Ringo Starr may be celebrating his 80th birthday come July 7th, but the Beatles legend is instead bringing fans a present in the form of Ringo’s Big Birthday Show, a virtual star-studded charity concert set to air on YouTube.
“I love birthdays,” Starr said in the latest episode of the Rolling Stone Interview: Special Edition. “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.”
Along with fellow Beatle Paul McCartney, Ringo will also be joined by a slew of other musical heavyweights, including Sheryl Crow, Gary Clark, Jr., Sheila E and Ben Harper, along with a performance of ‘Give More Love’ featuring Jackson Browne, Jeff Bridges, Elvis Costello, Willie Nelson, and more.
Along with the bash, Starr will also debut several tribute performances on his YouTube channel that include Steve Earle, Peter Frampton, and Judy Collins.
The video concert will raise money to a number of charities including Black Lives Matter Global Network, The David Lynch Foundation, MusiCares, and WaterAid.
The announcement comes after Starr spoke out on the Black Lives Matter protests taking place around the world, saying he is sending “peace, love and continuous support” to those involved.
He then gave a nod to Beatles bandmate Paul McCartney’s message, which had been shared the previous day.
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“As my brother Paul said The Beatles always stood for equal rights&justice and I’ve never stopped working for peace&love ever since,” he wrote. “I send my peace love&continuous support to everyone marching & speaking up for justice & a better world.”
Starr then encouraged fans to “learn more, listen more, talk more, educate ourselves and, above all, take action,” as well as referencing a Beatles show in Jacksonville in 1964 that was originally meant to have a segregated audience.
He also demanded justice for George Floyd’s family and “for all those who have died and suffered”.
He added: “Saying nothing is not an option.”
Check out Ringo Starr’s birthday update:
