On This Day in 1976, Paul McCartney and Wings Made History at Seattle’s Kingdome, Launching the Newly Opened Sports Arena with a Rockshow and Setting a World Record with a Crowd of Over 67,000 Fans…
On June 24, 1976, music history was made in the Pacific Northwest as Paul McCartney and his band Wings brought their high-octane Wings Over America tour to Seattle’s brand-new Kingdome. The event not only marked the first rock concert ever held in the massive domed stadium, but it also set a world attendance record at the time, drawing a staggering crowd of over 67,000 fans. It was more than just a concert—it was a cultural milestone that affirmed McCartney’s post-Beatles dominance and redefined the scale of live rock performances.
Just a few months earlier, the Kingdome had opened its doors as a state-of-the-art multi-purpose sports and entertainment venue, home to the Seattle Seahawks and Mariners. However, on that historic summer night, the roar of sports fans gave way to the thunderous cheers of rock enthusiasts. With dazzling lights, impeccable sound engineering, and an electrifying setlist, Wings transformed the cavernous stadium into a temple of music.
The Wings Over America tour was McCartney’s first major North American tour since the Beatles’ final U.S. appearance a decade earlier. The anticipation for McCartney’s return to live performance was intense. Fans lined up for hours outside the Kingdome, eager to witness the iconic musician perform both Wings hits and Beatles classics for the first time since the Fab Four disbanded in 1970.
The show opened with an explosive rendition of “Venus and Mars/Rock Show,” a track perfectly suited to the monumental setting. Backed by a polished and powerful band—including Linda McCartney on keyboards, Denny Laine on guitar, Jimmy McCulloch on lead guitar, and Joe English on drums—McCartney was at the height of his creative and vocal powers. The band seamlessly shifted between Wings anthems like “Band on the Run,” “Jet,” and “Letting Go,” and fan-favorite Beatles songs such as “The Long and Winding Road,” “Blackbird,” and “Yesterday.”
The performance was captured as part of Rockshow, the concert film that documented the Wings Over America tour. Footage from the Seattle Kingdome show remains a fan-favorite segment of the film, showcasing McCartney’s extraordinary stage presence and the sheer size and enthusiasm of the crowd. It was clear that this wasn’t just a concert—it was an affirmation of McCartney’s enduring influence on music and culture.
For the people of Seattle, the event became a generational touchstone. The Kingdome itself, with its distinctive concrete dome and massive interior, stood as a symbol of 1970s ambition and scale. To christen the venue with such an epic musical event was both fitting and unforgettable. Many attendees still recall the awe of hearing those first notes echo off the dome’s vast ceiling and the collective euphoria of singing along to songs that had defined a decade.
The record-setting attendance—over 67,000 screaming fans—made headlines around the world. It shattered expectations and set a new benchmark for indoor concert audiences. It was a triumph not only for McCartney and Wings but also for the evolving concert industry, which now saw stadiums as viable—and even preferable—venues for massive live events.
Nearly five decades later, the legacy of that night at the Kingdome lives on. Though the stadium was demolished in 2000, its memory continues to echo through stories, recordings, and the hearts of those who were lucky enough to be there. For Paul McCartney, it was another landmark on a legendary journey. For Seattle, it was the night the Kingdome became a cathedral of rock.
