Paul McCartney Revives “Help!” for First Time in 35 Years in Santa Barbara

Photo: Marc Millman

Paul McCartney’s unwavering ability to transport a crowd back in time took on new meaning during his return to the stage on September 26 at the Santa Barbara Bowl in Santa Barbara, Calif. Friday night’s performance represented the first since McCartney’s participation in Saturday Night Live 50, and his three-night Bowery Ballroom run, which occurred the same week in mid-February as the sketch comedy show’s anniversary celebration. The circumstances allowed anticipation to build, and McCartney seized the opportunity to revive a classic Beatles song, in its entirety, for the first time since 1965. 

The bust-out held the concert’s first position, which made a statement that signaled McCartney’s thoughtful construction of the setlist when considering the track’s reentry. “Help!” emerged as the night’s jumping off point, and a subsequent 35-year return to any semblance of the chords and lyrics that are credited as a John Lennon-McCartney co-write. Despite the massive gap in plays, Sir. Paul delivered partial renditions of the 1965 title track in 1990, which closed a 35-year 

hole. More importantly, the song’s arrival and complete performance ended a 60-year pause in full deliveries of the beloved Beatles’ material. 

After turning in his historic performance at the open-air amphitheater in Santa Barbara, McCartney took his live show to Acrisure Arena in Thousand Palms, Calif. During the follow-up, the musician stuck to the script, opening his show in the same fashion as the prior gig, and establishing “Help!” setlist placement on the latest leg of his Got Back tour.

Scroll down to view Friday night’s setlist.

Paul McCartney 

Santa Barbara Bowl – Santa Barbara, Calif.

Sept. 26, 2025 

Help!+, Coming Up, Got to Get You Into My Life, Let Me Roll It, Getting Better, Let ‘Em In, My Valentine, Nineteen Hundred and Eighty-Five, I’ve Just Seen a Face, Love Me Do, Dance Tonight, Blackbird, Now and Then, Lady Madonna, Jet, Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da, Get Back, Let It Be, Live and Let Die, Hey Jude

Enc.: I’ve Got a Feeling*, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise), Helter Skelter, Golden Slumbers, Carry That Weight, The End

Notes:

+ First time since 1990 and first time in its entirety since 1965

* Virtual duet with John Lennon from The Beatles’ rooftop concert, with new coda 

Setlist and notes via www.setlist.fm.