The newly knighted Ringo Starr has just announced a 20-date North American All Starr Band run set to play throughout September. Barring a single warm-up gig on June 2nd in Atlantic City, New Jersey, the All Starrs will spend June and July overseas playing a string of dates in Germany, France, Spain, Italy, The Netherlands, Denmark, Finland, Czech Republic, Israel, Belgium, and Monaco. The U.S. dates kick off on September 1st at Tulsa, Oklahoma’s Hard Rock Hotel & Casino and winds down, as usual, on September 29th at Ringo’s longtime All Starr Band tour closer, L.A.’s Greek Theatre.
The 2018 tour breaks up the longest running version of the All Starrs, which stayed together from 2012 to 2016. Gone from the lineup is Todd Rundgren and Mr. Mister bassist Richard Page, and replacing the pair is former All Starr and Men At Work leader, Colin Hay, who toured with Ringo in 2003 and 2008, and new addition, 10cc bassist Graham Gouldman.
In addition to co-writing the group’s “I’m Not in Love” and “The Things We Do for Love,” Gouldman also wrote such legendary ’60s hits as the Yardbirds‘ “For Your Love” and “Heart Full Of Soul,” the Hollies‘ “Bus Stop” and “Look Through Any Window,” and Herman’s Hermits‘ “No Milk Today.”
Once again backing Ringo is Santana and Journey‘s Gregg Rolie, Toto’s Steve Lukather — along with saxophonist Warren Ham, and longtime drummer Gregg Bissonette.
With nearly 30 years worth of gigs under his belt, Ringo was asked to recall how he felt back in 1989 when he was launching his first All Starr Band tour, which marked not only his first ever solo road dates — but his first tour since the Beatles called it quits after their 1966 North American trek: “I was real nervous, I had never done it before. Y’know, it was presented to me — ‘Would you like to do this if we have a sponsor?’ And I thought, ‘Wow. Let’s see.’ And I was nervous, but it worked then and it’s working now.”
Ringo Starr is a rare breed having nothing but love and respect for has past and excitement and pleasure from his work today: “Well, I think the shining hours keep coming. I do, I think they keep coming. You sell yourself short if you think that was the moment. I’ve had many great moments; I’ve enjoyed my life, I’ve been, y’know. . . the gift of being able to play and to still be able to play with musicians like I’ve got on stage today — it’s a blessing.”
Ringo Starr & His All Starr Band tour dates (subject to change):
June 2 – Atlantic City, NJ – Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa / Event Center
June 6 – Paris, France – L’Olympia
June 8 – Grolloo, Netherlands – Holland Blues Festival
June 9 – Flensberg, Germany – Flens Arena
June 10 – Hamburg, Germany – StadPark
June 13 – Helsinki, Finland – Kaisaniemi Park
June 15 – Horsens, Denmark -Lunden
June 16 – Berlin, Germany – Tempodrom
June 17 – Zwickau, Germany – Stadhalle
June 19 – Prague, Czech Republic – Congress Hall
June 20 – Vienna, Austria – Stadhalle
June 23 – Tel Aviv, Israel – Menorah Arena
June 26 – Barcelona, Spain – St. Jordi Club
June 28 – Madrid, Spain – WiZink Center
June 29 – La Caruna, Spain – Coliseum
July 1 – Bilbao, Spain – Bizkia Arena
July 4 – Luxembourg, Belgium – Rockhal
July 6 – Monte Carlo, Monaco – Sporting Complex
July 8 – Lucca, Italy – Piazza Napoleone
July 9 – Marostica, Italy – Piazza Degli Scacchi
July 11 – Rome, Italy – Autorium Cavea
September 1 – Tulsa, OK – Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
September 2 – Rogers, AR – Walmart Arkansas Music Pavilion
September 3 – Kansas City, MO – Starlight Theatre
September 5 – Ames, IA – Iowa State Center
September 7 – St. Louis, MO – Fox Theater
September 8 – Milwaukee, WI – venue TBA
September 9 – South Bend, IN – Morris Performing Arts Center
September 11 – Kettering, OH – Fraze Pavilion
September 13 – New York, NY – Radio City Music Hall
September 14 – Saratoga, NY – Saratoga Performing Arts Center
September 15 – Wallingford, NY – The Toyota Oakdale Theater
September 17 – Boston, MA – Wang Theater
September 19 – Pittsburgh, PA – Heinz Hall for the Performing Arts
September 21 – Northfield Park, OH – Hard Rock Rocksino
September 22 – Chicago, IL – The Chicago Theatre
September 23 – St Paul, MN – Ordway Center for the Performing Arts
September 25 – Denver, CO – Paramount Theatre
September 27 – San Diego, CA – Humphreys
September 28 – San Jose, CA – City National Civic
September 29 – Los Angeles, CA – Greek Theatre
