When Paul McCartney lost his wife Linda in 1998, he turned back to the music that first lit the fire in him—raw, joyful 1950s rock ’n’ roll. Out of that came his album Run Devil Run, a mix of classic covers and new songs written in the same spirit. To make it shine, he gathered an all-star band: David Gilmour of Pink Floyd, Deep Purple’s Ian Paice, The Pirates’ Mick Green, plus Pete Wingfield and Chris Hall. And when it came time to debut the project live, there was only one stage that felt right—the Cavern Club in Liverpool.
On December 14, 1999, McCartney stepped back into the legendary venue where The Beatles’ story began. It was his first Cavern performance since 1963, making the night feel like history repeating itself. Only 300 lucky fans packed the room, while millions tuned in through BBC Radio 2 and BBC1.
“I’m going back for just one night as a tribute to the music that has always thrilled me and always will,” McCartney said before the show. “I can’t think of a better way to close out the century than with a rock ’n’ roll party at the Cavern.”
Even though the original Cavern was demolished in the ’70s, the rebuilt club captured its spirit—and McCartney filled it with life. Backed by Gilmour, Paice, and the rest of his band, he ripped through a 13-song set of pure rock energy. A highlight came with I Saw Her Standing There, which had the whole crowd roaring like it was the early ’60s all over again.
For McCartney and everyone there, it wasn’t just a show. It was a homecoming, a celebration, and a reminder of why rock ’n’ roll still matters. To close out the 20th century, Paul didn’t just revisit his roots—he reminded the world that the Cavern spirit will never fade.