Paul McCartney celebrated Jimmy Buffett during a tribute concert at the Hollywood Bowl last night, sharing memories of the musician and performing the Beatles‘ “Let It Be” with the Eagles.
“I had the great pleasure of knowing Jimmy,” McCartney told the audience. “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.”
He added, “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.”
He explained that he sang several songs for Buffett during the last week of his life and wanted to perform one of them for the concert. McCartney, who was introduced by Dave Grohl, showcased the 1970 song at a grand piano while backed by the Eagles.
The concert, “Keep the Party Going: A Tribute to Jimmy Buffett,” also featured Brandi Carlile, Kenny Chesney, Jon Bon Jovi, and Zac Brown. The musicians, including McCartney, came together at the end of the show to perform “Margaritaville” with Buffett’s own Coral Reefer Band.
Elsewhere during the tribute concert, Coral Reefer Band, Brown, and Grohl teamed up for a cover of Van Morrison’s “Brown Eyed Girl,” while Sheryl Crow showcased “Fins.”
Brown took the opportunity to debut a new song, “Pirates and Parrots,” which will officially be released on April 19.
Snoop Dogg also appeared onstage, performing his song “Gin and Juice” for the audience.
Buffett died on Sept. 1, 2023, at the age of 76. At the time, McCartney wrote, “He had a most amazing lust for life and a beautiful sense of humour. When we swapped tales about the past his were so exotic and lush and involved sailing trips and surfing and so many exciting stories that it was hard for me to keep up with him. Right up to the last minute his eyes still twinkled with a humour that said, ‘I love this world and I’m going to enjoy every minute of it’. So many of us will miss Jimmy and his tremendous personality. His love for us all, and for mankind as a whole.”