Watch Paul McCartney Hits His $500,000 Bass On The Ceiling

Backstage at the Dublin O2 Arena during the 2009 Good Evening Europe tour, Paul McCartney had a moment every musician can relate to—he dinged his beloved Hofner bass. And yes, the whole thing was caught on camera. But when you’re Paul McCartney, even a little bump like that turns into rock history.

A Bump Heard Around the World

In a behind-the-scenes clip, McCartney tries to handle the bass carefully, but things don’t go exactly as planned. “The only way I can do this is to take the bass very quickly and make sure I do that, do that… and whatever you do, don’t leave it on the ceiling,” he jokes just moments before it makes contact. But if you look closely, you can practically feel the sting in his voice when he realizes it happened.

Still, he brushes it off like a champ: “The thing is, it’s not very expensive and it’s not an iconic ding. It is still working.”

A Bit of Beatles History in That Bass

McCartney’s Hofner bass is more than just a piece of wood and strings—it’s part of Beatles legend. He famously used two Hofners during his time with the band. The first, a 1961 model, mysteriously disappeared during the Let It Be sessions. The second, a 1963 model, is the one featured in this video. It was used on Let It Be, Abbey Road, and even the band’s iconic rooftop performance.

That Ding? It’s Basically Rock Memorabilia Now

Let’s be honest—if you ding your bass, it’s a bummer. But if Paul McCartney dings his Hofner on camera? That’s a piece of history. The moment adds charm to the instrument’s legacy and just proves that even rock legends have those “oops” moments too.

Catch this surprising moment in the video below: