Paul McCartney and Nirvana Perform New Song at 12-12-12 Concert (Video)

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He came on well past midnight in New York, the final act of the 12-12-12 concert for Hurricane Sandy relief. But those who stayed up to watch Paul McCartney perform witnessed history.

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At 70 and the most successful rock songwriter of all time, McCartney is well past reading his press, especially the negative snark directed toward even the most pre-eminent music legends. Still, in teaming with the remaining members of Nirvana to premiere a new song called "Cut Me Some Slack," it seemed like the former Beatle was giving the mickey to any skeptical bloggers -- and it was hard not to cheer and laugh along when he bowed and shrugged after tearing the hard rock anthem apart on stage, as if to say, "I told you so."

Concert Review: The Concert for Sandy Relief

McCartney's set highlighted his legendary career, with hits from The Beatles, Wings and his solo work. But the most attention went to his one-song team-up with Dave Grohl, Krist Noveselic and Pat Smear, the remaining members of Nirvana who reunited more than 18 years after Kurt Cobain's death.

McCartney played coy onstage, saying that a few guys asked him to jam along with them before introducing the trio. Perhaps it was that nondescript for McCartney; the guy did spend more than a decade jamming with John Lennon, Ringo Starr and George Harrison.

The song, which was made for Grohl's Sound City documentary, is a certified hard rocker, something that could have come out of "Let It Be" or Grohl's Foo Fighters.