Wings : Medicine Jar
On September 27, 1979 Jimmy McCulloch, the former lead guitarist for both Wings and Thunderclap Newman, was found dead of a drug related heart attack in his London flat. He was 26.
The Glaswegian was 14 when, as a member of One in A Million, he and his drumming brother Jack toured Scotland with The Who.
At 15, he joined Andy Newmark and Pete Townsend's pal Speedy Keen in Thunderclap Newman. They recorded the 1969 U.K #1 smash hit "Something In The Air" as well as the classic album Hollywood Dream, produced by Townsend.
Later versions of the album include extra tracks like the "Accidents" B-side "I See It All", written by Jimmy and Jack and sung by Jimmy.
Over the next couple of years he toured with John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers and briefly served as lead guitarist for Stone The Crows, replacing Les Harvey who had been electrocuted on stage. In August of 1974 Jimmy got called up to the big time as a member of Wings. He first played lead on the single "Junior's Farm" and contributed music and vocals on both "Medicine Jar" from Venus and Mars and "Wino Junkie" from Speed of Sound.
McCulloch often clashed with Paul and he'd get chippy when he had a drink, but the final straw came when he threw eggs against a barn on the McCartney farm. They belonged to Linda's pet chickens.
When he left Wings, Jimmy toured with The Small Faces and started a few more bands. His death was blamed on a combination of morphine and alcohol poisoning, and while he was know to drink the verdict shocked friends and fans.
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