Watch Paul McCartney and Neil Young play Beatles' classics at Desert Trip
Video: Beatle man Paul McCartney and Neil Young take the stage together at the opening weekend of mega-festival Desert Trip
Select the newsletters you’d like to receive. Then, add your email to sign up.
You are now subscribed
Your newsletter sign-up was successful
Want to add more newsletters?
Every Friday
Louder
Louder’s weekly newsletter is jam-packed with the team’s personal highlights from the last seven days, including features, breaking news, reviews and tons of juicy exclusives from the world of alternative music.
Every Friday
Classic Rock
The Classic Rock newsletter is an essential read for the discerning rock fan. Every week we bring you the news, reviews and the very best features and interviews from our extensive archive. Written by rock fans for rock fans.
Every Friday
Metal Hammer
For the last four decades Metal Hammer has been the world’s greatest metal magazine. Created by metalheads for metalheads, ‘Hammer takes you behind the scenes, closer to the action, and nearer to the bands that you love the most.
Every Friday
Prog
The Prog newsletter brings you the very best of Prog Magazine and our website, every Friday. We'll deliver you the very latest news from the Prog universe, informative features and archive material from Prog’s impressive vault.
If the egos could be managed and logistics aligned, the one thing uber-festival Desert Trip was almost certain to supply was onstage pairings of the kind you won’t get at either the Dog & Duck or Download.
This weekend Paul McCartney got the ball rolling, with Neil Young stepping out halfway through McCartney’s set for a casual blast through a trio of Beatles classics.
- Opinion: Paul McCartney, the Stones & Dylan at Desert Trip? The best idea ever
- Opinion: Paul McCartney, the Stones & Dylan at Desert Trip? The worst idea ever
- Desert Trip tickets selling for half-price
- Spotify Playlist: the ultimate Desert Trip Festival soundtrack
Young, who’d already performed his own Promise Of The Real set, joined McCartney onstage to play A Day in the Life — which segued into Give Peace A Chance — and Why Don’t We Do It in the Road?, a song McCartney had never played live before, but one that Young made his own with a blistering, climactic solo.
The weekend was rounded off by sets last night from The Who and Roger Waters — whose own surprise was the appearance of Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump flashing on the giant screen — while the second weekend will start October 14 at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California. Tickets are on sale now.
Sign up below to get the latest from Classic Rock, plus exclusive special offers, direct to your inbox!
Classic Rock is the online home of the world's best rock'n'roll magazine. We bring you breaking news, exclusive interviews and behind-the-scenes features, as well as unrivalled access to the biggest names in rock music; from Led Zeppelin to Deep Purple, Guns N’ Roses to the Rolling Stones, AC/DC to the Sex Pistols, and everything in between. Our expert writers bring you the very best on established and emerging bands plus everything you need to know about the mightiest new music releases.

