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Wednesday, November 11, 2026Nov 11

Paul McCartney, Neil Young rock Desert Trip together

Paul McCartney, left, is joined at the microphone by Neil Young during his performance on day 2 of the 2016 Desert Trip music festival at Empire Polo Field on Saturday, Oct. 8, 2016, in Indio, Calif. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
Paul McCartney, left, is joined at the microphone by Neil Young during his performance on day 2 of the 2016 Desert Trip music festival at Empire Polo Field on Saturday, Oct. 8, 2016, in Indio, Calif. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP) Paul McCartney, left, is joined at the microphone by Neil Young during his performance on day 2 of the 2016 Desert Trip music festival at Empire Polo Field on Saturday, Oct. 8, 2016, in Indio, Calif. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)

INDIO, Calif. (AP) – Paul McCartney paid tribute to his late wife, his current spouse, George Harrison, Jimi Hendrix and the Rolling Stones during a rollicking two-and-a-half-hour set at the Desert Trip music festival Saturday night.

The former Beatle topped the bill on the second day of the three-day classic-rock show. Neil Young was McCartney’s opening act and later joined him onstage.

The two rock legends performed two songs together, beaming at each other throughout. Their version of “A Day in the Life” ended with John Lennon’s “Give Peace a Chance,” as the audience sang along. Young then played lead guitar to duet with McCartney on “Why Don’t We Do It In the Road?”

McCartney’s set also included “Back in the U.S.S.R.” ”Band on the Run,” ”Blackbird,” ”Helter Skelter,” ”Let it Be” and “Hey Jude.”