To mark the 50th anniversary of the Adam Hall Group, the restored tour bus of Paul McCartney and his band Wings has been presented to the public for the first time on the company’s campus.
image L-R: David Kirby (Adam Hall Group); Tom Jennings (former Wings Tour Bus owner & restorator); Alexander Pietschmann (Adam Hall Group); Markus Jahnel (Adam Hall Group)
The psychedelically painted double-decker bus in which the band toured Europe in 1972 will in future be on display as part of the company’s own Rock‘n’Roll Library in the Experience Centre at the Adam Hall Group’s German headquarters – and is symbolic of the company’s anniversary claim, namely: “Honouring the past, driving the future.”
The tour bus – a Bristol KSW5G, built in 1953 – was specially converted in 1972 for the European tour of Paul McCartney’s new band Wings. Instead of travelling by plane as usual, McCartney opted for a double-decker bus designed by artist Geoffrey Cleghorn in psychedelic colours inspired by the Beatles’ album Yellow Submarine. “The Wings tour bus was ahead of its time,” says Alexander Pietschmann, CEO of the Adam Hall Group. “It stood for a new way of living and travelling on tour – human, communal, respectful. It is therefore also food for thought when it comes to the future and a symbol of how music, mindset and freedom can work together.”
The legendary vehicle was discovered by British restorer Tom Jennings on Tenerife. He brought the bus, which has its very own fan base, back to the UK and invested over 26,000 hours in faithfully restoring it.