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driving japan tour - japan
November 2002
November 11, 2002 Tokyo, Japan Tokyo Dome
November 13, 2002 Tokyo, Japan Tokyo Dome
November 14, 2002 Tokyo, Japan Tokyo Dome
November 17, 2002 Osaka, Japan Osaka Dome
November 18, 2002 Osaka, Japan Osaka Dome

set list

  • Hello Goodbye
  • Jet
  • All My Loving
  • Getting Better
  • Coming Up
  • Let Me Roll It
  • Lonely Road
  • Driving Rain
  • Your Loving Flame
  • Blackbird
  • Every Night
  • We Can Work It Out
  • You Never Give Me Your Money / Carry That Weight
  • The Fool On The Hill
  • Here Today
  • Something
  • Eleanor Rigby
  • Here, There and Everywhere
  • Calico Skies (Performed in Osaka only)
  • Michelle
  • Band On The Run
  • Back In The USSR
  • Maybe I'm Amazed
  • Let 'Em In
  • My Love
  • She's Leaving Home
  • Can't Buy Me Love
  • Live And Let Die
  • Let It Be
  • Hey Jude

    encores

  • The Long And Winding Road
  • Lady Madonna
  • I Saw Her Standing There

    more encores

  • Yesterday
  • Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band / The End
    		• musicians

  • Paul McCartney
  • Rusty Anderson
  • Brian Ray
  • Wix Wickens
  • Abe Laboriel Junior

    • Paul and Heather arrived in Japan on November 9th on a direct flight from Los Angeles to Narita International Airport. The Four Seasons Hotel in Mejiro would be their home base while staying in Tokyo. The following day Paul and band would rehearse at a local studio. In addition to a slight set list change from previous 2002 concerts, the pre-show performance was tweaked to include a few Japanese dancers and both large flower-shaped balloons and "chouchin" (Japanese paper lanterns) with Japanese characters printed on them: "AIJOU" (Love), "JIYUU" (Freedom), "HEIWA" (Peace), "KANKI" (Delight) and "KOUUN" (Good luck).

    While Paul would take several opportunities during the concerts to introduce songs in Japanese with the aid of a phrase cheat sheet, a real-time translation system was employed for the first time in concert. The process involved a team of translators backstage who were to type Paul's in-between song dialogue onto giant screens for the audience to follow. In theory the plan was a good idea, but as the concerts played out the ability for the translators to keep up or provide accurate translations proved challenging. This would often result in delayed, or flat response from the crowd to McCartney's more funnier dialogue. At moments Paul would show frustration in the process but in good humour he also made light of the situation by speaking particularly difficult phrases to challenge, or perhaps annoy, the translators (ex. "The dog slipped on the banana" translated to "The dog slept on the banana").


    (download 72-page Tour Programme)

    The series of Driving Tours were never intended to wrap-up with this Japanese leg. An Australian leg, to be named Driving Oz, was scheduled for at least one gig on November 23rd in Melbourne with murmurs of a second show on the 24th. However, on October 27th McCartney released this statement in response to the Bali bombings:

    Like many who have a deep fondness for Australia, I have been shocked and saddened by the recent terrible events in Bali. My heart goes out to all who have been affected by this tragedy. As a mark of respect to both the families who have lost loved ones and to the families of the injured, I have decided to postpone my planned concert in Melbourne as this is not the appropriate time for a rock show. In time, that show will hopefully come to be. But for now, my sympathies and those of all of us on this tour are with you all in your grief.

    The Australian shows would never see the light of day and to date Paul has not returned there to perform in concert.

    Tokyo - Tokyo Dome - Monday, November 11, 2002

    The opening Japanese show was made extra special for a group of 16 students from Kitazono High School in Tokyo's Itabashi Ward. Back in October the students had emailed the official Beatles fan club to invite McCartney to visit their school. Paul responded in November with an invitation for the students and two of their teachers, who use Beatles songs to study English, to attend his Tokyo concert. Paul met the group before going onstage and he led them in a special English lesson where they all sang 'Yesterday' together.

    Live Performance Driving Tokyo! (Ultra Zone 014/15)
    Each One Believing (Misterclaudel mccd-112/13/14)

    Tokyo - Tokyo Dome - Wednesday, November 13, 2002

    Paul chose to rest up on Tuesday rather than participate in a planned press conference at his hotel. Heather however took some time to sign autographs in the hotel lobby, before joining Paul on a sightseeing excursion to Mount Takao.
    Fan anticipation built up from the day off may have been responsible for the temperature generated during this evening's concert, as despite the cold temperatures outside the air conditioning system was turned on at the Tokyo Dome.

    Live Performance Familiar Rythms (Sylph Records SP-111302369)


    Tokyo - Tokyo Dome - Thursday, November 14, 2002

    The third and final Tokyo show once again saw a near capacity crowd.

    'Getting Better' broke down after the fourth note with Paul exclaiming "it is essential to turn up the volume knob" in self-mockery before making the necessary guitar adjustment and starting again. The lyrics tripped him up just before the middle section of an otherwise perfect Take 2.

    Live Performance Always There With A Smile (Sylph Records SY-0328)


    Osaka - Osaka Dome - Sunday, November 17, 2002

    Released in the USA and by EMI Japan just in time to grace the vendor stands at the opening Tokyo show, the double-disc Back In The U.S. served as a near identical set list souvenir for fans attending this series of Japanese stops. Frugal Japanese collectors may have been wise to wait until March 2003 when an international edition entitled Back In The World was released, as adjustments to the track listing included the addition of two performances from the opening Osaka show.

    While there was a companion DVD for Back In The U.S., in 2003 a one-hour Back In The World European tv special was aired that contained unique footage from the Driving Mexico and Driving Japan tours.

    Live Performance Hope To Reach Your Love (Sylph Records SP-111702370)
    *Back In The World (Capitol 07243 582835 2 5)

    1 Calico Skies*
    2 Let 'Em In*


    Osaka - Osaka Dome - Monday, November 18, 2002

    Media reported that a lucky fan from Osaka would become the Millionth Attendee to a McCartney concert that year. In a ceremony before the show, 26-year-old Akiko Yoshida from Osaka was given the honour and in addition to several commemorative items from Paul, tour sponsor Mitsubishi presented her with a brand new car.

    Before 'I Saw Her Standing There', Heather Mills-McCartney came onstage carrying a traditional Japanese happi coat. She helped Paul put it on then gave him a kiss. Paul introduced Heather to the audience saying "Okusan!" which means "my wife" in Japanese. The members of the band also wore happi coats. Paul then invited onstage four lucky Japanese fans who were wearing Sgt. Pepper's costumes and they sang and danced on stage as Paul and band performed 'I Saw Her Standing There'. When the band rejoined Paul onstage during the second encore they were wearing both the happi coats and Japanese wigs with topknot.

    Live Performance Lead Me To Your Door (Sylph Records SP-111802371)




    ~ Special thanks to E. Yamaguchi ~