Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr Reunite Onstage

Posted on Apr 6th 2009 10:30AM by Mike Ayers
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"I'd like to play it in the light that we've moved forward," Sir Paul McCartney told a packed house Saturday night at New York's famed Radio City Music Hall. He then started up a solo acoustic version of 'Blackbird,' a song that he originally wrote around the civil rights issues brewing in the '60s. It was appropriate for the evening, given McCartney was hosting a concert, titled 'Change Begins Within,' to raise money and awareness for the David Lynch Foundation. Joining McCartney on the bill were Eddie Vedder, Sheryl Crow, Ben Harper, Moby, Betty LaVette and My Morning Jacket's Jim James, among others.

In fact, McCartney would treat the crowd to numerous Beatles favorites, including 'Drive My Car,' 'Let It Be' and 'Can't Buy Me Love.' But the night's biggest surprise was when Ringo Starr, introduced as "Billy Shears" -- the band leader from 'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band -- joined on McCartney on lead vocals for 'With A Little Help From My Friends.'

McCartney and Starr last performed together at the 'Concert for George' in 2002, which honored former Beatle George Harrison at London's Royal Albert Hall one year after Harrison's death.

Other highlights from the evening include a cover of Queen's 'Under Pressure' by Vedder and Harper, and an all-star encore featuring McCartney, Donovan, Crow, Beach Boys' Mike Love and Starr, on renditions of 'Cosmically Conscious' and 'I Saw Her Standing There.'

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