Ringo Starr greets guests during his 77th Peace & Love Birthday Celebration at Capitol Records in Hollywood. ©Angela Dawson/FRF.
By ANGELA DAWSON
Front Row Features
HOLLYWOOD—Seven was a magic number for Ringo Starr, who celebrated his 77th birthday Friday (7/7/17) along with his family, friends and dozens of his fans in front of Capitol Records (his former label).
Starr, who was born in Liverpool, England, began his long career in the early 1960s as the drummer and occasional vocalist with the Beatles, before venturing out on a solo career as well as headlining a number of rock bands comprised of established artists in their own right as well as up-and-coming musicians over the years.
Despite scorching temperatures, Starr, dressed all in black, exuded cool. His wife, Barbara Bach, and special guests Joe Walsh, David Lynch, Don Was, Ed Begley Jr., Edgar Winter, Erick Burdon, Gregg Missonette, Jenny Lewis, Nils Lofgren and others were on hand to enjoy the festivities.
Walsh, Was, Lofgren, Lewis and other musicians on hand played versions of Starr’s tunes, adding their own spin on the classic tunes.
Just before noon, Starr took to the stage with his pals and told the crowd “I love you all. Remember? Peace and love.” At the stroke of noon, he urged the crowd to shout out “Peace and Love,” which they obliging did. And with that, he began to throw white wristbands inscribed with “Peace & Love,” his signature phrase, to the crowd, followed with a cake cutting.
The Peace & Love salute was echoed at various locations around the world, with satellite salutes and events happening in various locations. Many of the salutes are streaming at www. Facebook.com/ringostarrmusic.
Starr also revealed he will release his 19th solo album, “Give More Love,” which will be released by UMe on digital and CD formats on Sept. 15, with the vinyl edition to folow on Sept. 22. Two of the new songs feature his former bandmate, Sir Paul McCartney (who is on tour on the other side of the country).
Recorded at Starr’s home studio in Los Angeles, “Give More Love” features 10 new songs featuring collaborations with firends including : “We’re on the Road Again,” featuring McCartney, Walsh, Winter and Steve Lukather; “Laughable,” co-written and performed with Peter Frampton as well as Benmont Tench, Timothy B. Schmit, Richard Page and Amy Keys; “Show Me the Way,” co-written and performed with Lukather and McCartney; “Speed of Sound,” co-written with Richard Marx and featuring Lukather, Frampton and Nathan East; “Standing Still,” co-written with Gary Burr; “King of the Kingdom,” which includes performances by Dave Stewart and Winter; “Electricity,” co-written with Glen Ballard and featuring Walsh and Was; “So Wrong for So Long,” co-written and performed with Stewart: “Shake It Up,” co-written and performed with Gary Nicholson and including Was and Winter; and the title track, co-written with Nicholson and including performances by Schmit and All Star band members Richard Page and Gregg Bissonette.
Bonus tracks will include “Back Off Boogaloo,” which is based on the original recording Starr made when he wrote the song. He recently discovered the tape when he moved to a new house. Other bonus tracks are “You Can’t Fight Lightning,” “Photograph” and “Don’t Pass Me By,” all collaborations based on performances from Starr’s 2016 Peace & Love Birthday event. Alberta Cross performs “You Can’t Fight Lightning” and Vandaveer sings “Photograph and “Don’t Pass Me By.” Starr adds his vocals to their performances on the album.
Ringo and His All-Starr Band will kick off its 2017 tour Oct 13 at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, with additional dates in Texas, Oklahoma, Florida, Georgia, Virginia, New Jersey and New York. For more information, go to www.ringostarr.com
