London: A fully restored double-decker bus that carried Paul McCartney and his band Wings during their 1972 European tour is set to go up for auction next month, with anticipated bids ranging between $200,000 and $300,000.
Paul McCartney, renowned as a former member of The Beatles, and his late wife Linda co-founded the American-British rock band, Paul McCartney and Wings, shortly after the iconic group disbanded in 1970.
The band, which also included drummer Denny Seiwell and guitarist Denny Laine, embarked on the “Wings Over Europe” tour during the summer of 1972. For this European adventure, they traversed the continent aboard a 1953 Bristol KSW double-decker bus affectionately known as WNO 481.
Martin Nolan, the founder of Julien’s Auctions, the hosting organization for the upcoming auction under the theme “Played, Worn, & Torn: Rock ‘n’ Roll Iconic Guitars and Memorabilia,” provided insight into the choice of using this bus. He explained, “Paul and Linda had two young girls, the two Dennys from the band had wives and kids as well, and Paul didn’t want them to be in an enclosed bus. He wanted something fun.”
The bus is adorned with a vibrant exterior displaying shades of blue, red, green, and yellow, complete with psychedelic artwork that epitomizes the hippie culture of that era. This iconic vehicle transported the band through nine European countries during their 1972 tour, leaving a colorful mark in the annals of rock ‘n’ roll history.
