Paul McCartney Once Feared Performing This Beloved Beatles Song — Until He Finally Conquered It

Break-ups are never easy — especially when the “break-up” is with the biggest band in history.
For Paul McCartney, it took nearly a decade after The Beatles split before he was ready to perform a Beatles song live again.

Why McCartney Avoided Beatles Songs for Years

When The Beatles stopped touring in 1966, their live performances became rare. The final iconic moment came on January 30, 1969, with the legendary Rooftop Concert atop Apple Corps at 3 Savile Row.

In the early 1970s, if you caught McCartney’s band Wings on tour — even during their small college gigs — you wouldn’t hear Beatles classics. The only exception was their cover of Little Richard’s Long Tall Sally.
McCartney wasn’t just avoiding the songs for emotional reasons — he admitted he was actually afraid to perform them.

The Turning Point: Wings Over the World Tour

By the mid-1970s, during the Wings Over the World tour, McCartney slowly relaxed his strict “No Beatles Songs” policy. He began reintegrating fan favorites into the setlist, especially once Wings had run its course.

Over the years, McCartney’s live shows grew into three-hour celebrations of his career — mixing Beatles classics, Wings hits, and solo work. Occasionally, he even surprises audiences with deeper cuts or songs he didn’t originally sing.

McCartney’s Rule About Singing Beatles Songs

Speaking to The New York Times, McCartney revealed an unspoken rule:

“I never used to do anything unless it was something that I had done the main vocal on,”
he said.
But in recent years, he’s made exceptions — performing John Lennon-led tracks like A Hard Day’s Night, Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!, and even Lennon’s solo anthem Give Peace a Chance.

He’s also tackled A Day in the Life and George Harrison’s Something, proving he’s comfortable celebrating the full Beatles legacy.

The Song McCartney Thought He Could Never Play

One song in particular terrified him: “Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!”
It wasn’t just sentimental value — the challenge was technical.

“It’s got such a complicated bass part that it’s almost impossible to sing the melody,” McCartney explained.
The bass and vocal lines are contrapuntal, requiring intense coordination. For years, he avoided it — until one day he told himself:
“Stop being a wimp. Let’s try it and see if you can do it.”

McCartney practiced, mastered the part, and finally debuted it in his live shows.

Conquering the Fear — Live at Dodger Stadium

At his most recent major concert, Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite! appeared mid-set — sandwiched between his Egypt Station track Fuh You and George Harrison’s Something.
It was a triumphant moment, proving that even after decades on stage, McCartney is still willing to challenge himself.