Last night was a memorable night for fans of The Beatles after Sir Paul McCartney bought out a very special guest at his London show.
Taking to the stage at The O2 on Thursday night as part of his Got Back tour, the 82-year-old Hey Jude singer was all smiles as he asked his former bandmate, Sir Ringo Starr, to join him.
Sir Ringo, 84, who attended the show with his wife, Barbara Bach, was all too willing and jumped up beside his long-time mate to play the drums for two songs, including Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band and Helter Skelter, earning deafening applause from the audience.
It was a touching moment for the pair, who were all smiles as they shared an embrace on stage. Sir Ringo told the crowd: ‘I’ve had a great night tonight; it’s been a great show.’
Marking the first time they had played together live in over five years, after his impressive two-song performance, Sir Ringo was ready to return to his seat in the crowd and told fans: ‘I’m off now, I’ve had a great night, and I love you all.’
The last time the friends played together was in 2019 during Sir Paul’s Freshen Up tour. Prior to that, they reunited in 2015 when Sir Ringo was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Determined to make the last show in his tour, which began in October and saw shows in Manchester, Paris, Madrid and Sao Paulo, memorable, Sir Paul told fans at the start of the show: ‘Oh London, this is the last night of our current tour. We’ve been around South America and all over the place.’
He added: ‘So it’s great to be back, and we’re going to have some fun tonight.’
The star wasn’t exaggerating by any means. In addition to a surprise performance from Sir Ringo, Sir Paul also brought out another special guest.
Inviting Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood onto the stage, the pair performed The Beatles hit 1970 track, Get Back.
Later in the set, Paul was joined by a children’s choir to spread some festive cheer just days before Christmas as the group sang Wonderful Christmastime.
It came after Sir Paul’s show the previous night, where he paid tribute to his late bandmate and friend, John Lennon, who was tragically killed in New York City 44 years ago this month.
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Talking to the crowd about male friendships and how expectations of them have changed since the band rose to fame in the ’60s, Sir Paul said that when he was young, it was unusual to tell his male friends how much he appreciated and loved them.
‘Even in a group, you couldn’t turn to your mates and say “I love you, man,” it just was not done, you know,’ he told the crowd.
He then broke out into an emotional tribute for Lennon, dedicating the band’s 1969 track, Something, to him as he played the tune on a ukulele, that he revealed was gifted to him by the late George Harrison, the Daily Mail reported.
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