As anticipation builds for the North American leg of his Got Back Tour, Paul McCartneytreated fans to an intimate pre-tour performance in Santa Barbara, California, on Friday night. But this wasn’t just any warm-up show — he kicked things off with a Beatles classic he hadn’t played live in more than 30 years.

That song? The 1965 hit “Help!” — a track McCartney last included in his live set back in 1990. First released as the title track of the Beatles’ fifth studio album and feature film, “Help!” remains one of the band’s most recognizable songs. It was primarily written byJohn Lennon during a period of personal turmoil.

“I was actually crying out for help,” he once explained in 1980. “Most people think it’s just a fast rock’n’roll song. I didn’t realize it at the time; I just wrote the song because I was commissioned to write it for the movie. But later, I knew I really was crying out for help.”

The surprise show gave fans a sneak peek at what’s in store for McCartney’s upcoming tour, which officially kicks off September 29 in Palm Desert, California. The setlist reportedly blended Beatles hits with selections from McCartney’s post-Beatles projects, including beloved tracks from Wings.

Perhaps most notably, McCartney performed “Now and Then,” the 2023 Beatles release created using archival vocals from Lennon, guitar work from George Harrison and new contributions from McCartney and Ringo Starr. The song, hailed as the “final Beatles track,” was finished using advanced audio restoration developed by Peter Jackson’s team during the making of The Beatles: Get Back documentary.

Joining McCartney on stage, as they have for years, is his seasoned touring band. Paul ‘Wix’ Wickens on keyboards, Brian Ray handling bass and guitar, Rusty Anderson on guitar and Abe Laboriel Jr. on drums, the band came together to deliver an unforgettable performance.

As McCartney’s Got Back Tour quickly approaches, fans get another chance to see the singer in several major cities across the U.S. and Canada. Locations include Denver, CO, Minneapolis, MN, Atlanta, GA, New Orleans, LA, Montreal, QC, Chicago, IL and more.

Tickets for many dates are already in high demand, and fans are encouraged to check official ticketing sites for availability.

This story was originally reported by Parade on Sep 27, 2025, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.