Beatles stars to play charity gig

By Ian Youngs Music reporter, BBC News

Sir Paul and Ringo helped launch the Love musical in Las Vegas in 2007

Sir Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr are to appear at a charity concert in New York next month.

Sir Paul will headline the concert at the Radio City Music Hall on 4 April, while Starr has been named among a string of special guests.

The David Lynch Foundation initially said the pair would perform together.

But a spokesman for Sir Paul said a collaboration had not been confirmed and a spokeswoman for Starr said he would perform "a few songs on his own".

The David Lynch Foundation, set up by the film director, promotes transcendental meditation in schools.

The organisation's UK arm initially said Sir Paul and Starr would "definitely" perform together. But a spokesman later said their reunion had not been finalised.

In a statement about the show, Sir Paul said he had practiced transcendental meditation for 40 years. "In moments of madness, it has helped me find moments of serenity," he said.

The show will aim to raise enough money to teach one million at risk children to meditate. "I would like to think that it would help provide them a quiet haven in a not-so-quiet world," Sir Paul said.

Starr added: "It gives me great pleasure to be part of this evening. I feel the aims of this charity are wonderful."

The two Beatles legends last performed together at a tribute concert for George Harrison in 2002.

They were joined by Eric Clapton to perform While My Guitar Gently Weeps at the show at the Royal Albert Hall.

Sir Paul and Starr, along with Harrison, also played in private in 1994 to record material for their Anthology series.

Sheryl Crow, Donovan, Eddie Vedder, Ben Harper and Moby will be among the other musicians taking part in the New York show. Tickets go on sale on Monday.

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version