Ringo Starr celebrates a milestone birthday today as he turns 80 and says…
“80? It’s a difficult one. 70 was easy. I think 40 was the hardest and this one’s is just gonna be what it’s gonna be and the celebration is gonna be very small. And, we’re still sort of saying I’m still 79 because we’ll hopefully celebrate it properly next year. You know, there’s a lot of people that are a 100 out there. So I’m just aiming for a 100. I’ll still be playing.
And, what’s making it more difficult is the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I am disappointed and I’ve had a few down days because, you know, I should have just finished a tour. My birthday — the big celebration — all my kids coming from England, the grandkids, all my pals. We were gonna have like this huge thing. And, I don’t expect anyone to get on a plane, and I certainly won’t be getting on a plane. And then September October I’m back on tour again. But, you know, all that’s finished. Here we are sitting at home.”
Since 2008, Ringo has said all he wants for his birthday is for people, no matter where they are at noon their time, to stop what they’re doing and say “peace and love” while flashing the peace sign.
And, while he wants that tradition to continue, the pandemic is keeping him from making a public appearance at noon like he always done. So instead, he has something else in store.
“I’m putting this video together. I just called a lot of friends and, you know, they’re either gonna give me footage from one of their tours, or they’re gonna write something, or they’re gonna do a Beatle track, or they’re gonna do a Ringo track. And so we’re gonna put this celebratory show on. And, you know, I’m gonna be doing ‘With a Little Help From My Friends’ of course. It’s the only thing we can do.”Download
Ringo’s Birthday Show with feature Paul McCartney, brother-in-law Joe Walsh, Dave Grohl, Ben Harper, Gary Clark Junior, Sheila E., and Sheryl Crow.
It will also include the premiere of a guest star video version of Ringo’s “Give More Love” that was created to benefit MusiCares. That features Jeff Bridges, Jackson Browne, T-Bone Burnett, Elvis Costello, Rodney Crowell, Steve Earle, Peter Frampton, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Kenny Loggins, Michael McDonald, Keb Mo and Willie Nelson.
It will air on AXS TV and his YouTube channel at 8 ET. Proceeds benefit Black Lives Matter Global Network, The David Lynch Foundation, MusiCares & WaterAid.
Ringo in 10 lines:
Ringo was born Richard Starkey on July 7th, 1940, the only child of Richard and Elsie Starkey.
He was a sickly kid with hospital stays for peritonitis tuberculosis.
He replaced Pete Best in The Beatles in 1962.
He is the oldest of the Fab Four. John Lennon would have turned 80 this coming October 9th. Paul McCartney turned 78 on June 18th, and George Harrison would have been 77 on February 25th.
A recovering alcoholic and substance abuser, he is now health conscious and a vegetarian.
He’s been married to his second wife, actress Barbara Bach, since 1981. He has three children with his first wife, Maureen, including Zak Starkey, drummer in The Who.
He splits his time between homes in Beverly Hills (his primary residence), Aspen, Colorado and England.
He’s been touring with his All-Starr Band concept since 1989.
He was appointed a Knight Bachelor in Queen Elizabeth‘s 2018 New Year Honors for services to music. He was knighted in an investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace by Prince William March 20th, 2018.
Ringo joins the 80-year old musician club that includes:
- Jerry Lee Lewis
- Don Everly
- Bill Wyman
- Dion
- Gary “U.S.” Bonds
- Ian Hunter
- Phil Lesh
- Smokey Robinson
- Frankie Valli