Henry McCullough, rock guitarist who played with Wings, dies at 72

Guitarist Henry McCullough in November 1971. (Jorgen Angel/Redferns via Getty Images)

Henry McCullough, who played guitar in Paul McCartney's band Wings and whose solo work on "My Love" on the album "Red Rose Speedway" marked a career peak, died June 14. He was 72.

His agent, Nigel Martyn, said the guitarist never fully recovered from a severe heart attack four years ago. The place of death was not disclosed.

Mr. McCullough played with the Grease Band with Joe Cocker at Woodstock and worked at various times with Marianne Faithfull and Donovan, and he also appeared on the original cast recording of “Jesus Christ Superstar.”

The Northern Ireland native was recruited to join the second version of Wings in 1971. Of his improvised solo on “My Love,” he told the website Pennyblackmusic in 2011: “With music, sometimes you come across something and it’s a gift from God and it’s channeled through you. I swear, I never heard those notes before that way.”

Mr. McCullough, who also played on the single of "Live and Let Die," walked out of Wings in July 1973 after clashing with McCartney. The rift was patched up in later years.

Mr. McCullough also worked with George Harrison’s Dark Horse label, which produced his solo album “Mind Your Own Business” in 1975.

During his time with Wings, Mr. McCullough was one of the people whose voices are heard answering questions at the end of Pink Floyd’s song “Money” from the album “Dark Side of the Moon.” His contribution: “I don’t know, I was really drunk at the time.”

Henry Campbell Liken McCullough was born in Portstewart, on the north coast of Northern Ireland, on July 21, 1943. One of his earliest musical memories was of the power of the singing at his mother’s church.

“The choir would be singing all these harmonies and it would scare me half to death,” he said.

His reaction to the church was summed up in “Failed Christian,” one of the few songs he composed. In the song he said: “I’m going to meet my maker / A firm believer / Of spirit in music / There’s a prayer in a song.”

Mr. McCullough remained active on the music scene until the heart attack in November 2012. “Always open for offers, you know,” he told Musiclegends. “It’s the only way I know to make any money, to be honest with you.”

Read more Washington Post obituaries