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Ringo Starr and His All Starr Band at the Greek Theater

June 16, 2023

Ringo Starr and His All Starr Band returned to the Greek Theater in Los Angeles, CA last night. Ringo has been one of the biggest names in drumming world-wide for 60 years. For the last 34 years Ringo has been touring with his All-Starr band. The very first All Starr band consisted of Ringo with Joe Walsh, Nils Lofgren, Dr. John, Billy Preston, Rick Danko, Levon Helm, Clarence Clemons, and Jim Keltner. Since then the group has gone through a number of changes including many music legends like Randy Bachman, John Entwistle, Jack Bruce, and Greg Lake. It has been a tradition that the final show of his summer tour is held at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles, CA which typically took place in September. This was Ringo’s first show at the Greek since 2019 as the last few shows of last year’s tour were canceled over Ringo having Covid-19. September 3rd, 1989 was the last show of the very first All-Starr band tour. Since the All-Starr band tour in 2019, there has been just one change in the group. Original Santana/Journey keyboardist Gregg Rolie left the group and Edgar Winter who was a member 2006-2011 rejoined. Returning on bass is Average White Band’s Hamish Stuart (Average White Band) who was in the band 2006-2008 and again since 2019. On guitar and vocals is Men at Work’s Colin Hay who was a member in 2003 and 2008 and again since 2018.

From Ringo’s longest running All Starr band (2012-2017) is Toto’s Steve Lukather (Guitar/Vocals) and former David Lee Roth and ELO drummer Gregg Bissonette who has been a member since 2008. Toto touring sax/flute/percussionist Warren Ham has been a member since 2015. To join the All Starr band you are hand picked by Ringo himself and have had several charting hits and be able to sing and play an instrument. Since I’ve been seeing the All Star band since 2012 the format of the show has been quite similar with the show with Ringo on vocals for the first three songs starting with Carl Perkins’ “Matchbox.” On song four Ringo takes the drum seat on Edgar Winter’s “Free Ride” and lets his band play their hits then going back and forth between his member’s hits, solo hits, and Beatles’ hits. Lukather, Stuart, Hay, and Winter all perform three songs each from their own bands and half the set comes from their songs with the other half being Ringo and Beatles.

From the last time the band played the Greek “I’m the Greatest” was added in replacing “Don’t Pass Me By” and “Octopus's Garden” replaced “You’re Sixteen.” Also “Anthem” is no longer in the set and “Back of Boogaloo” is performed instead. When Rolie was in the band there would be an extended drum/percussion solo during “Black Magic Woman” which now happens during Winter’s Frankenstein between Winter and Bissonette. Bissonette added in parts of Queen’s “We Will Rock You,” The Beatles “Come Together” and “Ticket to Ride,” Rush’s YYZ,” Led Zeppelin’s “Rock N’ Roll” and “Immigrant Song,” Van Halen’s “Hot For Teacher,” and The Rolling Stone’s “Honky Tonk Woman.” As always the show ended with “With a Little Help From My Friends” combined with “Give Peace A Chance” and Ringo brought a few friends up. This time it was none other then Ringo’s favorite drummer Jim Keltner, Toto’s David Paich, Howard Jones, and The Heartbreakers Benmont Tench.

There really is nothing like seeing a Beatle. Long before the internet and before there were dedicated music channels on TV The Beatles had world-wide success and truly were the biggest and best selling group in the world. After appearing on the Ed Sullivan, the Beatles went on to play stadium shows. After breaking up all four members had successful solo careers and are all Rock N Roll of Inductees as the Beatles and solo. To this day there are still Beatles reissues released and movies based on their music. Ringo is less than a month away from his 83rd birthday. Last year the public celebration was held at his statue in Beverly Hills, CA and previous years were held at Capitol Records Hollywood, CA.

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