Sir Paul McCartney wowed passers-by in New York with a rooftop gig that recalled the Beatles' last live performance, on top of the Apple building 40 years ago.

Still fab: McCartney playing his iconic Höfner bass

The 67-year-old played a 20-minute set on the marquee of the Ed Sullivan theatre as part of his appearance on the Late Show with David Letterman yesterday - the first time McCartney has appeared on the chat show.

Don't pass me by: McCartney plays to New Yorkers on the roof of the Ed Sullivan Theatre

Thousands of New Yorkers stopped in the street to watch the mini-concert, included Coming Up, Band On The Run, Let Me Roll It, Helter Skelter and Back in the USSR.

Fans: Bruce Willis and Emma Hemming

The Beatles made their US television debut on the Ed Sullivan Show on February 9, 1964 and Sir Paul told Letterman about the nerve-racking experience of waiting for the curtain to go up.

"The audience was out there and we were very new to America, loving it but a little bit scared," he said.

"I had to do Yesterday - my song - on my own, and I'd never done this, I'd always had the band with me, but they said 'You're doing Yesterday'.

"So I'm standing there and the floor manager, the guy on the curtain, came up and said: 'Are you nervous?'

"I said no, and he said: 'You should be - there's 73 million people watching'."

McCartney opens a US tour in New York tomorrow.