Sir Paul BOK bound

BY JENNIFER CHANCELLOR World Scene Writer
Thursday, July 09, 2009
7/09/09 at 3:27 AM

A year has passed, and it looks like the honeymoon has just begun.

To celebrate Tulsa's and the BOK Center's first year together, rock royalty will descend when Sir Paul McCartney performs at the BOK Center on Aug. 17.

The concert is the first announcement of a string of birthday events planned through September, said John Bolton, BOK Center general manager. More details will be announced next week, he said.

"It certainly doesn't seem like a year since we announced that first show," wearing hard hats in the barren entryway of the BOK Center, said Bolton. That first announcement was for the Eagles, a show that sold out the 18,000-plus-seat arena in minutes.

Since then, the venue's sold more than $35 million in tickets, he said.

Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. July 20 via tulsaworld.com/BOK , the venue box office, all tickets.com outlets and by calling (866) 7-BOKCTR, said Bolton. Prices will be announced soon.

This is the first time for McCartney to perform in Oklahoma since 2002, said Tulsa Mayor Kathy Taylor. He performed at the Ford Center in Oklahoma City.

The Tulsa show will be his only arena show on this tour, which will hit outdoor stadiums including Boston's Fenway Park and Atlanta's Piedmont Park.

McCartney is most famous for his work in one of the most influential and commercially popular rock acts of all time, the Beatles. He has had the most successful post-Beatles career of the foursome, with a reported nine No. 1 singles and seven No. 1 albums through the 1980s alone.

Soon after the Beatles split, he formed the band Wings with wife Linda, and created hits "Silly Love Songs," "Live and Let Die," "With a Little Luck," "Band on the Run," "Uncle Albert" and "My Love," among others .

And, of course, there are the Beatles hits, including tunes McCartney often performs in concert: "Eleanor Rigby," "Drive My Car," "Yesterday," "Back in the USSR," "Can't Buy Me Love" and "Hey Jude."

He will also play selections from his most recent album, "Electric Arguments," released under his alias The Fireman, BOK Center event organizers said.

Earlier this year, the Tulsa World reported that the venue generated close to a million dollars in sales tax revenue for the city, county and state from January through March 2009.

It has brought in nearly $2.3 million in sales tax revenue through April, since its grand opening in late August.

BOK’s top concerts

Our picks of the best shows so far at the BOK Center arena.

1. AC/DC: One of the state’s worst ice storms in years couldn’t keep fans from this monster rock show in January.

2. Bruce Springsteen: The rock ‘n’ roll legend performed an hours-long jam session in April that spanned some 30 years of music.

3. Fleetwood Mac: In May, the band sang that they’ll never break “The Chain.” It seems they’ve made the chain even stronger. And after their concert here, thousands of fans are forever added as links.

4. The Eagles: So popular, the classic rock legends booked the arena twice. The first concert sold out in mere minutes.

5. Rascal Flatts: Last September, the near-capacity crowd at the new center was proof positive that Rascal Flatts is indeed the most popular touring country act today.

6. Aerosmith: It’s not happening until July 30. But here’s one of rock ‘n’ roll’s most popular and enduring acts. Right. Here. In. Tulsa.

7. Rod Stewart: This one’s Aug. 20. His act promises to include some of his biggest hits from his 40-year career. He’s in our hearts, and he’s oh-so-totally in our souls.

8. Neil Diamond: Neil Diamond has accepted at least one point in his more than 40 years of performing: Women love him, and they proved it at last October’s show.

9. Elton John/Billy Joel: Their waistlines might be a bit thicker, their fingers a little pudgier — but the music didn’t lose a beat during this sold-out show in March.

10. Britney Spears: This one’s Sept. 15. She’s calling this her comeback tour. And she promises a circus. We’ll be there. Will you?

— Source: Tulsa World archives. Compiled by Jennifer Chancellor, World Scene writer

Jennifer Chancellor 581-8346
jennifer.chancellor@tulsaworld.com

Associated Images:

Sir Paul McCartney will play the BOK Center on Aug. 17 to celebrate the center's birthday. The concert is the first of a string of birthday events planned through September. Courtesy

Mayor Kathy Taylor talks about the booking of Paul McCartney for an Aug. 17 concert following a press conference Wednesday at the BOK Center. STEPHEN HOLMAN / Tulsa World