a boomer, not a young person who doesn’t remember the Beatles.
whatever
June 24th, 2009
12:40 pm
Ok, Shaggy, aka Perez Hilton the crybaby, it has NOTHING to do jealousy. I am just tired of the mentally that everyone thinks they are OWED something.
martha
June 24th, 2009
12:55 pm
went to see elton john at the lakewood amphitheatre years ago — on the grass — quite miserable — so i doubt will go see macca at the park with no parking available/seating blankets only — have seen him in concert in seated venues so it’s no great loss — but it is really cool he’ll be here — was at the stadium when the beatles played atlanta — wonderful memory — ran into some members of the roemans — so for me it was a double treat — again good for piedmont park for getting macca here
el jefe
June 24th, 2009
12:56 pm
$80 + fees make this a $100 ticket. For lawn seats? When they claim they will “dwarf” the 50k that came out for DMB? *cough* greedy *cough*. Hey Piedmont Park Conservatory – LOOK AROUND YOU. The economy is in the tank, and high priced shows are not selling very well at all. Look at the insane prices Stevie Wonder is charging for his show in Atlanta this summer, and then look at how well those tickets are selling (hint: they arent).
If they think they are going to sell this thing out at $100 a ticket they are smoking crack.
Of course smoking crack in Piedmont Park is not too out of character.
Melody
June 24th, 2009
12:57 pm
Hell YEAH! I missed John. Sure not gonna missed Paul.
Ex-Beatle to Perform in Atlanta in August « Gwinnett County Nonesuch
June 24th, 2009
12:58 pm
[...] card holders and park members will get first shot at the tickets beginning Thursday at 10 a.m. Read all about it here. « If You Have A Medical Condition, Check [...]
Mine This Bird
June 24th, 2009
1:00 pm
$80? As much as I want to see Paul McCartney I’ll sit this one out. I hope all the rich people in town show up and give money to help out the park.
JimmyZ
June 24th, 2009
1:14 pm
This is a concert not a festival or a group of immature exhibitionists that seek nothing butt attention via this so called pride festival.
Ok
June 24th, 2009
1:16 pm
I’m 16 and in love with The Beatles. so I’m not just young and don’t remember the Beatles.
Walt
June 24th, 2009
1:30 pm
Fantastic !
daslicksta
June 24th, 2009
1:40 pm
Any word on handicapped accessability ??
Turd Ferguson
June 24th, 2009
1:49 pm
Enter your comments here
Ceasar Allen
June 24th, 2009
1:54 pm
Bout time we start having shows @ Piedmont Park again. Paul is one of my favorite Beatles, however a lot of people will not pay 79 plus dollars to see a concert. This is a good purpose, but the park has turned off a lot of people regarding in kinds of activities that can take place in the park due to the drought. We will see.
Paul McCartney
June 24th, 2009
1:56 pm
HEEELLLLOOOOOOO AMERICA!!! Just a little tidbit for you. I will be playing no beatles tunes (so sorry) and not much from my early career. However you will be pleased to know our set will include all the songs from the album “London Town”. Once we have our initial run thru then we will embark on a long version of “Ebony & Ivory”.
After this initial run thru will will sing then sing the entire album “London Town” in ocapela fashion as well as one encore song of MY CHOOSING.
Steve
June 24th, 2009
1:56 pm
No, thanks. I’ll go see Def Leppard, Poison and Cheap Trick the same night at Lakewood. The people watching there will be much more fun!!!!!!!!
sd
June 24th, 2009
2:00 pm
Its a reasonable price that is comparable to others.
When I was younger, I planned my whole summer around concerts. I would go see smaller acts and pay $10 -$30 a show. However, I would see 20 to 30 shows a summer.
Now that I don’t have that kind of time, I see two or three shows. I don’t mind paying a little extra.
However, I think the crowd at this show will be a turn off for me. Hope I am wrong about that.
Kevrock/Smarty Jones
June 24th, 2009
2:00 pm
Going to Steely Dan instead. BUT I rather be at the Def Leppard show with SS Steve!! Large concerts are not that fun to see someone less
than the size of a pinhead to me. I was there for DMB and ABB. Yes it was fun for one show but for a 2nd show of long lines, etc…no thanks!
PMC is great though and his band is very good so if you haven’t seen him before go you will still have fun.
Wink
June 24th, 2009
2:01 pm
Paul…I love the song GIRLS SCHOOL from the London Town bonus CD!
beatle fan
June 24th, 2009
2:18 pm
i was there in 1965 and i’d love to see him again.
Chrissy
June 24th, 2009
2:19 pm
I am so sick and tired of these old acts playing big concerts in Atlanta, we are a young city and I think Brittney Spears or Kelli Clarkson would have been a much better choice.
Rick
June 24th, 2009
2:19 pm
$80-$100 is cheap to see McCartney. His show at Phillips Arena in 2005 was a lot more than this!
Rick
June 24th, 2009
2:20 pm
Chrissy…. what are you 13? Don’t like the act don’t go. I personally would not pay $25 to see Spears or Clarkson.
Rob
June 24th, 2009
2:20 pm
Chastain is nice venue but the crowd always ruins the show. Talk, talk, talk. I hope they choke on their whole foods chicken and fall out of their costco chair.
Rick
June 24th, 2009
2:22 pm
And yes as an AMEX card member for years, I have more that earned the right to purchase tickets in advance of the general public. Just the fees they have made off of me for concerts in the past deserves this right.
Mike
June 24th, 2009
2:22 pm
I agree with you Chrissy,Chastain has become a retirement home. Isn’t Glenn Miller performing soon?
Kanye
June 24th, 2009
2:24 pm
Paul McCartney hates black people.
Paul McCartney
June 24th, 2009
2:25 pm
Nope, I hate Kanye he is a no talent bum.