Guest Post: “Ringo Starr and His All-Starr Band: A Splendid Time Is Guaranteed for All”

Ringo Starr and His All-Starr Band: A Splendid Time Is Guaranteed for All 

by Brody Duggson

Ringo Starr and His All-Star Band are touring the United States this October and November.  

Between Oct. 13 and Oct. 28, Ringo and company will play eight gigs at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas.

From there, he’s off to the Lone Star State.  Richard Starkey and his band will be in El Paso on Oct. 30, Austin on Oct. 31, and Sugarland on Nov. 2.

Two days later, the band rocks the Global Events Center at Winstar in Thackerville, Oklahoma.

Ringo will perform back-to-back nights, Nov. 7 and 8, at Parker Playhouse in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.

His route takes him to Atlanta, Georgia on Nov. 11; Norfolk, Virginia on Nov. 12; and Morristown, New Jersey on Nov. 14.  

The Beacon Theater in New York City hosts his penultimate concert on Nov. 15.  His final date in the U.S. is set for Nov. 15 at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark.

The All-Star Band is comprised of Gregg Bissonette (David Lee Roth, ELO), Warren Ham (Kansas, Toto), Steve Lukather (Toto), Richard Page (Mr. Mister), Gregg Rolie (Santana, Journey), and Todd Rundgren (Utopia, solo career).  They been together since 2012, making this the longest running incarnation of the All-Starr Band, which started in 1989.

There’s a tendency, especially by rock snobs and the pop culture intelligentsia, to dismiss this tour.  To write Ringo and his band off as has-beens and shysters.

That’s a mistake.

I’ve attended to hundreds of concerts and none have been more enjoyable than Ringo Starr and his All-Star Band.  They give fans a spectacular evening of music.

Ringo performs a lot of songs he sang while a member of the Fab Four: “Act Naturally,” “Boys,” “Don’t Pass Me By,” “Honey Don’t,” “I Wanna Be Your Man,” “Matchbox,” and “Yellow Submarine.”

Of course, he closes each show with “With a Little Help from My Friends.”

Ringo also performs “It Don’t Come Easy,” “Photograph” (both written by him and George Harrison), and “I’m the Greatest” (written by John Lennon).

Does Ringo hit all the notes?  No, but for being 77 years old, he sounds pretty good.  What he lacks in vocal strength he makes up for it with energy.  Despite being close to 80, he’s still got a motor.

Between Ringo’s songs, his bandmates take center stage.  When this happens, don’t rush off to get another beer or visit the restroom.  If you do, you’ll miss something special.

For example, Greg Rolie performs “Black Magic Woman,” Steve Lukather performs “Rosanna,” and Todd Rundgren performs “Love Is the Answer.”

Richard Page’s “Broken Wings” is haunting.  He sounds amazing live.

As you can see, the setlist for Ringo Starr and His All-Star Band is nothing but hits—more than two dozen classic rock songs.

Now, Ringo and his band aren’t redefining the rock concert.  They’re not on the vanguard of live music.

Instead, they’re just having a blast playing good old rock and roll.  You’ll have tons of fun.

If you’re a Beatles fan, or a classic rock fan, you’re going to love Ringo Starr and His All-Star Band.  

If you’re neither, but appreciate great live music, you’ll definitely enjoy yourself.  It will be worth your time and effort.

The only way you won’t have a fun at a Ringo Starr concert is if you lack a pulse.