McCartney calls Shea gig 'a blast'

NEW YORK, July 28 (UPI) -- Paul McCartney says he was thrilled to return to New York's Shea Stadium for the first time since he performed there with the Beatles more than 40 years ago.

"Shea was a blast!" McCartney said in a statement about his July 18 concert at Shea, which is closing. "I can't tell you what it felt like to be back there on stage after all these years -- and to think I nearly didn't make it."

McCartney's friend Billy Joel invited McCartney to perform with him at his "Last Play At Shea" concert, but McCartney already had a gig planned in Quebec City that weekend.

"With all the rehearsing and traveling it didn't look logistically possible," McCartney said. "I really wanted to do it as Billy is a mate and I have such special memories of Shea. I had to fly to New York to get to Quebec and it dawned on me that as I was flying Friday evening I might just be able to make it to Shea by the end of the show. ... When the plane doors opened I was met by the police and airport security who rushed me straight through all the arrival procedures and they got me out as quickly as possible."

McCartney took the stage at just before 11:20 p.m., surprising Joel and the sold-out crowd.

"It's so cool to be here on the last night," McCartney told the audience. "I came here a long time ago. We had a blast that night and we're having another one tonight."