Paul McCartney delighted fans when he brought his former Beatles bandmate Ringo Starr on stage at their epic concert in London.
The legendary frontman, 82, took to the stage for his Got Back tour at The O2 in Greenwich on Thursday.
Paul invited Ringo, 84, from the audience to join him on drums for the hits Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band and Helter Skelter.
The pair seemed delighted to be playing together as Paul put his arm around Ringo in a touching moment for fans.
Paul and Ringo’s performance was the first time the old friends had played together in five years, and they last took to the stage for Macca’s Freshen Up tour in 2019.
The music legend also called on Rolling Stones star Ronnie Wood to perform Get Back with him.
Paul McCartney delighted fans when he brought his former Beatles bandmate Ringo Starr on stage at their epic concert in London on Thursday.
The legendary frontman, 82, took to the stage for his Got Back tour at the O2 in Greenwich.
For his performance last night, Paul was full of personal anecdotes as he took to the stage at London’s O2 Arena.
Reflecting on his years with The Beatles, Paul revealed the moving impact of the band’s famous show in Jacksonville, Florida.
The Liverpool quartet were going to play at the city’s Gator Bowl in 1964, however, they were told the audience would be segregated by color.
Recalling the story, Paul told the crowd: “We didn’t fully understand it until we went there and played a place called Jacksonville in the south.
And the promoters said, “Okay, tonight you’re playing for a segregated audience.” And we said “What are you talking about?”
“They said there would be blacks on one side and whites on the other, and we said, ‘No, I mean, why would you do that? What’s the point?’
He continued: “So we refused to touch it (segregated) and we touched it and it integrated.”
Revealing the poignant impact of the programme, he continued: ‘Just the other day I got a text from a girl who was there at the time, she was a black girl and she was sitting with some white kids.
Paul invited Ringo, 84, from the audience to join him on drums for the hits Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band and Helter Skelter
Old friends and bandmates Ringo and Paul pictured in 1963.
Paul came on stage playing guitar while raising Ringo to play drums with him.
The pair seemed delighted to be playing together as Paul put his arm around Ringo in a touching moment for fans.
Paul and Ringo’s performance was the first time the old friends had played together in five years, and they last took to the stage for Macca’s Freshen Up tour in 2019.
Ringo was seen in the crowd with his wife Barbara Bach when Paul called him on stage.
And she said, “I’ve never sat with white people before.” Imagine that, but she said, “I loved it because we were all screaming Beatles fans and it didn’t matter.”
Paul also paid tribute to John Lennon during the performance as he spoke about his late bandmate and friend.
Discussing how attitudes towards male emotions have changed, he explained how in the past it was considered strange to tell your friends you loved them.
He told the crowd: “Even in a group you couldn’t turn to your mates and say, ‘I love you, man,’ it just wasn’t done, you know?”
In an emotional tribute, the star performed the band’s 1969 hit Something on a ukulele given to him by the late George Harrison.
Meanwhile, Paul gave the O2 Arena a vegetarian makeover for his final shows of 2024 with none other than Linda McCartney Foods.
The Band on the Run-inspired Van on the Run food truck was outside the venue offering Linda McCartney’s best burgers, Korean chicken bites, Nachos with vegemince chili and Vegan sausage corndog with fries.
The music legend also called on Rolling Stones star Ronnie Wood to perform Get Back with Him.
For his performance last night, Paul was full of personal anecdotes as he took to the stage at London’s O2 Arena.
The Liverpool quartet were due to play at the city’s Gator Bowl in 1964, however they were told the audience would be segregated (John Lennon, George Harrison, Ringo Starr and Paul LR photographed in 1964 in Liverpool)
Just as Paul’s music has changed the world, Linda McCartney’s love of animals inspired her to become a meat-free pioneer since 1991 and has changed the way the UK consumes plant-based foods.
Rebecca Fairbairn, marketing director at The Hain Celestial Group, said: “We are excited to take on the concessions inside the stadium for a celebration of music and plant-based living.
‘While Paul McCartney has inspired generations through his music, Linda McCartney Foods, part of the Hain Celestial Group global family of brands, has been a pioneer in plant-based living for more than 30 years, so that this is a perfect collaboration of our shared values.
‘We look forward to giving fans a taste of our delicious, sustainable range for this unforgettable event and sharing the best family recipes!’