Combined, they’re 166 years old. But together, 82-year-old Paul McCartney and 84-year-old Ringo Starr turned the clock way back last night (Dec. 19) at the 02 in London with a surprise performance at the last show of the former’s 2024 tour. Backed by McCartney’s longtime band, the surviving Beatles reunited for “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)” and “Helter Skelter,” much to the delight of the screaming, sold-out crowd.
“Should we rock?,” McCartney asked as Starr set up shop on his own kit, which was wheeled onstage on a riser. The musicians last played live together in July 2019 during McCartney’s Freshen Up tour stop at Los Angeles’ Dodger Stadium. They remain active in Beatles archival projects, including the 2023 new song “Now and Then” and the recently released Disney+ documentary Beatles ’64, which chronicled their legendary first U.S. visit more than 60 years ago.
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McCartney was in a nostalgic mood in other ways, as he performed with his beloved original Hofner bass for the first time in more than 50 years (the instrument was stolen in the 1970s, but McCartney got it back in recent years). Appropriately, it was utilized during “Get Back,” which featured another surprise guest in the form of Rolling Stones guitarist Ron Wood.
McCartney has yet to announce tour plans for 2025, but he is expected to release a new studio album with production from Andrew Watt.
See McCartney perform with Starr and Wood in fan-shot clips below:
To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.
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