Music legends Bruce Springsteen and Sir Paul McCartney sent waves of excitement through Liverpool on Friday as they reunited for a surprise visit to the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA).
The “Born in the U.S.A.” rocker, 75, is in town for back-to-back performances at Liverpool Stadium as part of his Land of Hope and Dreams Tour. But before taking the stage again, he made a pilgrimage to the iconic arts school co-founded by McCartney—where the two icons shared an emotional reunion.
For Springsteen, the visit was deeply personal. He has long credited The Beatles as the spark that ignited his musical passion, once calling Liverpool a “holy land” for rock ‘n’ roll. And on Friday, he got to walk its streets alongside one of his greatest inspirations—Sir Paul himself, 82, who returned to his hometown for the special occasion.
As the pair arrived at LIPA, the energy was electric. Students swarmed the entrance, hoping for a glimpse—or even an autograph—from the living legends. While McCartney graciously greeted fans, Springsteen slipped in through a side door before emerging to mingle with the crowd. At one point, a starstruck fan was seen tearing up as McCartney embraced him warmly.
Though McCartney never attended LIPA, his connection to the school runs deep. In the early ’90s, he revisited his old high school, the Liverpool Institute for Boys, only to find it crumbling after years of neglect. Determined to preserve its legacy, he teamed up with Mark Featherstone-Witty to transform it into a world-class performing arts academy, which opened in 1996.
Decades later, McCartney remains a hands-on patron, often stopping by for graduations and masterclasses. And with Springsteen in town, rumors are swirling that the two might share the stage during his final Liverpool show on Saturday night.
If they do, it wouldn’t be their first collaboration. The rock titans have joined forces before—most memorably at Glastonbury 2022, when Springsteen made a show-stopping cameo during McCartney’s headlining set. They’ve also rocked Hyde Park and New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium together.
During his Anfield concert earlier this week, Springsteen paid homage to The Beatles, telling the crowd, “It’s incredible to be in Liverpool—the place where, for us, it all started.” He then closed the night with a fiery rendition of “Twist and Shout”—the Beatles’ explosive 1963 hit that first made him fall in love with rock music.
Watch the video down below and don’t forget to share this beautiful song with your friends and family…
