1976 - Paul McCartney & Wings art with audio & video

Pencil drawing

Pencil drawing

The song Magneto & Titanium Man appeared on the 1975 album Venus & Mars by the band Wings - former Beatle Paul McCARTNEY's group with his wife Linda and others. While on the subsequent Wings Over America leg of their Wings Over the World tour, they performed three shows at the Los Angeles Forum in Inglewood, California. Brothers Steve and Gary SHERMAN arranged for Jack KIRBY to meet the band backstage, where Kirby presented McCartney with this 14" by 17" pencil drawing. McCartney dedicated that night's performance of the song to Kirby, who, along with wife Roz, daughter Lisa and the Sherman brothers, were given complimentary nearly-front row tickets.

Not only was the concert filmed and portions used in concert movie "Rockshow" and the television special "Wings Over The World", but an audience audio recording exists where Kirby is introduced.

In "Rockshow", Wings member Denny LAINE introduced the song and he's heard saying, "Where are ya, Jack? Rock it!" while not on screen. This is possibly due to the introduction from a Seattle, WA, USA show being used, while the performance was from the show Kirby attended. The reference to "Jack" may be where the LA performance is edited in.

Pencil art by Jack KIRBY.

The art was sold in the 28 May 1993 issue of Goldmine Magazine.

Scanned by Rand HOPPE at Comic-con International: San Diego, 26 July 2007. Thanks to Hans KOSENKRANIUS.

Audience recording from 22 June 1976 Wings concert provided by Chip MADINGER, co-author with Mark EASTER of "Eight Arms To Hold You - The Solo Beatles Compendium."

Photographs provided by Lisa KIRBY. Copyright 2008 Jack Kirby Estate.

SHERMAN, Steve, "Jack Meets Paul McCartney." The Collected Jack Kirby Collector, Volume One, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA: TwoMorrows Publishing, 2004, p 177.

MORROW, John, caption. The Collected Jack Kirby Collector, Volume Five, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA: TwoMorrows Publishing, 2004, p 123.

MORROW, John, "The Kid From Left Field." Ibid., p 36.

EVANIER, Mark, Kirby: King of Comics, New York, New York, USA: Harry N. Abrams, Inc., 2007, p 204-205.

McCARTNEY, Paul (Director - uncredited). (1980). Rockshow [Motion picture]. United States: MPL Communications.

Wikipedia: Paul McCartney, Wings, Wings Over the World Tour

The Museum's Original Art Digital Archive was a source for images in Mark Evanier's book "Kirby: King of Comics." One piece was the Paul McCartney & Wings pencil drawing Jack gave to Paul & Linda backstage at a concert in 1976. We've included this piece in our Kirby's Real Folks exhibit, as well as audio-visual clips for further context.


Kirby & McCartney photos added

Museum Trustee Lisa Kirby provided scans of some snapshots of her parents, Paul & Linda McCartney and Wings band members that were taken backstage at the LA Forum in 1976.

Denny Laine, Linda McCartney, Jack Kirby, Roz Kirby, Jimmy McCulloch Linda, Paul, Jack Paul McCartney & Jack Kirby

I learned to read as a child

I learned to read as a child largely because of Jack Kirby. Seeing his art with words made it exciting for me to read. My first career in life I owe largely to him. God bless you Jack. You are missed.

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