Ringo Starr Asks Fans For 'Peace And Love' Wishes On His 83rd Birthday As He Admits 'Nothing Makes Me Feel Old'

Jul 06, 2023

Ringo Starr was named Sir Richard Starkey at birth but took on the moniker as his stage name. Starr was born to musically inclined parents who loved to dance. His mum, Elsie Gleave, also liked to sing. Starr's parents stopped dancing after he was born. They divorced when he was around 4 years old, and his mom took custody of him. 

Starr frequented hospitals as a child due to several life-threatening illnesses, including peritonitis and tuberculosis. Coupled with his mom's overprotectiveness, the drummer lagged academically and didn't complete school. Meanwhile, Starr picked up an interest in drums during his stay at the hospital. From that moment, he fell in love with the drums and didn't want any other instrument. 

Starr's mom remarried Londoner Harry Graves when he was 14, and the latter introduced him to music from fine artists, which furthered his love for music. The musician's path to making music wasn't straight. He initially found work at the British Rail but lost the job when he failed to pass the physical examination. Starr then worked as a waiter on a boat, but he also left the job out of fear that he could be conscripted into the Navy. 

At 16, his stepdad got him admission to become an apprentice machinist, and he soon started making music on the side. Four years after he started training, his band got an offer for residency, and he had to quit the apprenticeship. This opened the door for Starr's success and led him to The Beatles. 

The drummer will be 83 on July 7, 2023. In an interview published by PEOPLE, he requested that his fans share the usual peace and love at noon on that day. Continue reading for details about his birthday and how he feels about aging.

Starr joined The Beatles after he left his first band, The Hurricanes, in 1962. John Lennon asked him to join their band, and Pete Best was fired to make room for the new drummer. Although there was initial resistance from The Beatles' fans, Starr soon grew to be the people's sweetheart, and by 1964, lapel pins bearing "I love Ringo" were bestsellers among the band's merch.  

The Beatles became worldwide stars shortly after Starr joined them. The iconic band made many hit albums and singles together, including "Please Please Me," "Revolver," "Yellow Submarine," "Help," "Good Night" and "Don't Pass Me By." Starr was particularly charismatic and was the first to win over their international audience in America. His charm also inspired many singers at the time, and they were inspired to sing songs that included "Ringo for President" and "Ringo, I Love You." 

Starr's comedic timing and energetic spirit also won fans over in two of The Beatles' films, "A Hard Day's Night" and "Help!" Incredibly, his non-verbal scenes captivated the audience even though he had a hangover when filming them. 

Meanwhile, the band started to disintegrate, and Starr kept feeling alienated because his drumming wasn't needed on some of the other band member's songs. However, John Lennon left the group first in 1969 and was followed by Paul McCartney in 1970.

After The Beatles disbanded, Starr began recording solo and has enjoyed a successful career ever since. The musician has several hits like "Back off Boogaloo," "Photograph" and "It Don't Come Easy." He also goes on tours around the world with his band, Ringo Starr & and His All-Starr Band. The band consists of several star musicians who perform with Starr on a rotational basis. 

For his 83rd birthday, Starr announced that fans should share peace and love. In his interview with PEOPLE, published on July 4, 2023, the Grammy winner asked fans to post #peaceandlove on social media or say it or think it on his birthday on July 7, 2023, at noon. 

Starr holds an annual peace and love event on his birthday in front of Capitol Records in Los Angeles, where he makes his signature peace and love sign. He revealed that the annual event started in 2008 when he replied that he wanted a wave of peace and love from his fans for his birthday gift. 

"Really without thinking, I said, 'I would like them all to go, peace and love, at noon on my birthday, 7/7, the seventh day of the seventh month,'" he disclosed at the time. "That's how it started. We've been doing it now for so many years. And now I've upped it a bit because I say, 'You can say peace and love, or you can just think peace and love.' So any way, you're winning," he said. 

Starr and his wife, Barbara Bach, will be joined by old friends, including Joe Walsh, Sheila E, Richard Marx, Mike Campbell, Diane Warren, Roy Orbison Jr. and Edgar Winter. Moreover, friends will celebrate the occasion in Tokyo, Sydney, New York, Buenos Aires and Liverpool. Additionally, NASA will share the message into space via a prior recording from the award-winning drummer. 

Meanwhile, Starr says he doesn't feel older than he did back in the day.

"Nothing makes me feel old," he told the outlet. "In my head, I'm 27. Wisdom's a heavy word. (Getting older) is what happens, and you try and keep yourself busy."

Hopefully, the singer will have a joyous birthday filled with peace and love. 

Do you listen to The Beatles? Which of their songs is your favorite? Which of Ringo Starr's songs do you like best? Let us know — and be sure to pass this article on to friends, family members and fellow Beatles and Ringo Starr fans!