Ringo dials up help for star-studded chorus
The beloved Beatle dug into his contacts for help on “Here’s to the Nights,” his most recent song.
LOS ANGELES >> If Ringo Starr calls to ask if you’ll sing on a song for him, who could possibly say no? The beloved Beatle dug into his contacts for help on the chorus of “Here’s to the Nights,” his most recent song written by Diane Warren, and he recruited quite a choir.
Paul McCartney. Sheryl Crow. Dave Grohl. Lenny Kravitz. Joe Walsh. Ben Harper. Finneas. Chris Stapleton. Yola. Jenny Lewis. Corinne Bailey Rae. Eric Burton (of the Black Pumas). Steve Lukather.
“Here’s to the nights we won’t remember, with the friends we won’t forget,” they all sing.
It’s a perfect sentiment for the 80-yearold drummer who, as McCartney once sang, “has memories longer than the road that stretches out ahead.”
“Everyone was really kind to me to do what they did,” Starr told The Associated Press recently.
Two people did say no, actually. Ringo won’t reveal who, but they must have been really busy.
Starr’s EP of five new songs comes out today. The project gave him something to do during COVID-19 lockdown in his Los Angeles home. He said he divided much of his time between making music, painting and working out.
“Last year I left the house no more than seven times, and I think I’m exaggerating,” he said. “I’m a prime target for this COVID. Now I’ve had my shots. I feel groovy and there’s nowhere to go!”
One place was Sunday’s Grammy Awards, where he presented the record of the year honor to Billie Eilish, who — let’s do the math here — was born 31 years after the Beatles broke up.
Even a Beatle gets the blues, and Starr said he felt it during the long layoff. He had to cancel gigs with his All-Starr Band last year and, most recently, postponed hopeful plans to go back on the road in May and June. It’s just too soon.
“I was really sad in the beginning because I couldn’t go on the road,” he said. “I love to play. I love the audience. They love me. I’ll go anywhere to be loved!”
He chuckled at that remark. It’s one of the things he has in common with his other surviving Beatles mate. They both stay very active musically, love to perform and, with vegetarian diets, are both in the type of shape that others their age would envy.
For Starr, his vehicle the last three decades has been the All-Starr Band, a simple concept that continually regenerates. He invites a rotating crew of veteran musicians, the main requirement being they must have been part of some hit songs, in order to keep the set list varied and fresh.
He’s also promoting a limited-edition book, “Ringo Rocks: 30 Years of the AllStarrs.”