Ringo Starr and His All Starr Band meet the press; share details about upcoming tour and more

From left, Steve Lukather, Edgar Winter, Ringo Starr, Gregg Bissonette, Hamish Stuart,
Warren Ham and Colin Hay on May 17, 2023. 

It's amazing to think that Ringo Starr and His All Starr Band have been thrilling audiences for 34 years. And at a point when many musical troupes might be slowing down, Starr and company — guitarist-singer Steve Lukather, keyboardist-singer Edgar Winter, drummer Gregg Bissonette, guitarist-bassist Hamish Stuart, multi-instrumentalist Warren Ham and singer-guitarist Colin Hay — are busier than ever. 

The musical giants took a break during a May 17, 2023 rehearsal in their Los Angeles studio to participate in a Zoom Q&A with members of the media. It was an informative and fun event where each of the seven artists got to discuss the magic of performing in the All Starr Band (which embarks on their spring tour at Pechanga Resort in Temecula, CA on Friday, May 19, 2023). That spring tour also brings them to nearby Findlay Toyota Center in Prescott Valley, AZ on May 30 (get tickets to that show HERE).

Ringo Starr speaking during a Zoom Q&A on May 17, 2023.

"Rehearsals are going great," Starr said early in the Q&A. "The first day is always really hard and yesterday (May 16) we ran the whole show and I feel ready to rock."

Added Lukather: "Having the time of my life in this band and I always have. I love everybody and it's going to be a great tour and I'm really excited to be here."

Anyone who has seen Starr and His All Star Band's winning performances knows how amazing they are. In addition to Starr featuring many of his favorite Beatles and '70s solo hits, the members of his band collectively perform their most best known material. So classic rock fans attending any of the group's upcoming tour dates will get to hear many of the most beloved songs from The Beatles, Men At Work, Toto, Average White Band and the Edgar Winter Group performed by key members of those bands in the same set. (You can read my review of the collective's wonderful September 2018 concert at Los Angeles' Greek Theatre HERE)

"We're having the greatest time playing the greatest songs," noted famed drummer Bissonette, then pointing at Starr and adding: "The greatest. My drum hero, my dear pal; what a ball, what an honor."

Starr was asked about the band's "grueling schedule," and how the members are able to stay in shape during the extended tour (which includes dates through mid-October).

"Playing has never been grueling," Starr noted. "I love to play, I love to play with these guys," he said before playfully acknowledging: "We are the best band in this room."

"Touring; nobody wants to tour, but you have to tour to play," Starr explained, acknowledging that the process of moving from one town to another can be difficult even while performing in front of enthusiastic audiences is always a blast.

Each of the musicians was able to discuss how they bring their own musical styles to the All Starr Band.

"I love the challenge of playing other people's music," Lukather explained. "I want to stay as true to it as they expect...I have more fun playing their stuff than mine I can tell you that — plus playing on those great Ringo hits and Beatles stuff never gets old."

Winter noted that the All Starr Band performs each of the songs in a way where the audience is treated to strong performances that nevertheless reveal unique takes on the well-known material.

The other musicians agreed that they love the fact that they have the freedom to make changes to the material to fit their approach.

"It's not like we're trying to change it," noted Ham. "We put our own imprint into it and our own personality into it. That's what makes it unique and so much fun."

Added Hay: "It's our band's versions of all these songs."

As for the longevity of His All Starr Band, Starr said: "Its been a long time, 34 years. It's what I do. I love to play and I love to play with great musicians. I love to play great songs and I get all of that from these guys."

One reporter has a question for Lukather, asking him if there was something about Starr he could share that people don't know.

"He's the real thing," Lukather said of the world's most famous drummer. "Everything I wished before I met him and became friends; what I imagined him to be like being a life-time fan was better than I could have dreamed of. I love the man dearly."

The special Q&A served as another reminder that anytime you get to hear from a member of The Beatles — inarguably the most important and influential rock band of all time — is time well spent.

"I've played with a couple of good bands," Starr said at one point in reflecting on his long career. "And I played in the greatest band — in my world — with three brothers (John, Paul and George) and I just love playing live."

Be sure to catch Ringo Starr and His All Starr Band if they perform in your area. Get more information HERE. 

Concert review: Deep Purple, Alice Cooper, Edgar Winter Group

Roger Glover, left, with Steve Morse during the early part of Deep Purple's
set at the Greek Theatre on Aug. 13, 2017. Photo: Kelly A. Swift

Deep Purple, Alice Cooper, Edgar Winter Group
Where: The Greek Theatre
When: Sunday, Aug. 13

Deep Purple singer Ian Gillan, left, with
guitarist Steve Morse. Photo: Kelly A. Swift

Three distinct brands of classic rock were on display at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday night (Aug. 13, 2017). American blues rocker Edgar Winter, shock rocker Alice Cooper and British heavy metal pioneers Deep Purple all came to the venue armed with their biggest hits delivered via crowd-pleasing, fast-moving sets.

As part of its so-called "Long Goodbye Tour," Deep Purple headlined the long night of music making, displaying the virtuoso musicianship and an infectious stew of heavy metal, hard rock and progressive rock that has been winning over audiences since the late 1960s and earned the troupe a well-deserved spot in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2016. With long-time singer Ian Gillan and founding member/drummer Ian Paice leading the way, the long-time lineup that also features lead guitarist Steve Morse, keyboardist Don Airey and bassist Roger Glover opened with a propulsive "Highway Star" and proceeded to thrill over the course of 70 minutes.

Drummer Ian Paice in action. Photo: Kelly A. Swift

Deep Purple also stretched beyond its landmark rock radio staples to explore deeper cuts, including the racing rocker "Fireball," and several tracks off the band's recent new studio disc "Infinite." The probing "The Surprising" and encore-launching "Time For Bedlam" showcased a band still looking to extend their legacy; "Time For Bedlam" was particularly stirring with the mix of spoken word and dynamic musicianship.
Deep Purple pleased nostalgia lovers with its best known hits (notably "Space Truckin'," "Strange Kind of Woman," "Perfect Strangers," "Smoke On The Water" and night-ending "Hush").

Guitarist Nita Strauss, left, with Alice Cooper.
Photo: Kelly A. Swift

Like Deep Purple, Alice Cooper came to the show in the wake of a highly-publicized new album ("Paranormal") and showcased several of those songs (including "Paranoiac Personality," a showcase for shredding guitarist Nita Strauss). But more than his biggest sing-along songs or newer material, Cooper pleased with a colorful stage show filled with baby dolls, a guillotine, baby dolls and macabre costumed actors who interacted with Cooper and his musicians. The hard-edged '80s metal rock attack anchored by three lead guitar players and Cooper's own dramatic vocals was simply icing on the cake.

"Feed My Frankenstein" performance at the Greek
Theatre on Aug. 13, 2017. Photo: Robert Kinsler

When "Feed My Frankenstein" was performed, Cooper emerged from a colorful box on the stage with his white coat stained with fake blood; a large costumed monster prowled about the stage. If there was a time when this style of shock and awe ghoulish rock was dangerous, that time has come and gone; Cooper's show was actually about escape and having fun. By the time he got near the end of his 70-minute performance, the crowd was on its feet and singing along to "I'm Eighteen" and his encore "School's Out." 

The Edgar Winter Group's set was a solid mix of hits and several heartfelt tributes to Winter's older brother (Johnny Winter died in July 2014 at the age of 70).

Edgar Winter at the Greek Theatre.
Photo: Kelly A. Swift

Opening with his own 1973 hit "Free Ride," the impressive set included the boogie rocker "Keep Playin' That Rock N' Roll," an extended and jam-heavy "Tobacco Road," a rollicking cover of the Johnny Winter hit "Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo" and set-ending instrumental "Frankenstein" where Edgar Winter showcased his skills on not only keyboards, but playing saxophone and a percussion kit next to his drummer.


Review by Robert Kinsler

A shorter of this review was originally published on The Orange County Register website on Monday, Aug. 14, 2017. You can view that and many more of Kelly A. Swift's fantastic images here.