Ringo Starr, performing right here in 2019 throughout the Woodstock 50th anniversary, is holding an online birthday celebration to fete his 80th yr

LOS ANGELES – Ringo Starr held an online 80th birthday bash Tuesday with slightly assist from his celebrity pals — and quite a few traditional Beatles songs — in assist of causes together with Black Lives Matter.

But followers hoping for a digital reunion between Starr and fellow surviving Beatle Paul McCartney had been left disillusioned, because the celebration concluded with an archive clip of the pair performing “Helter Skelter.”

Normally Starr marks every passing yr with dwell performances that embrace fellow musicians and tons of of followers, however the pandemic pressured a rethink this time.

“As most of you know, I’m fond of a good birthday party… but this is a bad year to host a get-together of any kind,” mentioned the British musician, sitting behind a drum package sporting a colourful face masks adorned with the peace signal.

“So I’m celebrating with my friends in a new way this year — we’re going to have to keep our distance due to the coronavirus.”

Famous friends from musicians Sheryl Crow and Kenny Loggins to filmmaker David Lynch recorded vocals and video tributes, as Starr launched hits from the Beatles’ again catalog in addition to his personal.

“Come Together,” “All You Need is Love” and “With a Little Help From My Friends” had been among the many tracks aired in an eclectic mixture of archive live performance footage and residential recordings watched dwell by some 130,000 followers.

At the top of the festivities, Starr introduced “We’ve got Paul… and I’m even playing with him!” — earlier than introducing footage of the pair shot in Starr’s adopted hometown Los Angeles final yr.

But with McCartney seemingly billed prematurely promotions because the present’s high visitor, some Beatles followers took to social media to vent their disappointment.

“Where were you Paul? Very disappointing. #peaceandlove” wrote Chris Durso.

“Very very disappointed. Now we know. Ringo is the God,” tweeted Ann Olsson.

McCartney did ship a tweet earlier within the day wishing “Happy birthday SIR RICHARD alias RINGO. Have a great day my long time buddy!”

The duo nonetheless play collectively every so often, together with at the Dodger Stadium gig final yr as a part of McCartney’s “Freshen Up” tour.

– ‘Peace and Love’ –

Ben Harper, Dave Grohl and Sheila E. had been among the many celebrities who recorded musical segments for Starr’s online celebration.

The occasion inspired donations to the Black Lives Matter Global Network for the struggle to “end all this racist violence,” Starr defined, in addition to The David Lynch Foundation, MusiCares and WaterAid.

Documentary footage mirrored on the Beatles’ refusal to play earlier than a segregated viewers in Jacksonville, Florida throughout their well-known 1964 US tour.

“Black Lives Matter. Stand up and make your voice heard,” mentioned Starr, earlier than noting the key affect of Black artists together with Little Richard on the Beatles’ sound.

Ahead of the bash NASA’s Curiosity Rover tweeted Starr birthday needs from house.

“Happy 80th, Ringo! Here’s my view of Earth (and Venus) from the surface of Mars where I’m thinking about your message of Peace and Love, and how in good times and in tough ones, we all get by with a little help from our friends,” it mentioned.

Known for his simple-going character and humor, Starr rocketed to world fame within the early 1960s and helped change the face of pop music without end as a part of the Beatles — nonetheless maybe the world’s most well-known band.

After the group’s break-up, Starr emerged as a band chief within the late 1980s with his All Starr Band.

In an interview with Rolling Stone printed Tuesday, the newly-minted octogenarian talked about his latest flip to well being as he heads into his ninth decade.

Starr mentioned he works out anyplace from three to 6 instances per week, goes for lengthy walks and maintains a vegetarian weight loss program — consuming “broccoli with everything and blueberries every morning.”

He mentioned he hasn’t actually left his Los Angeles house in some 11 weeks throughout the pandemic, inviting an engineer over simply as soon as for a jam session.

“I do a little bit of that and I’ve a paint room, slightly artwork room. And I am getting into there, portray and doing stuff. And I like to take a seat within the solar. I like LA. I like the brightness and hanging out.

“That’s all we’re doing.”