McCartney joined Ringo at the end of his show at Radio City Music Hall for a rendition of the track ‘Birthday‘, which featured on The Beatles’ eponymous 1968 double-album (‘The White Album‘). The pair embraced at the end of the track, with McCartney wishing his fellow surviving Beatle a “happy birthday”.
The guest-laden set included appearances from Yoko Ono, Jeff Lynne, as well as E Street Band members Steven Van Zandt and Nils Lofgren, on a rendition of the Ringo-sung classic ‘With a Little Help From My Friends‘. “We’ve got a lot of friends,” Ringo joked, and told the crowd being in New York on his birthday was a “magical moment”.
Ringo had first told fans of his plans to celebrate his birthday in New York at the beginning of the year, saying he wanted his fans to join him in a display of his ‘peace’ hand gesture at noon. “We’ll be in New York on July 7 which is my birthday and we’re going to celebrate,” he said. “No matter what state you’re in, at noon, wherever you are, I’d like you to gesture peace and love.”
He wasn’t disappointed, and at midday Ringo greeted a large crowd outside the Hard Rock Cafe, flanked by friends and family, to lead the huge collective ‘peace’ salute. Earlier, the staff at Hard Rock Cafe had entered into the spirit of the occasion, and presented Ringo with a special birthday cake decorated with the two-fingered peace salute.
Paul McCartney’s duet with Ringo was their first performance together since they appeared at a benefit in April 2009.