“One day we rocked up at Nottingham University with our band and asked to play a free gig. The head was apprehensive until we told him we had Paul McCartney outside with us”…
By Ian Woolley
Denny Seiwell (left) with Wings
The American drummer recalls the bizarre moment when the ex-Beatle decided to hit the road after forming his new band Wings with Denny.
Seiwell’s career took a lucky turn when Paul McCartney came to New York City where by that time, the drummer was a seasoned session musician.
“You know they thought that the grass was greener on the other side. In other words, the English singers thought that New York musicians were greater and vice versa. So Paul came to town to record the album ‘RAM’ and he asked for a list of all the top guys who were doing all the sessions”.
“So he got around 10 or 12 of us drummers together and looked at us individually and the same for the guitar players and it was all done under wraps”.
“He liked my vibe and the way I played the drums and we had some fun and he felt comfortable with me”.
With the release of ‘RAM’, critics and some fans alike thought that it lacked the same quality of his earlier material. McCartney was hurt by the negative reception from the press, but the album was a huge commercial success and much-loved by fans around the world.
I asked Denny what were those Wings times like.
Wings
“They were wonderful. We lived and worked and traveled as a family and we had wives, kids and dogs with us. We did a European tour and before that, we did a university tour without a gig being booked or a hotel reservation…nothing”.
“We set out from North London in a 12-passenger van with Paul driving and our wives and dogs in the back. Paul said let’s drive up north and see if we can find a place to play tonight”.
“One day we rocked up at Nottingham University with our band and asked to play a free gig. The head was apprehensive until we told him we had Paul McCartney waiting to perform outside with us. He had told us that the kids are having their final exams so this impromptu gig may not be a good idea”.
“So he came out and Paul waved at him. In the next brief second, he turned around and said ‘Yes you can play tonight”.
RAM ON Cover
In 2021, for the 50th anniversary of ‘RAM’ by Paul & Linda McCartney, over 100 musicians have come together to celebrate this much-loved seminal album.
With Sir Paul McCartney’s blessing, they have re-recorded all of the ‘Ram’ songs to create ‘RAM ON’: The 50th Anniversary Tribute to Paul & Linda McCartney’s ‘RAM’.
It is a testament to the enduring love and affection for ‘Ram’ that so many artists across three generations should want to be a part of this recreation of a classic album.
The idea was born in 2020 from a discussion between producer/multi-instrumentalist Fernando Perdomo and Denny Seiwell, the original drummer with Paul McCartney & Wings, who performed on ‘Ram’.
Original guitarist David Spinozza returns to reprise his parts on the album along with Marvin Stamm. They are joined by their musical contemporaries Davey Johnstone (Elton John Band) and Will Lee (The Fab Faux).
A second generation of musicians includes Brian Wilson’s daughter Carnie Wilson (Wilson Phillips), Dan Rothchild (Heart, Sheryl Crow) Pat Sansone (Wilco), Joey Santiago (Pixies), Eric Dover (Jellyfish), and Durga McBroom (Pink Floyd, Blue Pearl). The latest cohort of musicians with this love of “Ram“ includes Dave Depper (Death Cab For Cutie), Lauren Leigh, Cindy Wassermann, Frank Drennan (Dead Rock West), and multi-instrumentalist Timmy Sean.
“Once it started it happened really quickly and we could have gone with some of my heavyweight friends for record sales and all that stuff but it was not what the purpose of the recording of this record was. Maybe just a few close friends like Davy Johnstone to put a little guitar solo on it. So I called him up and he put this iconic solo on a song called ‘Smile Away’ and it’s brilliant. Also, my friend Will Lee played bass on another track and we got Dave Spinozza on ‘Another Day’. Just up the street from where Dave lives is Marvin Stamm who played the flugelhorn on Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey. So we had three originals on this and a few guest spots but of the 100-odd people who performed on the album came from three generations on a record that they loved so much”.
Also for McCartney and Beatles fans reading this, there are a couple of records available via his website that Denny recorded with his jazz trio (Joe Bagg and John Chiodini) on their album ‘Boomerang’ which has five McCartney songs recorded in a jazz style.
Finally, now he’s 80, has he enjoyed being one of the industry’s most respected drummers?
“I’ve had a brilliant and loved career and loved every record I made, even the ones that I didn’t care that much about. They all shaped my ability to stay alive and to keep on doing this for over 50 years”.
RAM ON: The 50th Anniversary Tribute to Paul & Linda McCartney’s ‘RAM’ (was released in 2021).
The full interview with Denny Seiwell is published in the December issue of the Beat out now. The ex-Wings guitarist talks about Paul McCartney and Wings and living on the Mull of Kintyre, impressing James Brown, and how he acquired Ringo’s drumkit.
Order your copy today.
For more information on Denny Seiwell, visit his website at www.dennyseiwell.com
EDITORS UPDATE
Since this went to press, we have learnt the sad news of the passing of Wings guitarist Denny Lane. Our Beat obituary can be read HERE