Paul McCartney shares archive photos of his band Wings to celebrate remastered albums

Exclusive: As he prepares to release the 11th and 12th remastered, expanded editions from his back catalogue, he offers some thoughts on his controversial band and shares never-before-seen photos

Paul McCartney on the drums (Paul McCartney (Photo by Linda McCartney))

Sir Paul McCartney has shared a number of archive photos from the early beginnings of his band Wings and the birth of their debut album Wild Life.

The legendary musician is about to release a remastered and expanded edition of the 11th and 12th classic works from his catalogue: Wild Life and Red Rose Speedway. Several previously unreleased tracks were made available in advance of the release.

Wings formed in 1971 and enjoyed a string of hits, including the James Bond soundtrack "Live and Let Die", and "Mull of Kintyre", which at the time became the best-selling UK single in history.

Wild Life was made during July-August 1971 at Abbey Road Studios by McCartney and his wife Linda, along with Denny Seiwell on drums, and Denny Laine of the Moody Blues. The majority of the tracks were laid down in a single take, and all songs were written by Paul and Linda McCartney – with the exception of a cover of Mickey and Sylvia's "Love is Strange".

The Independent is sharing a number of archive photos, along with words from McCartney about making the album.

(Paul McCartney (photo by Linda McCartney) (Paul McCartney (photo by Linda McCartney))

"When I started Wings, I'd taken the option of starting from scratch – to find my way down that road again," he says. "We tried. We failed. We tried. We succeeded. We got better."

(Paul McCartney (photo by Linda McCartney) (Paul McCartney (photo by Linda McCartney))

"It was so exhilarating and intoxicating," he added of starting a new band. "I was feeling honest and free. It was a period where I knew I just had to move forward. To keep going."

(1971 MPL Communications Ltd (1971 MPL Communications Ltd)

He explains that he had songs "knocking around" that would eventually end up on the Wild Life album. "What happens for me is that I write all the time and then suddenly I think: 'Oh god, I've got too many. I've got to record them to get them out of the way."

Addressing the backlash to the band and the album's lukewarm reception, McCartney says: "I'm not saying, 'yes, I'll do what you want. I'm saying, 'I'll do what I want.' People don't always like that."

The reissues of Wild Life and Red Rose Speedway are released on 7 December via MPL/Capitol/UMe.