Ringo Starr talks touring, the magic of The Beatles and his friendship with Paul McCartney

CNN
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Ringo Starr is back on tour and he wouldn’t have it any other way.

The two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee recently spoke to CNN about his current tour with his All Star Band.

“We are all having a lot of fun. I mean, I love playing, you know, as a drummer, it’s kind of awkward going out on your stage alone. It takes a few guitars and I call friends… I had to stop calling people, otherwise we would have been like an orchestra.

The group is considered a rock supergroup, with a rotating lineup of Starr’s musical buddies that has featured everyone from current members like Colin Hay to former members Joe Walsh and Billy Preston.

Last year, Starr had to cut short his North American tour after testing positive for Covid-19. The tour, which takes place mostly on the West Coast with dates in states including California, Arizona and Nevada, will wrap up June 17.

One of Starr’s oldest friendships is with fellow Beatles bandmate Paul McCartney.

“Paul called me the other day… We are very close friends. We are brothers and you know, for me it was great because I am an only child and suddenly I had three brothers that I could love, on whom I could count, I could help. You know, it was a big moment for me.

Starr reflected on the success of the Beatles.

“I think that was the spark between the four of us,” he said. “We understood each other and the music was important. It didn’t matter if we were arguing or whatever, or laughing, we were all doing our best.

“Music to this day, every generation needs to listen to us, which is so awesome,” Starr added. “You don’t have to like us, but you definitely have to listen.”

Starr turns 83 in July. His birthday wish, he said, is for his followers around the world to post “peace and love” on social media.

“I don’t know where that came from, I just said, I would like everyone at noon to make love peace.” And millions of people are doing it now. It’s awesome ? ” he said.