2 days ago
Paul McCartney and Bruce Springsteen meet up in Liverpool during flying visit to LIPA
Music legends Sir Paul McCartney and Bruce Springsteen have met up as The Boss prepares to perform the second of two shows at Anfield as part of his current UK tour.
The pair were visiting Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts (LIPA) on Mount Street, which Macca co-founded.
Springsteen, 75, has made no secret of his admiration for the Fab Four, crediting the Beatles with heavily shaping his musical tastes, and he h's described performing on Merseyside as the fulfilment of a long-held dream.
Members of the E-Street band Max Weinberg and Steven Van Zandt were also spotted making their way into LIPA through the crowds outside, all of which has fuelled wild speculation about whether Sir Paul will join Bruce on stage at Saturday night's concert.
If he does it would not be the first time the pair have played together, with Springsteen joining Sir Paul on stage as a special guest during the 82-year-old's headline set at Glastonbury Festival in 2022.
They also met up for additional gigs at Hyde Park and at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Growing up as a teenager in New Jersey as the Beatles took the USA by storm with a legendary appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show, The Boss told audiences at Anfield: "It is great for us to be in Liverpool where, for us, it all began."
As an additional nod to the Beatles he performed a version of Twist and Shout in the encore.
Originally sung by The Top Notes the classic became synonymous with The Beatles when they released a cover version in 1963, and Springsteen has often played it on live shows previously.
However, Wednesday's performance was just the second time the song has featured on the Land Of Hope and Dreams tour setlist so far.
The power of the iconic venue itself was not lost on the American star, referencing Liverpool FC 's Premier League title win this season as he told the crowd: "'Come on! Is this the house of champions or what?''
Never afraid to speak his mind, the Boss also continued his war of words with President Donald Trump.
Before he opened the show with My Love Will Not Let You Down, he said: "The America I love and have sung to you about for so long, a beacon of hope for 250 years, is currently in hands of a corrupt, incompetent and treasonous administration.
"Tonight we ask all of you who believe in democracy and the best of our American experiment to rise with us, raise your voices, stand with us against authoritarianism and let freedom ring!'
Before Rainmaker, he said: "When conditions in a country are ripe for a demagogue, you can bet one will show up. This is for America's dear leader."
Ahead of House of A Thousand Guitars, he said: 'The last check on power, after the checks and balances have failed, are the people. That's all that's left.
"It's in the union of people around a common set of values. That's all that stands between democracy and authoritarianism.
