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Paul McCartney performs 'Let It Be' with the Eagles in tribute to late Jimmy Buffett
16 April 2024, 13:54
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It was a star-studded farewell to a music legend.
Beloved singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett died on September 1, 2023, at the age of 76 after a four-year battle with skin cancer.
The Hawaiian shirt-donning, ever-smiling musician was celebrated not only for his music, but the infectiously positive impact he had on those around him.
It's taken a few months to put together a tribute concert worthy of Buffett's legacy, but that came to fruition on 11th April at the Hollywood Bowl.
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'Keep the Party Going: A Tribute to Jimmy Buffett' featured an enviable cast of the late musician's friends, with the likes of Sir Paul McCartney, the Eagles, Foo Fighters' Dave Grohl, Sheryl Crow, Brandi Carlile, Snoop Dogg, Angelique Kidjo, Zac Brown, and Jon Bon Jovi all performing alongside Buffett's band The Coral Reefer Band.
In what was an incredibly poignant moment on the night, the aforementioned first two artists in Macca and the Eagles teamed up for a heartfelt rendition of The Beatles' classic 'Let It Be'.
Paul McCartney “Let It Be” (Live) at the Hollywood Bowl 4/11/24 Jimmy Buffett Tribute
After being introduced to the stage by Dave Grohl, McCartney spoke about his friendship with Jimmy, telling the crowd: "I had the great pleasure of knowing Jimmy, and like everyone else on the bill tonight has said, this is one great man."
"He was generous, he was funny, he'd done just about everything in his life. I was on holiday with him and I forgot to bring my guitar, so he had his own guitar strung left-handed for me."
"And then the next time I saw him he’d had one custom-made left-handed for me," Macca added before taking to the piano to play his timeless song.
The Eagles themselves performed a mini-set on the night, playing hits 'Take It to the Limit', 'In the City', and Don Henley's solo song 'The Boys of Summer'.
They stuck around to perform with McCartney, before the music icon led a tribute to Buffett with a margarita in hand for the finale of 'Margaritaville'.
All the famous names Buffett befriended came to the stage, including Dolly Parton, Harrison Ford, James Taylor, Woody Harrelson, Matthew McConaughey, and tennis player John McEnroe.
One of the more touching tributes on the night however came from country musician Eric Church, who recalled one of Buffett's finest quotes.
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"Jimmy enjoyed living life more than any person enjoyed living life," Church told the audience, made up of Parrotheads, the term of endearment for Buffett's fanbase.
"I can remember we were hiking one day and we were heading up this vista and we started talking about music and songwriting and our careers and his life and my life, and death."
"And, 'You know, Eric,' [Jimmy] said, 'Guys like us, we don't really die.' He said, 'because the songs live forever'."
In November, Equal Strain On All Parts was released, a posthumous album that Buffett had been working on before he died which featured a collaboration with Paul McCartney titled 'My Gummie Just Kicked In'.
At the time of Buffett's passing, Macca paid tribute to the musician on social media, revealing his involvement in the album too.
"I was very happy to have played on one of his latest songs called 'My Gummie Just Kicked In'. We had a real fun session and he played me some of his new songs."
"One [new track], in particular, I loved was the song 'Bubbles Up'. And I told him that not only was the song great but the vocal was probably the best I’ve heard him sing ever."
"He turned a diving phrase that is used to train people underwater into a metaphor for life when you’re confused and don’t know where you are just follow the bubbles – they’ll take you up to the surface and straighten you out right away."
