Music

Paul McCartney Performs Beatles Classics After SNL Finale

Following the "Saturday Night Live" season finale, Paul McCartney treated the audience to renditions of "Help!" (with Will Ferrell on cowbell) and "Drive My Car."

Rolling Stone·May 21, 2026·via Rolling Stone

Paul McCartney Performs Beatles Classics After SNL Finale

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See Paul McCartney Play Beatles Classics in ‘SNL’ Post-Credits Performance

After the season finale, McCartney stuck around to perform "Help!" (with Will Ferrell on cowbell) and "Drive My Car"

By Daniel Kreps

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May 21, 2026

Paul McCartney ’s post-credits bonus performance from the Saturday Night Live finale has been uploaded by the now-vacationing show.

On the broadcast, McCartney and his band (featuring Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer and Will Ferrell doppelganger Chad Smith) performed The Boys of Dungeon Lane ’s “Days We Left Behind” and Wings’ “Band on the Run,” plus McCartney II ’s “Coming Up” during the end credits.

After the season-ending curtain call, McCartney stuck around to delight the audience with a bonus pair of Beatles classics. First came “Help!,” with McCartney joined not only by Smith but his celebrity lookalike (and SNL host) Ferrell, who called back to his classic “More Cowbell” sketch by applying the handheld instrument to “Help!” The actor/host got McCartney himself to crack up mid-song.

After that, McCartney and his band busted out “Drive My Car,” sans cowbell.