Ringo Starr And His All-Starr Band spread peace and love when New Lenox meets The Beatle

Photos by Andy Argyrakis

Even if he didn’t keep beat for The Beatles, Ringo Starr has an incredible career with almost unparalleled longevity at this point, who at 84-years-young, continues to curate the latest edition of His All-Starr Band simply for the love of it.

He also continues recording constantly, recently releasing his fifth EP in just four years, “Crooked Boy,” though throughout 90 minutes at the New Lenox Village Commons for the massive closer to the “Summer Concert Series,” the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer obviously realized everyone wanted to hear as many hits as possible.

Not only did they get to hear solo smashes “Matchbox” and “It Don’t Come Easy” as he frequently flashed peace signs, but The Beatles’ version of The Shirelles’ “Boy,” former bandmate John Lennon’s “I’m The Greatest” and The Fab Four’s “Yellow Submarine,” on top of All-Starr contributions from Toto’s Steve Lukather, Average White Band’s Hamish Stuart and Men At Work’s Colin Hay, though the advertised Edgar Winter was absent.

Even so, Toto’s “Rosanna,” Average White Band’s “Pick Up The Pieces” and “Cut The Cake,” accented by several classic riffs including “Come Together,” plus Men At Work’s “Down Under” were amongst the front half flashbacks, all featuring none other than Starr taking a seat behind the drum kit.

The Beatles’ “Octopus’ Garden” and “Back Off Boogaloo” brought him front and center again, prior to passing the mic to Hay for the new wave of “Overkill,” Lukather’s soulful stab at “Africa” and Stuart directing AWB’s funky take on The Isley Brothers’ “Work To Do.”

Starr had the all ages audience swooning during “I Wanna Be Your Man,” Hay pondered “Who Can It Be Now?,” Lukather took charge of “Hold The Line” and then it was back to their boss to snap a figurative “Photograph.”

Although Ringo was very much the focal point, he made sure to let the masses know the only way to get by is “With A Little Help From My Friends” as flower power imagery straight out of the 1960s flashed across the backdrop.

A slice of Lennon and The Plastic Ono Band’s “Give Peace A Chance” closed it all down, which given everything that’s going on in the world right now, was as an ideal way to wave goodbye, not that the fearless leader will be slowing down anytime soon.

For additional information on Ringo Starr, visit RingoStarr.com.

For upcoming New Lenox Village Commons “Summer Concert Series” announcements, visit NewLenox.net.