McCartney Times

Paul McCartney ended the North American leg of his “Freshen Up” tour on Saturday night (7/13) at Los Angeles’ Dodgers Stadium, where he had a couple of surprises for the crowd. As Variety reports, Joe Walsh of Eagles came out to join in on the show-closing “The End” for its triple guitar solo, and earlier in the encore, Sir Paul reunited with his Beatles bandmate Ringo Starr for “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)” and “Helter Skelter.”

Although Starr did not close this reunion by announcing “I’ve got blisters on my fingers!,” as he did the recorded version, he still helped bring the thunder of the original to McCartney’s encore, bearing a big grin as he sat in alongside regular tour drummer Abraham Laboriel for the two numbers.

A few fans might have put two-and-two together before the encore: Ringo and his wife Barbara Bach had spent much of the nearly three-hour show in a VIP section midway back on the floor by the soundboard, and when they made an early midway through, spotters were hoping it wasn’t just to beat the Dodger Stadium exit traffic.

McCartney had just finished the first number of the encore, “Birthday” (worth noting: Starr’s was on July 7), when he announced “a surprise for us, a surprise for you, a surprise for everyone — ladies and gentlemen, the one and only Ringo Starr. … Are you ready to rock?” “Ready to rock,” the guest confirmed. “Peace and love, everybody. (They’re) bringing out me drums,” he pointed out, as a set was wheeled out behind him, lest the appearance having been spoiled by putting a second kit in place any earlier.

McCartney didn’t have to deviate from his regular set list to accommodate his old cohort, as both numbers have been regularly scheduled parts of his tour. During “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise),” after singing “We’d like to thank you once again,” McCartney turned his head Starr’s way and threw in a spoken “thank you.” Giddy-making as it was, fans were hoping this wouldn’t be the sum total of Starr’s appearance: the “Pepper” reprise lasts just a few seconds over a minute.

It wasn’t: Starr grinned even more widely as McCartney’s guitarists revved up the anticipatory opening riff of “Helter Skelter,” the heaviest number in the Beatles’ catalog. Taking center stage again for a hug afterward, Starr said, “No, thank you, Paul. It’s been a thrill for me, and I’ve had a lovely night, and it’s a great show, and I love you, man.” “And I love you, man,” McCartney said, adding Ringo’s catchphrase: “Peace and love, Ringo — forever.” In a playful moment, Starr chucked his sticks into the audience and then grabbed at his bass as if he were going to chuck that into the crowd, too.

As fans know, one of McCartney’s signature pantomimes during his shows is that he’s going to toss his beloved Hofner bass in the crowd. McCartney seemed to be caught off guard by Ringo grabbing at it and threatening to do the same, but he clearly relished the gag.Watch video of Paul and Ringo together, and find Paul’s full Saturday night setlist, below.

Setlist: Paul McCartney @ Dodgers Stadium, 7/13/2019 (via)

A Hard Day’s Night
Junior’s Farm
Can’t Buy Me Love
Letting Go
Who Cares
Got to Get You Into My Life
Come On to Me
Let Me Roll It (followed by “Foxy Lady” jam)
I’ve Got a Feeling
Let ‘Em In
My Valentine
Nineteen Hundred and Eighty-Five
Maybe I’m AmazedI
’ve Just Seen a Face
In Spite of All the Danger
From Me to You
Dance Tonight
Love Me Do
Blackbird
Here Today
Queenie Eye
Lady Madonna
Eleanor Rigby
Fuh You
Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!
Something
Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da
Band on the Run
Back in the U.S.S.R.
Let It Be
Live and Let Die
Hey Jude Encore:BirthdaySgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise) (with Ringo Starr)
Helter Skelter (with Ringo Starr)
Golden Slumbers
Carry That Weight
The End (with Joe Walsh)

Source: Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr reunite onstage to perform Beatles songs (watch)