Paul McCartney returns to Cavern Club cellar bar

LONDON — Paul McCartney has returned to the famous Liverpool club credited with being the birthplace of the Beatles.

The 76-year-old played an exclusive performance Thursday at the Cavern Club — the cellar bar where the Fab Four played in their early years.

Some 270 fans packed into a sweltering room to watch McCartney after lining up for free tickets at the Echo Arena box office after the gig was announced.

“Liverpool. Cavern,” McCartney said as he opened the show. “Those are words that go together well.”

McCartney played the guitar and the keyboard in a performance that lasted almost two hours. He played Beatles classics including “Love Me Do,” ”I Saw Her Standing There” and “Get Back,” as well as songs from his new album “Egypt Station.”

The Beatle dropped a hint about the gig during an appearance Wednesday at the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts. Word spread, and fans gathered outside the club before running to the arena to seek tickets.

Gina and Paul Magee asked for the day off work to attend. Luckily, their bosses were sympathetic.

“It’s once in a lifetime, isn’t it?” Paul Magee said. “I don’t think he’ll ever come to the Cavern again.”

McCartney spoke of memories and his bandmates — and asked people in the crowd not to take pictures.

“All those years ago we came here and played, and we didn’t know if we had any future. We did OK,” he said. “Coming back here with all my guys and all my crew and stuff, it’s pretty amazing.”