Ringo Starr and His All Starr Band hit the St. George Theatre for a sold-out show on June 15
by JENNIFER VIKSE
When Ringo Starr and His All Starr Band—featuring Todd Rundgren, Gregg Rolie, Steve Lukather, Richard Page, Warren Ham, and Gregg Bissonette—announced their North American tour a few weeks ago, Staten Islanders were thrilled to be on its schedule.
The tour kicks off on June 3 in Syracuse, and will grace the stage of the historic St. George Theatre on June 15.
“It’s a first for him at our venue,” noted Doreen Cugno, President and CEO of the Theatre. “It will be surreal watching Ringo perform on our stage.”
The show sold out quickly, with Theatre members enjoying a pre-sale to secure tickets.
The band is known for a fun, interactive show that music fans (and especially Beatles fans) thrill to. The current All Starr lineup is its 12th, and longest running. Their comfort level and love of the music comes through on stage. Starr recently told The Boston Globe, “I love this band; we have a lot of fun together on and offstage…so here we come again.”
The group’s sets often include “With A Little Help From My Friends,” “Don’t Pass Me By,” “Octopus’ Garden,” “Photograph,” “It Don’t Come Easy,” “Back Off Boogaloo,” “You’re Sixteen (You’re Beautiful and You’re Mine),” “Don’t Go Where the Road Don’t Go,” “The No No Song,” and “Never Without You,” according to the band’s web site.
Born Richard Starkey on July 7, 1940, Starr recounts that he knew he wanted to be a drummer from the time he was 13. In addition to his legendary run with The Beatles (1962-1970), he has reveled in a successful, dynamic solo career as a singer, songwriter, drummer, collaborator, and producer—releasing 18 solo studio albums to date. He draws inspiration from a myriad of musical styles, including classic blues, soul, country, honky-tonk and rock ‘n’ roll.
In 1989, Starr assembled his first All Starr Band and found consistent success as a live act with a revolving group of players and performers.
He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist for Musical Excellence by Beatles bandmate Paul McCartney in 2015 and also released a book, Photograph (Genesis Publications) the same year. He has nine Grammy Awards, is in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a Beatle and solo artist, has appeared in dozens of films and TV shows, received an Academy Award (shared with fellow Beatles for Best Original Score for the 1970 film Let It Be), was nominated as an actor for an Emmy, and has published three books.
Although he’s been successful in many arenas, Starr has said he’s a drummer first and foremost. And that’s a good thing for Island fans clamoring to see him.
In preparation for the first visit from the Beatles drummer, the first-floor restrooms at the St. George Theatre have been restored.
“That project is complete and turned out beautifully. They now resemble our original facilities in color and design,” explained Cugno. “We were even able to re-purpose the original hardware. It really was an exciting project and we are thrilled it’s at last complete for our patrons.”
St. George Theater
35 Hyatt Street / 718.442.2900
stgeorgetheatre.com