One of rock’s great mysteries finally gets its home-video release. ‘McCartney: The Hunt for the Lost Bass’ arrives in Europe on Blu-ray July 20 via British label Dazzler Media, telling the story of Paul McCartney being reunited with one of music’s most famous instruments.
The mystery ran deep. For more than 50 years, the disappearance of McCartney’s original Höfner bass stood as one of rock’s enduring puzzles. The documentary traces the instrument’s journey and the fan-powered quest to track it down.
The bass itself is a portal to the past. Bought in Hamburg for £30, it sat by McCartney’s side through the birth of The Beatles and witnessed their extraordinary rise. When it vanished in the ’70s, it was thought lost forever.
The film carries real heft in its interviews. McCartney appears alongside his brother Mike, Klaus Voormann, Elvis Costello, and the roadies, journalists and fans who set out to find and restore the bass to its rightful place. It’s a story about fandom, creativity, love, loss, memory and the transformative power of music.
Directed by Arthur Cary, the documentary is a production of BBC, Fremantle Media, Passion Pictures, Footprint and Darkmouth Films. It had a two-night theatrical run and premiered on BBC Two in April.