Ringo Starr turns 80 next week, and to commemorate the milestone birthday, he’s hosting a virtual broadcast to benefit the Black Lives Matter Global Network and three other charities, the legendary musician announced Tuesday.
Among his special guests will be former Beatles bandmate Paul McCartney; Gary Clark, Jr.; Sheryl Crow; Sheila E; Ben Harper and Eagles guitarist Joe Walsh — who also happens to be Starr’s brother-in-law.
Ringo’s Big Birthday Show is set to air on the drummer’s YouTube channel on July 7 — his actual birthday — at 5 P.M. PT.
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In addition to unique at-home performances, the program will feature never-before-seen concert footage and the premiere of a star-studded version of his 2017 single, “Give More Love,” created especially for MusiCares, another beneficiary of his birthday broadcast (along with BLM, the David Lynch Foundation and WaterAid).
Fans can also look forward to seeing Jeff Bridges, Jackson Browne, Elvis Costello, Peter Frampton, Willie Nelson and more famous faces on the video stream.
This is the first year since 2008 that Starr hasn’t celebrated his birthday with an in-person media event. Usually, the star-studded bashes are held in front of a large crowd at Capitol Records in Hollywood, but with the COVID-19 pandemic, the former Beatle thought he’d do something more appropriate for the time.
“As everyone knows, I love gathering with fans for peace and love on my birthday,” he said in a statement. “But this year, I want everyone to be safe at home, so I called up a few friends and we put this Big Birthday Show together so we could still celebrate my birthday with you all, with some great music for some great charities. I hope you will all join me!”
Starr ended the statement with his familiar sign-off, “Peace and Love, Ringo.”
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