Yesterday marked the anniversary of when Ringo Starr kicked off his first all star band tour.
It happened 35 years ago on July 23, 1989 at the Park Central Amphitheatre in Dallas, Texas.
Developed by producer David Fishof, who now produces the Rock 'n' Roll Fantasy Camp, the first incarnation featured Ringo's now brother-in-law Joe Walsh, Billy Preston, Levon Helm and Rick Danko of The Band, Dr. John, and Clarence Clemons and Nils Lofgren from The E Street Band. (Five of them are now deceased.)
The set list for that first show and tour was:
- It Don't Come Easy - Ringo
- No No Song - Ringo
- Yellow Submarine - Ringo
- New Island Midnight / Such a Night / Big Mac - Dr. John
- The Weight - Levon Helm
- Shine Silently - Nils Lofgren
- Will It Go Round in Circles - Billy Preston
- Act Naturally - Ringo
- Honey Don't - Ringo
- You're a Friend of Mine - Clarence Clemons
- The Shape I'm In - Rick Danko
- Life in the Fast Lane - Joe Walsh
- You're Sixteen - Ringo
Set 2:
- Desperado - Joe Walsh
- Raining in My Heart - Rick Danko
- Up on Cripple Creek - Levon Helm
- Boys - Ringo
- Bein' Angry - Nils Lofgren
- Candy - Dr. John
- Right Place Wrong Time - Dr. John
- Quarter to Three - Clarence Clemons
- Amazing Grace - Joe Walsh
- Rocky Mountain Way - Joe Walsh
- That's the Way God Planned It - Billy Preston
- Photograph - Ringo
Encore:
- Back Off Boogaloo - Ringo
- With a Little Help From My Friends - Ringo
Since that first tour, Ringo has employed over 40 other All Starrs, counting the latest lineup, which includes Edgar Winter, Toto's Steve Lukather and Men at Work's Colin Hay.
The remaining 33 are:
- Jim Keltner – 1989
- Todd Rundgren – 1992, 1999, 2012–2017
- Dave Edmunds – 1992 & 2000
- Burton Cummings – 1992
- Timothy B. Schmit – 1992
- Zak Starkey – 1992–1995
- Timmy Cappello – 1992 & 1999
- Randy Bachman – 1995
- Mark Farner – 1995
- Felix Cavaliere – 1995
- John Entwistle – 1995
- Mark Rivera – 1995-1998, 2000–2003, 2011–2013
- Peter Frampton – 1997-1998
- Gary Brooker – 1997-1999
- Jack Bruce – 1997-2000
- Simon Kirke – 1997-2000
- Eric Carmen – 2000
- Roger Hodgson – 2001
- Ian Hunter – 2001
- Howard Jones – 2001
- Greg Lake – 2001
- Sheila E. – 2001-2006
- Paul Carrack – 2003
- John Waite – 2003
- Billy Squier – 2010-2014
- Richard Marx – 2006
- Rod Argent – 2006
- Gary Wright – 2008-2011
- Wally Palmar – 2010
- Rick Derringer – 2010
- Richard Page – 2010-2017
- Gregg Rolie – 2012-2021
- Graham Gouldman – 2018
And among the special guests over the 35 tours since 1989, usually during "With a Little Help From My Friends," have been:
- Garth Hudson - The Band
- Bruce Springsteen
- Harry Nilsson
- Bonnie Raitt
- Steven Tyler
- Max Weinberg
- Slash
- Stevie Nicks
- Ginger Baker
- Eric Burdon
- Andy Summers
- Michael McDonald
- Steven Van Zandt
- Pete Townshend
- Jeff Lynne
- Paul McCartney
- Joan Baez
- David Paich - Toto
Ringo and his latest grouping of All Starrs will be back out in the fall, starting September 12th in Omaha, Nebraska through September 25th at Radio City Music Hall in New York.
Check out more on this anniversary here courtesy of Ultimate Classic Rock.