Paul McCartney joins Ringo Starr onstage at Radio City Music Hall, New York City

Sir Paul McCartney made a surprise appearance at Ringo Starr’s concert at Radio City Music Hall, as part of the drummer’s 70th birthday celebration on 7 July 2010.

It was the 11th show of the 11th All-Starr Band’s tour of North America, which lasted for 31 dates between June and August 2010.

The evening concert followed a party held at midday in Times Square, in which Starr and his wife Barbara Bach were joined by thousands of fans. The former Beatle was born on 7 July 1940 in Liverpool, England.

The guests for the Radio City show included Yoko Ono, Olivia Harrison, Sid Bernstein, Peter Asher, Jeff Lynne, Nils Lofgren, Jim Keltner, David Stewart, Greg Lake, Spike Lee, Joe Walsh, and Little Steven, as well as Starr’s children Zak, Lee, and Jason Starkey.

During the concert’s final song, ‘Give Peace A Chance’/‘With A Little Help From My Friends’, a birthday cake in the shape of a Ludwig drum kit was brought on stage. McCartney then took to the stage for a performance of the White Album song ‘Birthday’, to the delight of the audience.

McCartney’s appearance came as a total surprise to Starr, although many in the audience suspected it would happen. He had arrived in the early afternoon for a rehearsal and soundcheck, but left the venue before Starr’s arrival.

During the show, McCartney and his partner Nancy Shevell took their seats in the back row, unnoticed by many in the audience. An eyewitness report suggests McCartney was singing along to many of the songs, taking photographs on his BlackBerry, videoing the performance of ‘Yellow Submarine’, and dancing for much of the show.

During ‘With A Little Help From My Friends’, Starr was joined onstage by Yoko Ono, Zak Starkey, Eddie Vedder, Joe Walsh, Jeff Lynne, and other guests. The birthday cake was wheeled out after ‘Give Peace A Chance’, and Starr used a pair of drumsticks instead of a knife.

After Starr left the stage the lights went down. McCartney walked up the auditorium to the stage, his guitar technician John Hamel handed him the famous Höfner bass, and the band began to play ‘Birthday’. At the end of the song McCartney hugged Starr, the pair bowed and left the stage.

Starr previously performed at the Radio City Music Hall on 19 and 20 June 1992, 13 July 1995, 29 July 2003, 20 July 2006, and 24 June 2008. He returned there on 13 September 2018 and 25 September 2024.

The 11th All-Starr Band

• Ringo Starr: vocals, drums, percussion
• Wally Palmar: vocals, guitar, harmonica
• Rick Derringer: vocals, guitar
• Edgar Winter: vocals, keyboards, saxophone
• Gary Wright: vocals, keyboards
• Richard Page: vocals, bass guitar
• Gregg Bissonette: vocals, drums

Concert setlist

• ‘It Don’t Come Easy’
• ‘Honey Don’t’
• ‘Choose Love’
• ‘Hang On Sloopy’ (Rick Derringer)
• ‘Free Ride’ (Edgar Winter)
• ‘Talking In Your Sleep’ (Wally Palmar)
• ‘I Wanna Be Your Man’
• ‘Dream Weaver’ (Gary Wright)
• ‘Kyrie’ (Richard Page)
• ‘The Other Side Of Liverpool’
• ‘Yellow Submarine’
• ‘Frankenstein’ (Edgar Winter)
• ‘Peace Dream’
• ‘Back Off Boogaloo’
• ‘What I Like About You’ (Wally Palmar)
• ‘Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo’ (Rick Derringer)
• ‘Boys’
• ‘Love Is Alive’ (Gary Wright)
• ‘Broken Wings’ (Richard Page)
• ‘Photograph’
• ‘Act Naturally’
• ‘With A Little Help From My Friends’
• ‘Give Peace A Chance’
• ‘Birthday’

2010 All-Starr Band tour dates

• 24 June 2010: Casino Rama, Rama, Canada
• 25 June 2010: Casino Rama, Rama, Canada
• 26 June 2010: Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, Bethel, USA
• 27 June 2010: Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, USA
• 29 June 2010: Bank Of America Pavilion, Boston, USA
• 30 June 2010: Theatre at Westbury, Jericho, USA
• 2 July 2010: State Theatre, Easton, USA
• 3 July 2010: Circus Maximus Theater, Atlantic City, USA
• 5 July 2010: State Theatre, New Brunswick, USA
• 6 July 2010: American Music Theatre, Lancaster, USA
• 7 July 2010: Radio City Music Hall, New York City, USA
• 9 July 2010: PNC Pavilion, Riverbend, Cincinnati, USA
• 10 July 2010: Chastain Park Amphitheater, Atlanta, USA
• 11 July 2010: Durham Performing Arts Center, Durham, USA
• 13 July 2010: Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater, USA
• 15 July 2010: Hard Rock Live, Hollywood, USA
• 17 July 2010: St Augustine Amphitheatre, St Augustine, USA
• 18 July 2010: Beau Rivage Theatre, Biloxi, USA
• 20 July 2010: Nautica Pavilion, Cleveland, USA
• 21 July 2010: Constellation Brands – Marvin Sands Performing Arts Center, Hopewell, USA
• 23 July 2010: The Colosseum, Windsor, Canada
• 24 July 2010: Horseshoe Casino, Hammond, USA
• 25 July 2010: Mystic Lake Casino Hotel, Prior Lake, USA
• 28 July 2010: Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium, Calgary, Canada
• 30 July 2010: Pend Oreille Pavilion, Airway Heights, USA
• 31 July 2010: Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery, Woodinville, USA
• 1 August 2010: Cuthbert Amphitheater, Eugene, USA
• 3 August 2010: Mountain Winery, Saratoga, USA
• 5 August 2010: Agua Caliente, Rancho Mirage, USA
• 6 August 2010: Humphreys Concerts By The Bay, San Diego, USA
• 7 August 2010: Greek Theatre, Los Angeles, USA