Sir Ringo Starr marks 81st birthday with 'peace and love' celebration

(L-R) Joe Walsh, Ringo Starr, and Barbara Bach attend Ringo Starr's Peace & Love Birthday on July 07, 2021 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
(L-R) Joe Walsh, Ringo Starr, and Barbara Bach attend Ringo Starr's Peace & Love Birthday on July 07, 2021 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) (Kevin Winter via Getty Images)

Sir Ringo Starr spread "peace and love" as he marked his 81st birthday on Wednesday.

The Beatles drummer celebrated the occasion in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles alongside his wife Barbara Bach and a select number of fans in what was a smaller gathering than usual due to the pandemic.

He hosted his annual "peace and love" moment while standing beside the shiny steel sculpture of his hand making the peace sign.

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At midday local time, Sir Ringo led the crowd in chants of his trademark slogan as well as being serenaded by a chorus of happy birthday.

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Before the LA event kicked off, he shared to Instagram: "I want to thank all the people who had the peace and love moments at noon and I’m just getting ready here in LA to do my peace and Love-moment here so I send you all peace of love and thanks for your support peace and love. 😎✌️🌟❤️🎶🍒🥦🦏🌈☮️."

Sir Ringo launched the event in 2008 and the 2021 running included gatherings around the world in countries such as Argentina, Japan, Italy, Peru, Spain and the UK.

He told the PA news agency he was proud of the day's growth.

The musician shared: "It’s what I do, it’s what I do – peace and love. It’s growing and I feel like it’s the pebble in the ocean, you drop it and the waves go out and out and out.

“From 2008, when we did it first time, there was a hundred people just on the street in Chicago and now look at you crowd here and around the world. We have so far 30 countries celebrate peace and love at noon. So it can’t be bad.”

Sir Ringo received public well-wishes from the only other surviving Beatle, Sir Paul McCartney.

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He wrote: "Happiest of birthdays to my lovely mate @ringostarrmusic… the drum beat of my life! Love, Paul.”

While John Lennon's widow Yoko Ono posted to Twitter: "Happy Birthday Ringo! Peace and Love. Lots of love, yoko.”

With additional reporting by PA.

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