When Neil Young and Paul McCartney take the stage at the second night of the epic classic rock concert in Indio, California this October, fans can expect a magical moment—or maybe two. These two legends have shared the spotlight for decades, from the 2004 Bridge School Benefit, where they performed “Only Love Can Break Your Heart” and “Hey Jude,” to countless other unforgettable collaborations.
Reflecting on their long friendship, Young once said during McCartney’s 1999 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction:
“The first song I learned to play was a Beatles song—‘Give Me Money, That’s What I Want.’ Paul McCartney is one of the greatest songwriters ever. He’ll be remembered hundreds of years from now.”
Interestingly, Neil Young had been playing “A Day in the Life” on the PA system before his 1978 Rust Never Sleeps tour shows—but he never actually performed it live until Europe in the summer of 2008. That tour saw him close nearly every show with a raw, electrifying rendition of the Beatles classic.
The real magic happened on June 27, 2009, in London’s Hyde Park. McCartney jumped on stage to sing his original lines, sticking around for an incredible four minutes of feedback and noise that left the crowd in awe.
It was a far cry from a Bruce Springsteen show three years later at the same venue, where McCartney joined for an encore of “I Saw Her Standing There,” only for authorities to cut the set short due to curfew.
Check out a video of Young and McCartney performing “A Day in the Life” below—it might just be a teaser for the unforgettable moments coming this October.
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