Paul McCartney reunites with Ringo Starr at London concert

On Thursday, the two remaining members of one of the most iconic bands in history came together for a performance that honored their late bandmates in a heartfelt way.

Former Beatles members Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr entertained a crowd of 20,000 at the O2 Arena in London during the final performance of McCartney’s Get Back tour. The two octogenarians energetically performed hits like "Helter Skelter" and "Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band." As the night came to an end, the drummer announced his departure, saying, "I'm leaving now; it's been an amazing night, and I love you all."

McCartney shared the stage with Ronnie Wood, the guitarist from the Rolling Stones, who is 77 years young, for the performance of "Get Back." During this song, McCartney played his classic Hofner 500/1 bass for the first time in half a century. This guitar was reunited with him earlier this year after it had been stolen back in 1972.

McCartney's concert included a digital collaboration with John Lennon, who was tragically killed in New York in 1980. During McCartney's live performance, fans could see clips of Lennon singing "I’ve Got a Feeling" from the Beatles’ famous rooftop concert at Apple Corps’ London headquarters.

Clips of George Harrison, who passed away in 2001, along with footage of all four Beatles during their prime, were shown during the concert.

Since the Beatles disbanded, Starr and McCartney have come together several times. Notable reunions include McCartney's Freshen Up tour in 2018-2019 and Starr's induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2015.

Thursday's show at the O2 marked the final stop of McCartney's Get Back tour, which kicked off in October and featured stops in cities like Paris, Madrid, and São Paulo. He also had two concerts in Manchester and two in London.

His two-and-a-half-hour performance kicked off with "A Hard Day's Night" and featured popular songs from his lengthy career, which has lasted over 60 years.

At the beginning of the concert, McCartney addressed the audience, saying, “Hey London, this is the final night of our tour. We’ve traveled through South America and various other places. It’s wonderful to be here again, and we’re set to have a great time tonight!”

Later in the performance, he shared a short clip of Jimi Hendrix Experience’s "Foxy Lady" and then moved to a second, raised platform to play the Beatles’ "Blackbird" and his own song "Here Today."

Following the Hendrix excerpt, McCartney remarked, “I had the fortune of knowing him a little back in the 60s. He was an incredible musician, a fantastic guitar player, but also a really down-to-earth person.”

He also performed "In Spite of All the Danger," a song by the Quarrymen, which was McCartney's initial band where he collaborated with Lennon and Harrison. Following that, he played what is believed to be the Beatles' final single, "Now and Then," released in 2023.

Other notable moments of the show featured Wings' "Band on the Run" and the classic James Bond theme "Live and Let Die" from 1972, both enhanced by an impressive display of fireworks and special effects. McCartney was joined on stage by a children's choir as they performed his cheerful holiday song "Wonderful Christmastime."

He also performed "My Valentine," a song he composed for his wife, Nancy Shevell, whom he married in 2011. Before that, McCartney was married to Linda Eastman, who passed away from breast cancer in 1998. He was also married to Heather Mills, and they divorced in 2008, resulting in a £24 million settlement.