The difference between being in a band and being the frontperson of a backing band might not seem like much from the audience\u2019s perspective, but it certainly feels different to the musicians on stage. With the former, there\u2019s a sense of creative cohesion\u2014everyone working toward a goal that\u2019s larger than themselves. In the latter, the musicians are still working toward a common goal. But that goal is set by whoever is at the helm of the project.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Following The Beatles split<\/a>, Paul McCartney contemplated what he should do next. After such a contentious breakup, reuniting with ex-Beatles to form a different project wasn\u2019t necessarily at the top of his mind. Still, songwriting and playing music were like second nature to McCartney, and he didn\u2019t want to stop just because The Beatles did. And in a 1986 appearance on Wogan<\/a>, McCartney explained why he couldn\u2019t stop, even if he wanted to.<\/p>\n \u201cI thought at the time, \u2018Well, if I don\u2019t form a band, and I don\u2019t keep in the business, then after a couple of years, I\u2019m going to find I can\u2019t sing,\u201d McCartney said. \u201cAnd I haven\u2019t got that knack in front of an audience, you know. You can lose it dead easy. I did it really just to keep oiled like an athlete. To keep doing it in case I ever really want to get serious again.\u201d<\/p>\n Why Paul McCartney Was Always Going to Choose a Band Over Going Solo<\/strong><\/p>\n Television host Terry Wogan then asked Paul McCartney if he had enough confidence to go out on stage as a solo artist. The ex-Beatle replied, \u201cI\u2019ve never actually tried, really. The only time I ever really got out on my own was when we did Live Aid. And my mic went off. So, that was terrifying in front of 50 billion people. But I prefer to be with a band. I like the kick that other people give you.\u201d<\/p>\n While it\u2019s true that playing with other people can motivate you in ways that playing solo won\u2019t, we also don\u2019t blame McCartney for being wary of the stage after the debacle that was his Live Aid performance<\/a>. He was modestly downplaying the entire ordeal on Wogan, even with the use of the word \u201cterrifying.\u201d According to Live Aid organizer Bob Geldof, McCartney was \u201cscared stiff\u201d leading up to the appearance.<\/p>\n