FEATURE:
Paul McCartney at Eighty
IN THIS PHOTO: Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney premiere of Ron Howard’s Beatles movie, The Beatles: Eight Days a Week - The Touring Years, in London on 15th September, 2016/PHOTO CREDIT: AP.
Thirty: With a Little Help from My Friend: Paul and Ringo: A Great and Lasting Bond
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THERE is something bittersweet…
PHOTO CREDIT: Mike Coppola/Getty Images
about there being two surviving Beatles. Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr are the last members of the greatest band ever. In this feature as part of a run of forty ahead of Paul McCartney’s eightieth birthday in June, I wanted to discuss McCartney’s friendship with Starr. I have already discussed his bond with John Lennon. I might explore that more closely to June. Now, as there is recent news that McCartney and Starr met, I wanted to go into more depth:
“Get back to where you once belonged! Paul McCartney, 79, and Ringo Starr, 81, were spotted having a good ol’ time together last week in Los Angeles, sharing a low-key dinner with their wives, Nancy Shevell, 62, and Barbara Bach, 74. The duo, who worked together on such beloved Beatles hits like “Help!”, “Eleanor Rigby”, and “Let It Be”, both wore casual black looks for the outing and were spotted chit-chatting after the meal and also sharing a tender hug before heading off.
For Beatles heads, it’s nice to see the guys coming together again and enjoying life! Since the inception of their groundbreaking pop rock group that hit it big in the 1960s (and sadly parted ways in 1970), Paul and Ringo have remained good friends — and apparently their wives have, as well. The pair also seem to be keeping each other great company since the other two members of their group, John Lennon and George Harrison, passed away in 1980 and 2001, respectively”.
The two have worked together post-Beatles. McCartney has appeared on Starr’s music, and that has been reciprocated (both McCartney’s solo work and with Wings). It is great that they remained so close when the band broke up in 1970. Starr has already turned eighty, and you know he will be among the first to wish his mate a happy eightieth on 18th June! Although one feels the biggest bond in The Beatles would have been between McCartney and Lennon, the bass (McCartney) and percussion (Starr) link was immense. They had such an understanding and respect for each other. Although there were tensions at times – Starr famously left the band when McCartney suggested his tom tom playing on Back in the U.S.S.R. (from 1968’s The Beatles) was not up to scratch -, there has been this decades-long love that has remained to this day. They may not catch up as often as they should – as they live in different parts of the world -, but you know the conversations they have are must-hear! The natural chemistry and brotherhood they share means that they will collaborate with one another for years. I do hope that we hear them appear on one another’s albums in the coming years. Flaming Pie turns twenty-five next month. It is one of McCartney’s best albums, and it features Ringo Starr. I feel that the next album Macca puts out will feature the drumming brilliance of his pal. The two have performed on stage together. Unannounced, they would be on stage together and fans would get this real treat! As both are excellent drummers, they could play for one another, or both be in the spotlight and sing alongside each other.
Because McCartney is headlining Glastonbury in June, it would be amazing for the two to appear and perform a couple of songs. McCartney is current in the U.S. as part of his Got Back tour, and there might be a surprise appearance from Ringo Starr before long! I feel there is something special about Glasto that means them appearing together would be iconic. Maybe singing a Starr-led Beatles song like With a Little Help from My Friends, or Starr drumming for McCartney. There have been no announcements but, when it comes to these two, you never know! I always got the sense that, when The Beatles were splitting and there was division between McCartney and the other three, Starr was a peace-keeper and was a lot fairer to McCartney. There has been this musical and personal bond between them that is unlike any other in music. It would have been both weird and emotional for both of them to watch the recent Peter Jackson documentary, The Beatles: Get Back. You can see throughout that how there was this friendship between the two. One of my favourite moments of all was when Starr was watching McCartney play piano and you could see this genuine respect and love. He said how he could watch his bandmate play for hours – and you knew that he was being genuine!
These two amazing and legendary musicians have, with their two friends, changed the world. They had to face a strange split in 1970, where you didn’t know whether they would work together and how their friendship would fare. I am so glad that they hang out and there is this genuine desire to see one another. Their collaborations on record post-Beatles have been great. Let’s hope that this continues for a lot longer. One feels that it is inevitable that something that will happen between them at Glastonbury. I look back at both of their music through the years, and you just know they were in touch when an album came out to see how the other was doing. The two chat online a lot, and see each other when they can. It is inspiring to all of us! Although both are incredible solo artists, there is that extra touch of magic when they are working together. We will see it again for sure. Before Paul McCartney turned eighty in June, I wanted to explore his career and life from a number of different angles. I have dropped in a couple of songs where the two have played alongside one another. It is so wonderful to hear and feel Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr’s music being gifted with the touch of friendship. It is mindblowing realising that these two incredible people have been making music and bonded together…
FOR sixty years.