Macca’s making a vege call: Let it bean

SIR Paul McCartney may have given up meat long ago, but with a little help from his friends, carnivores will still be able to buy hotdogs and meat pies at his Mt Smart Stadium concert this Saturday.

McCartney is performing for the first time in New Zealand since 1993, and will reportedly demand that there are no meat products anywhere back-stage at his one Auckland show.

McCartney’s main requirement is that there is not to be any fur or leather in his dressing room, and nothing with animal print or animal fur — either real or fake. He also travels only in limousines without leather seats.

Hungry punters attending the concert will be able to choose from a dazzling array of vegetarian options. Food vendors will be offering up vegetable pies, burgers and nachos, kimchi burritos, as well as snacks such as spinach and feta rolls, trays of steamed mixed veg, and even a vegetarian sausage. And it seems concertgoers may need the sustenance: McCartney has been playing two and a half hour long sets on his One on One World tour, with many of the 30-plus songs coming from his Beatles back catalogue.

Among the classics that have been getting an airing on the latest tour are Michelle, Eleanor Rigby, Helter Skelter, Blackbird, Let It Be, and Hey Jude.

McCartney is expected to be accompanied wife Nancy Shevell with him for the New Zealand leg of his One on One tour.

The 75-year-old rocker also tours with his own catering team, serving only vegan and vegetarian food to anyone working on his concerts.

‘‘I don’t eat before a show. The whole band and crew do, they’re all putting on weight,’ he told Australia’s Herald Sun.

‘‘But it is good, meat-free food. It’s a style of life that I like and it’s always done me good. And a bunch of animals good, too.’’