TIPSHEET

We asked Brian Ray for his advice on playing Beatles tunes. After all, he learned from the best.

- JOE BOSSO

WHEN BRIAN RAY joined Paul McCartney’s band in 2002, he was tasked with the responsibility of learning more than 40 songs — in one week. “Fortunately, I listened to the Beatles nonstop throughout my life, so I already knew most of them,” he says. “Of course, it’s much different when you’re playing in a band that, oh yeah, is led by Paul McCartney himself. Needless to say, I immersed myself in the material.”

He also had to learn another instrument. The gig with McCartney required Ray to switch between guitar and bass on songs where McCartney played guitar or piano. “I definitely had to woodshed on bass, but Paul made it very easy for me,” he says. “I could never re-create his parts exactly, but as long as I got close and it sounded good, everything fell into place.”

These days, Ray estimates he and his bandmates — guitarist Rusty Anderson, drummer Abe Laboriel Jr. and keyboardist Wix Wickens — have played roughly 150 songs over the past 22 years. “Between the Beatles, Wings and Paul’s solo work, it’s such an incredible body of work,” Ray says. “The great thing about this band is that we perform the material with fire and energy, rather than a clinical approach. We all came out of clubs similar to the Cavern and the Star Club, places where Paul cut his teeth.”

Given his rarefied position, Ray has some unique insights for guitarists (and bassists) who are looking to incorporate Fab Four material into their repertoire. “It’s one thing to listen to these songs and appreciate them as a fan, as we’ve all done,” he says. “But when you start digging into them and analyzing them, you’re just astounded by the creativity and depth. Even stuff that sounds simple isn’t simple at all. I’m constantly amazed at the brilliance in these songs, and that feeling grows stronger all the time.”

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