British Columbia

Paul McCartney concert fireworks damage BC Place ceiling

Paul McCartney's recent performance at BC Place in Vancouver left more of a scorching impression than intended after fireworks in the British rock superstar's finale of his 1970s hit Live and Let Die left burn marks on the building's expensive new lid.

Pyrotechnics bounced off inside of the $458M retractable roof in Vancouver

McCartney fireworks damage BC Place roof

12 years ago
Duration 3:07
Fireworks at a Paul McCartney concert lightly damaged the Vancouver stadium's roof

British rock superstar Paul McCartney's recent performance at BC Place in Vancouver left more of a scorching impression than intended, after fireworks in the finale of his 1970s hit Live and Let Die left burn marks on the building's expensive new lid.

Concert video posted on YouTube shows how during the Nov. 25 concert, several fireworks bounced off the inside of the recently completed $458-million partly retractable roof.

A BC Place spokesperson said the fireworks actually hit an acoustic fiberglass liner that hangs about one to four metres below the retractable roof, leaving scorch marks on at least two panels.

Fireworks bounce off the BC Place roof during music icon Paul McCartney's Nov. 25 concert. (YouTube)

The trajectory of the concert's pyrotechnics is adjustable for different concert venues, but apparently the height of the roof was not calibrated correctly by technicians with the tour of the former Beatle, local reports say.

It is still not clear if the scorch marks can be washed off the panels or if they will need to be replaced, said the spokesperson but the tour's insurance company will be responsible for covering any costs.