Brian Rasic/Getty ImagesHenry McCullough, a guitarist who played with Paul McCartney in Wings and in Joe Cocker‘s Grease Band, died Tuesday at the age of 72 after a long illness. The Belfast Telegraph reports McCullough’s agent, Nigel Martyn, confirmed his passing.
Born in Portstewart, Northern Ireland, McCullough played in a number of local bands before joining Cocker’s backing group, The Grease Band. Henry played on the singer’s first two albums and took part in his famous performance at the 1969 Woodstock Festival.
McCullough also was briefly a member of Spooky Tooth and played guitar on the original 1970 Jesus Christ Superstar album.
He joined Wings in 1972 and was featured on the band’s 1973 album Red Rose Speedway, which included the #2 hit “My Love.” Henry also played on Wings’ hit theme song to the 1973 James Bond movie Live and Let Die.
In addition, McCullough’s voice is heard at the end of Pink Floyd‘s classic song “Money.”
After leaving Wings in 1973, McCullough continued to record and perform solo and with various other artists. In 2012, he suffered a massive heart attack that according to Martyn left him “completely incapacitated.”
McCullough is survived by his wife, Josie, and a son, Jessie.
On his official website, Paul McCartney writes, “He was a pleasure to work with, a super-talented musician with a lovely sense of humor. The solo he played on ‘My Love’ was a classic that he made up on the spot in front of a live orchestra. Our deepest sympathies from my family to his.”
Former Wings drummer Denny Seiwell also paid homage to his old band mate, writing on his official Facebook page that McCullough “touched everyone he met both with his music and his spirit.”
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