Ringo Starr marks 80th birthday at online gig with Paul McCartney

LOS ANGELES, USA, July 9 ------ With a little help from his friends, Beatles drummer Ringo Starr was set to hold an online 80th birthday bash Tuesday featuring former bandmate Paul McCartney, in aid of charities including Black Lives Matter. Normally the British musician marks each passing year with performances including fellow musicians and hundreds of fans – but the pandemic forced a rethink this time.

"I love birthdays," Starr told Rolling Stone recently. "This year is going to be a little different. There's no big get-together, there's no brunch for 100. "But we're putting this show together – an hour of music and chat. It's quite a big birthday." The show will see a virtual reunion between Starr and McCartney, who play together on occasion and last year united for a surprise performance in Los Angeles as part of McCartney's Freshen Up tour.

"I love playing with Paul," Starr told the magazine in an interview published Tuesday. "He's still for me, the finest, most melodic bass player in the world, and I love what he does. "But, you see, this is when you realize I've said that for 40 years. I'm still saying the same line!" Ben Harper, Dave Grohl, Sheila E., and Sheryl Crow also are set to be among the celebrities joining Starr – who lives in Los Angeles – at 5 pm local time (0000 GMT) for the online party. Ahead of the bash NASA's Curiosity Rover tweeted Starr birthday wishes from space.

Source: rappler.com/entertainment