Ringo Starr, the legendary drummer of The Beatles, has been forced to cancel the final two shows of his tour with the All Starr Band due to a cold. The band was set to perform at Philadelphia’s TD Pavilion at The Mann on September 24 and New York City’s Radio City Music Hall on September 25. However, after consulting with a doctor, Starr was advised to rest, leading to the cancellation of these highly anticipated performances.
In a statement released to the press, Starr’s representative confirmed the news, urging fans to seek refunds at their point of purchase. “As always, Ringo and the All Starrs send peace and love to their fans and hope to see them soon,” the statement concluded. This sentiment was echoed in a social media post, where Starr expressed his gratitude to the audiences who had attended the earlier shows of the tour.
The tour, which kicked off on September 7 in San Diego, saw Starr and his band perform ten shows before the illness struck. Just days before the cancellation, Starr had shared highlights from the tour on social media, thanking fans for their support and expressing his love for the audiences. Despite this setback, Starr remains active in the music scene. In October 2023, he released a four-track EP titled Rewind Forward. The project, which reflects on the theme of moving forward despite life’s challenges, was well-received by fans and critics alike. “It’s all about going forward. It’s just the fact that sometimes we all get stuck and have to fight your way out,” Starr explained in an interview with Billboard.
Earlier this year, Starr collaborated with The Strokes’ guitarist Nick Valensi on another EP, Crooked Boy. Initially released on exclusive vinyl for Record Store Day, the EP later became available on streaming platforms. Co-written with Linda Perry, the EP features tracks like “Gonna Need Someone,” which Starr described as a rocker he specifically requested from Perry. “I love what Linda did and I think all the songs are great, but one thing I did ask her was to write me a rocker,” Starr said to NME. “Nick Valensi plays guitars on it — and on all of the EP — and he is great.”
Looking ahead, Starr is also working on a full country project with renowned producer T Bone Burnett. Over the summer, he shared his excitement about the project, particularly praising a song Burnett wrote for him. “It’s absolutely one of the most beautiful country songs I ever heard. So, I thought, ‘I’m going to do a country EP’,” Starr revealed.
In addition to his musical endeavours, Starr recently gave his approval to the newly restored Let It Be documentary, despite his earlier reservations about the film’s portrayal of The Beatles’ final days.
