Abbey Road is a special album for Beatles fans, but it also makes them a little sad. It’s one of the best things the Beatles ever made, but it was the last album they worked on together. Because of that, they didn’t play its songs live very often.
That’s why a concert in September 1997 was so amazing. Paul McCartney, one of the Beatles, teamed up with famous musicians like Eric Clapton, Mark Knopfler, and Phil Collins to play parts of the Abbey Road songs “Golden Slumbers,” “Carry That Weight,” and “The End.” They performed at the Royal Albert Hall in London, and it was a big deal because they made the music sound even more exciting than before.
The concert happened to raise money for Montserrat, a small island far away in the Caribbean. A volcano had erupted there, causing a lot of trouble, and the people needed help. George Martin, who used to help the Beatles make their music and was sometimes called “The Fifth Beatle,” planned the whole event. He invited huge stars like Sting, Elton John, Jimmy Buffet, and Carl Perkins to join in. Carl Perkins was very sick and passed away just four months later.
The big moment came at the end of the show when Paul McCartney joined an incredible group of musicians on stage. Eric Clapton played amazing guitar, Phil Collins banged the drums with energy, and Mark Knopfler added his own special touch. Together, they played some of the Beatles’ famous songs, and Paul showed everyone how great he is at performing.
At that time, Paul’s wife, Linda, was very sick with breast cancer, and he was spending all his time taking care of her. Even though he was worried about her, he still came to the concert because he wanted to help the people of Montserrat. He walked on stage with a quiet smile and sang better than most people ever could.
First, he sang “Yesterday,” a sad and beautiful song. Then, he surprised everyone by singing parts of the Abbey Road songs live—something Beatles fans almost never got to see. Phil Collins was super strong on the drums, and Eric Clapton played guitar like a superstar. Paul led the band with little looks and nods, showing them what to do.
The night ended with Paul singing “Hey Jude” with Elton John and then “Kansas City.” The crowd clapped and cheered so loud because it was such a fun show. You can watch Paul McCartney, Eric Clapton, and Phil Collins play the Abbey Road songs from 1997 online—it’s really cool!
