The 1960’s brought many changes to our culture, here in the USA and abroad. The decade brought us incredible music from around the world. We entered a terrible time of war. Fashion took a modern twist. And it spurred the peace and love movement. Decades later, one of the most popular people to have risen to fame in the 1960’s, Ringo Starr is still spreading that message, encouraging people all over the world to strive for peace and love. Starr, who was the drummer for the famed British band, The Beatles, is one of the most well-known musicians in the world. He has been a singer and drummer with global acclaim for more than 60 years, and with an incredible level of fame, he has everything a man could ask for, but all he really wants is “peace and love.”
Each year on Starr’s birthday, July 7, he brings together a crowd of like-minded people, including fellow musicians, entertainment elite and his fans, to call for peace and love. He has been doing this each year since 2008, at the stroke of noon, asking everyone to think, say or post #peaceandlove. A man with a global presence is the best person to try to spread this message. It’s a call to action we need to take as humanity can be quite cruel these days.
This year Ringo came together with his wife, Barbara Bach, and their long-time pal Joe Walsh and his wife, Marjorie (nee Bach) to celebrate his special day. As he turned 84 years young, he was joined by pals Roy Orbison Jr., Denny Seiwell (Wings drummer), Diane Warren (songwriter), Barbara Starkey and many more. Performers Ben Harper, Gabe Witcher, Willie Watson, Greg Leisz, Don Was, Ben Dickey, Gregg Bissonnette and Steve Dudas serenaded the living legend, before he took to the mic at noon to share his own message of peace and love. Starr stated, “as hippies came to power in the 1960’s, they started the peace and love movement, and we’re just carrying it on. I can’t demand it; I can only spread the word.” When asked what it means to have so many people celebrating him, he sheepishly mentioned it “might have stemmed from a band I was in back in the day, and maybe it’s still for that, but all I can do is say peace and love.” Afterall, The Beatles said it best, “ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE.”
Ringo Starrs birthday celebration and 2024 #peaceandlove moment took place in Beverly Hills, CA in a lovely park right near a statue of Starr’s hand offering the peace sign. Fans lined the streets to cheer for the man they love and applaud his #peaceandlove movement. The ask he gave, that I pass along to all of you is to remember the words peace and love and bring them to light daily in your actions.
Photos provided by Sarah Meyer. For more Ringo Starr visit RingoStarr.com.
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