Ringo’s 70th birthday concert at Radio City in NY was surreal. I arrived at the venue at 3pm to set up the art show when I spotted someone with a bodyguard walk out of the stage door……it was Paul McCartney! He posed for a few photos and signed a few autographs….then he said, don’t show the photos to Ringo….it’s a surprise. I later learned that Ringo had no idea that Paul was going to appear. Paul arrived early and finished a rehearsal of “Birthday” and left before Ringo was due to arrive at the venue. When the concert started, Paul and his girlfriend Nancy took seats in the last row at Radio City. No one noticed them in the audience (well almost no one…I was standing less than 3 feet away from him throughout the show). Paul was singing along to the songs, jumping up, applauding, whistling throughout the concert. He started to take photos of the show on his Blackberry. He even started videotaping Ringo during Yellow Submarine. Nancy stood and danced to many of the songs. Paul really was getting into the show and no one was noticing him!
During “With A Little Help From My Friends” Ringo was joined on stage by Yoko, his son Zak, Joe Walsh, most of the E Street Band, Jeff Lynne, and lots more. At the end of the song, Ringo’s family (including his grandchildren) wheeled out a birthday cake made out of a Ludwig drum set. Ringo didn’t have a knife to cut the cake, so he stabbed his drumsticks into them. As this was going on, Paul stood up, kissed Nancy and walked through along the side of the venue to the stage. The lights came up and Paul launched into “Birthday.” Ringo came out a stage, stunned and picked up his drumsticks and played along. At the end, the two hugged and thanked the crowd. Wow….what a night!
Behind the music: McCartney birthday surprise was tearful moment for ex-Beatle Ringo Starr
Ringo Starr's 70th birthday celebration has certainly a wonderful "feel good" story as more details emerge of all the things around Paul McCartney's surprise appearance. We had one story the other day about a fan's encounter with Paul outside Radio City. Here's another.
Ken Dashow interviewed current Ringo Starr All-Starr Band member Gary Wright on Q104.3 "Breakfast with the Beatles" on his show Sunday morning. Wright said the surprise appearance by McCartney was arranged by Ringo's wife Barbara Bach and his brother-in-law, Joe Walsh.
He says that when Ringo came off stage after "Give Peace A Chance" and blowing out candles on his life size drum set birthday cake, Wright was standing beside Ringo and Barbara in the wings. She asked Ringo if he was ready for his surprise. When Ringo heard McCartney start "Birthday," Wright said, "His jaw just absolutely dropped!"
And then in split second, he was running on stage for his drums. Wright also said Ringo had instant tears in his eyes!
Later, Wright said Paul McCartney gave Gary a big hug and said how nice it was to meet him, and what a great job he did during the show. Then they rode the elevator together and Paul also told Gary that he and Nancy were sitting in the audience watching the show. McCartney said that it was the first time he'd ever seen one of Ringo's shows. He said how great he thought it was, and what a great sense of humor Ringo had during the show.
You can hear clips from the intervview on the Q104 Breakfast With the Beatles website
