Brian Ray has spent the last two decades as Paul McCartney’s right-hand man, dividing his duties between guitar and bass depending on what the Beatle plays for each song. However, to land the gig back in 2002, he had to go through a rather public audition in front of millions of spectators.
Irish stadium rockers U2 were booked for the Super Bowl XXXVI halftime show at the 73,000-capacity Louisiana Superdome, but McCartney – who would take the spot in Florida three years later – was tasked with the pregame festivities. It was Ray’s first show with the band and one hell of a trial by fire.
