Like a drummer keeping a consistent beat, Ringo Starr ushered in his 77th birthday the same way he celebrates every year — with a little help from his friends.“I want to thank you for coming out today. It’s my birthday!
Like a drummer keeping a consistent beat, Ringo Starr ushered in his 77th birthday the same way he celebrates every year — with a little help from his friends.
“I want to thank you for coming out today. It’s my birthday!” the former Beatle told several hundred fans who braved 90 degree temperatures in front of the Capitol Records building in Hollywood. “No, no – just leave the presents over there, ” he said with his characteristic brand of dry humor.
As the clock ticked down to noon, the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer led the crowd in a chant of his catch phrase, “Peace and love.”
“Peace and love, peace and love, everybody – oh, great outfit, ” he quipped to someone in the crowd.
The birthday celebration streamed live around the globe, where fans in every time zone were encouraged to shout “Peace and love” as noon struck in their hometowns.
“It started hours ago in New Zealand, and it’s gone all around the world now, ” Starr explained.
Joe Walsh, from the Eagles, led the crowd in singing “Happy Birthday” to Starr – who also happens to be his brother-in-law.
“How ya doin’ ?!” he exclaimed, generating chuckles with his signature greeting, before turning serious.
“The way things are going to get better is if we all have each other’s backs, and the only way we’ re going to do it is with peace and love, ” he said.
Longtime San Fernando Valley resident Jenny Lewis serenaded the crowd with a jazzy cover of “Only You, ” which Starr recorded in 1974. She was backed by an all-star band of producer Don Was on bass, indie artist Van Dyke Parks on accordion, and legendary session musicians Jim Keltner on drums and Michael Bearden on keyboards. Haitian singer-songwriter Paul Beaubrun kicked off the festivities with an acoustic version of Starr’s 1971 solo hit, “It Don’ t Come Easy.”
Lesley Clack, from Winnetka, said it was her second year celebrating Starr’s birthday at Capitol Records. “I’ m 64, just like the song. I came out because I’ m a lifelong Beatles fan. I say go as long as you can – as long as God gives you the life to do it, ” she stated.
Sixteen-year-old Amanda Jimenez from North Hollywood watched the festivities from the VIP section. “My mom won tickets. My dad couldn’ t go, so I got to go, and I’ m super stoked. I’ ve never seen a Beatle up-close and in-person. I think I’ m going to cry, ” she said with a laugh.
Starr will be releasing his 19th solo album, “Give More Love, ” on September 15. It features 10 collaborations with notable friends, including Paul McCartney, Peter Frampton, Dave Stewart (Eurythmics) , Benmont Tench (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers) , Walsh and Timothy B. Schmidt (Eagles) .
As the celebration came to a close, Starr caused a minor frenzy when he tossed hundreds of white bracelets into the crowd. They were embossed with the phrase, “Peace & Love.”
“See you next year!” he shouted.
