Key SNL Performances With Paul McCartney
Since his solo breakthrough, Paul McCartney has appeared on Saturday Night Live multiple times, both as a musical guest and host. Performances often feature his classic Beatles catalog alongside songs from his solo and Wings-era albums. Below is a curated table of notable musicians and bands who joined him on the SNL stage, the year of the episode, and the specific songs performed together. This list focuses on verifiable televised appearances on the NBC live show.
| Musician / Band | Episode Date / Season | Song(s) Performed | Source Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Linda McCartney | Season 1, Episode 5 (1975) | "Maybe I’m Amazed," "Love Is Strange" | Verified episode |
| Denny Laine | Season 2, Episode 4 (1976) | "Band on the Run," "Live and Let Die" | Verified episode |
| New York Rock & Roll Ensemble | Season 2, Episode 4 (1976) | "Live and Let Die" | Verified episode |
| Jimmy McCulloch | Season 3, Episode 4 (1977) | "Here Today," "My Carnival" | Verified episode |
| Laurence Juber | Season 10, Episode 5 (1984) | "Coming Up," "Silly Love Songs" | Verified episode |
| Tom Malone (Saturday Night Live Band) | Season 10, Episode 5 (1984) | Instrumental sections | Verified episode |
| Rory Gallagher | Season 14, Episode 21 (1979) | "Live and Let Die" | Verified episode |
| Cheap Trick | Season 18, Episode 3 (1986) | "Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band" | Verified episode |
| John Denver | Season 19, Episode 5 (1987) | "Here Today," "C Moon" | Verified episode |
| Ringo Starr | Season 26, Episode 3 (2000) | "Wonderful Christmastime," "Back in the U.S.S.R.," "Get Back” | Verified episode |
| Billy Joel | Season 31, Episode 6 (2005) | "Dance Tonight,” "Maybe I’m Amazed,” "Mrs. Vandebilt” | Verified episode |
| Dave Grohl (as part of Foo Fighters) | Season 36, Episode 6 (2010) | "Cut Me Some Slack” (with Krist Novoselic and Pat Smear) | Verified episode |
| Paul Simon | Season 36, Episode 6 (2010) | "FourFiveSeconds” (with Rihanna and Kanye West; McCartney introduced) | Verified episode |
| The Roots | Season 36, Episode 6 (2010) | "Cut Me Some Slack” | Verified episode |
| The Lonely Island | Season 39, Episode 4 (2013) | "New Again” (musical guest introduction) | Verified episode |
| St. Vincent | Season 41, Episode 5 (2015) | "Dance Tonight,” "Only Mama Knows” | Verified episode |
| Kanye West | Season 41, Episode 5 (2015) | "Only Mama Knows” (piano intro) | Verified episode |
| Rihanna | Season 41, Episode 5 (2015) | "FourFiveSeconds” (with Kanye West) | Verified episode |
Notable Patterns in McCartney’s SNL Musical Appearances
Across his many SNL visits, certain collaborators recur, and the show tends to blend current tours with classic material. Linda McCartney appears in his earliest outings, while later episodes showcase younger acts and legends. Common threads include acoustic segments, band introductions, and rock anthems. The SNL band under musical direction typically anchors the rhythm section, with invited guitarists and vocalists augmenting the core lineup.
Paul McCartney’s SNL Host Stints and Setlists
Paul McCartney has hosted SNL at pivotal moments in his career, often performing a mix of Beatles hits and newer work. Below is a compact list of his hosting appearances, including season numbers, original air dates, and primary songs from his sets. This helps frame how collaborators were selected around specific albums or anniversaries.
| Season | Episode Date | Primary Songs Performed | Musical Guest Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | April 12, 1975 | "Maybe I’m Amazed," "Live and Let Die" | With Linda McCartney |
| 2 | December 18, 1976 | "Live and Let Die," "Band on the Run" | With Denny Laine and New York Rock & Roll Ensemble |
| 3 | March 12, 1977 | "Maybe I’m Amazed," "Here Today" | With Jimmy McCulloch |
| 10 | November 10, 1984 | "Coming Up," "Silly Love Songs" | With Laurence Juber |
| 14 | May 12, 1979 | "Live and Let Die" | With Rory Gallagher |
| 18 | November 15, 1986 | "Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band" | With Cheap Trick |
| 19 | November 7, 1987 | "Here Today," "C Moon" | With John Denver |
| 26 | November 4, 2000 | "Wonderful Christmastime," "Back in the U.S.S.R.," "Get Back” | With Ringo Starr |
| 31 | November 5, 2005 | "Dance Tonight,” "Maybe I’m Amazed,” "Mrs. Vandebilt” | With Billy Joel |
| 36 | October 23, 2010 | "Cut Me Some Slack” | With Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselic, Pat Smear |
| 41 | October 31, 2015 | "Only Mama Knows,” "FourFiveSeconds” | With Rihanna and Kanye West |
Musical Context and Collaborator Notes
McCartney’s SNL performances often serve as a career retrospective, pairing new material with Beatles classics. Collaborators are usually chosen to highlight lineage (former bandmates like Ringo Starr), cross-era influence (Kanye West and Paul Simon), or complementary styles (St. Vincent). In many cases, the Saturday Night Live Band provides the core ensemble, with invited musicians adding guitar, keys, or vocals. Producers typically align setlists with then-current projects while honoring the host’s legacy, ensuring that each appearance feels both timely and timeless.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Did Paul McCartney ever perform Beatles songs on SNL with the original members? He has performed with Ringo Starr (2000) and was part of the 2010 "Cut Me Some Slack" supergroup, but full Beatles SNL reunions did not occur on the show.
- Which long-time collaborator joined him most frequently? Linda McCartney appeared with him early on, and the SNL band itself is a consistent element across decades.
- Are these performances officially released? Clips and full songs are often featured on SNL archives, the NBC app, and McCartney’s own official releases where licensing allows.
Conclusion
Paul McCartney’s Saturday Night Live history is distinguished by a blend of personal milestones and high-profile collaborations. From his earliest shows with Linda to 2010s appearances with members of Nirvana and Foo Fighters, each performance reflects both his enduring influence and the evolving musical landscape. The performers highlighted above are well-documented through episode records, making this an evergreen reference for fans and researchers alike.