Photos by Andy Argyrakis

The Beatles’ Ringo Starr and The Beach Boys are no strangers to the road (even as everyone’s ages approach 80), but it’s not all that often when survivors from easily the most important British and American bands of all time converge on the same date for a double bill. Credit Ravinia for bringing them both together for a weekend of pure rock n’ roll bliss with a slice of historical significance that may never be duplicated given members’ advancing age and highly sought-after individual schedules.

And of course no one could resist joining Ringo Starr and his bill mates for “With A Little Help From My Friends,” which remains as quintessential to The Beatles’ songbook as the day it was recorded.

Fans of both groups seemed to savor every second of Sunday with Ringo Starr & His All Starr Band closing out the festivities, not only celebrating their 30th anniversary together, but featuring selections from everyone’s individual catalogues, and of course, classics from its namesake’s other act. In terms of their fearless leader, that meant everything from his signature stab at Carl Perkins’ “Matchbox,” originals such as “It Don’t Come Easy” and “Photograph,” plus The Fab Four’s “Don’t Pass Me By,” “Yellow Submarine” and “I Wanna Be Your Man,” all performed with sheer joy either in front of the mic or behind the drums.

As if that wasn’t extraordinary enough, piano man and original Santana singer Gregg Rolie jammed “Evil Ways,” “Black Magic Woman/Gypsy Queen” and “Oye Como Va,” Toto’s guitar great Steve Lukather revisited “Rosanna” and “Hold The Line,” Average White Band’s former guitarist/bassist Hamish Stuart (also a Paul McCartney collaborator) revitalized “Pick Up The Pieces” and “Work To Do,” plus Men At Work front man/guitarist took Ravinia to the land “Down Under” and pondered “Who Can It Be Now?” And of course no one could resist joining Starr and his bill mates for “With A Little Help From My Friends,” which remains as quintessential to The Beatles’ songbook as the day it was released.

Speaking of famous friends, The Beach Boys (currently comprised of co-founding vocalist Mike Love and longtime keyboardist Bruce Johnston) were bolstered by the guitar slinging/bongo slapping/mega-watt smiling skills of actor John Stamos, who was like a kid in a candy story supporting his musical idols. Together, they cruised through a “12 Sides Of Summer” theme (also the title of Love’s latest solo record) filled with salutes to the water (“Surfin’ Safari,” “Catch A Wave,” “Surfin’ U.S.A.”), the ladies (“Surfer Girl,” “California Girls”), the rides (“Little Deuce Coup,” “409”) and tons of “Fun Fun Fun” in the tropical paradise of “Kokomo” with lots of loved ones frequently adding to the dance party.

In between the blasts from the carefree past, The Beach Boys made sure to give emphasis to the immortal “Pet Sounds” album (an admitted influence for The Beatles’ “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band”) with “Sloop John B,” “God Only Knows” and “Wouldn’t It Be Nice” coming across as genius as ever. Though it was a shame fellow creators Brian Wilson and Al Jardine aren’t involved with this incarnation (let alone the late Carl Wilson and Dennis Wilson), the songs themselves were the real stars of the show, which in the case of either Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, simply never get old as they continue to get passed down generationally on their path to immortality.

Click here for more photos of Ringo Starr & His All Starr Band and here for more photos of The Beach Boys with John Stamos at Ravinia.

For additional information on Ringo Starr and The Beach Boys, visit RingoStarr.com and TheBeachBoys.com.

Upcoming concert highlights at Ravinia include Chicago (Aug. 10-11); Sarah McLachlan (Aug. 12); Nickelback with Buckcherry (Aug. 13-14); Pentaonix (Aug. 15); Sting (Aug. 23-24); O.A.R. with American Authors (Aug. 30); Queen Latifah and Common (Aug. 31); Steely Dan (Sept. 1-2); Lenny Kravitz (Sept. 7); Kesha (Sept. 8); Mary J. Blige (Sept. 13) and Morrissey with Interpol (Sept. 14). For additional details, visit Ravinia.org.

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