Paul McCartney Remembers 9/11

Most of us can recall exactly where we were and what we were doing when we heard about the September 11 attacks and Former Beatle Paul McCartney was in New York City on 9/11. Here, he recalls the events and what inspired him to put on the Concert for New York City. 

Paul McCartney was on a plane waiting to take off to go back home to England. From his seat, he had a clear view of the World Trade Center and saw plumes of smoke coming from the buildings. He said he thought it was an optical illusion and it quickly became very real what was going on. Paul says he headed to Long Island and was watching the events unfold on TV, wanting to go back into the city, but said no one was being allowed in.

In the days following the attacks he said he felt he had to do something and a concert was just the thing to do, so he rang up some of his friends and put together the Concert for New York City. He says he could “see the people emerging from fearfulness of the immediate impact” and witnessed an emotional release through the music. McCartney adds that everyone who was involved in the concert felt that they were “a doing a bit of good”, and that he believes in the magic of music and feels very proud and fortunate to be a part of a profession that can “help heal and help people get in touch with their emotions.”

Paul will be sharing more of his memories of that day through a new documentary called The Love We Make: Concert for New York City that is set to premiere Saturday night, September 10 at 7pm on Showtime.