Paul McCartney, announced the formation of his new band Wings, August 3, 1971 The initial group brought together Paul McCartney on bass and lead vocals, his wife Linda McCartney on keyboards and backing vocals, former Moody Blues singer/guitarist Denny Laine, and American drummer Denny Seiwell (who had played on Paul's RAM album). The name Wings came to Paul in a hospital hallway while Linda was undergoing a difficult emergency C-section during the birth of their daughter, Stella, in September 1971. Paul prayed for her safety and kept thinking of the image of wings, leading to the band's iconic name. Eager to shed the corporate weight of Beatles-level stardom, Wings famously embarked on an unannounced UK university tour in early 1972. The band drove around in a van, pulled up to college campuses unannounced, and played intimate gig setups for students for a pocketful of change.