Sir Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr on stage at the "Change Begins Within" concert
Photo: CBS

The last time they played together was in 2002 for a tribute concert for the recently deceased Beatle George Harrison. But when Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr performed onstage last weekend, it was for a considerably more joyous occasion.

During the "Change Begins Within" benefit concert for the David Lynch Foundation at New York's Radio City Music Hall, the two British rockers played several songs together, including jointly singing a Beatles tune they'd first performed more than 40 years earlier.

Just past 11 p.m., McCartney was wrapping up a set of Beatles classics ("Can't Buy Me Love," "Let It Be") and solo numbers ("Band on the Run") when the 66-year-old addressed the crowd. "At this point we would like to introduce somebody to you who you know, you've heard his name," said McCartney. "He's going to come out here and play you a little song this joyful night." He then introduced Starr as "Billy Shears," the pseudonym he used on the Beatles 1967 classic, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.

Out came Ringo, and the two remaining Beatles performed "With a Little Help From My Friends." They shared a microphone as they sang, and then shared a hug. Afterwards Ringo took a seat behind the drum kit to accompany McCartney and his band through McCartney's rare track "Cosmically Conscious," as well as "I Saw Her Standing There."

While the highlight for the 6,000 people in attendance was no doubt the chance to see Paul and Ringo together again, the entire night was filled with musical stars. Eddie Vedder performed a solo version of his single from the "Into the Wild" soundtrack, Moby rocked a tune from Play, and Ben Harper came through with a track from his upcoming album, White Lies for Dark Times. Other performers included Sheryl Crow, Jim James of My Morning Jacket and soul singer Bettye LaVette. And before he played with his ex-bandmate, Ringo performed a mini-set that included Beatles fave "Yellow Submarine."

The David Lynch Foundation, created by the legendary director of "Blue Velvet," supports teaching Transcendental Meditation to students in "at-risk" schools.

• The Beatles
• Paul McCartney
• Ringo Starr

Ringo Starr
Photo: VH1

Ringo Starr fans who don't get their fill from the three-CD set of live material he'll release on July 24 can catch the ex-Beatle and his revamped All Starr Band in action this summer. Starr will kick off a North American tour on July 26 in Rama, Ontario, with a backing band featuring Greg Lake (King Crimson, Emerson, Lake and Palmer), Roger Hodgson (Supertramp), Ian Hunter (Mott the Hoople), Howard Jones and Sheila E. (see "Howard Jones, Sheila E., Greg Lake Join Ringo's All Starr Band").

The group will spend a couple of weeks concentrating on eastern cites before skipping across the country to hit the West Coast. The trek is scheduled to wind down on September 2.

The Anthology ... So Far features 47 tracks compiled from the past six Ringo Starr and His All Starr Band tours. Ringo Starr tour dates, according to Koch Records:

• 7/26 - Rama, ON @ Casino Rama
• 7/27 - Montreal, QC @ Molson Centre
• 7/28 - Sterling Heights, MI @ Freedom Hill Park Amphitheatre
• 7/29 - Chester, WV @ Mountaineer Race Track & Resort
• 8/1 - Wantagh, NY @ Jones Beach Amphitheatre
• 8/2 - Uncasville, CT @ Mohegan Sun Casino
• 8/3 - New York, NY @ "Today Show"
• 8/4 - Boston, MA @ FleetBoston Pavilion
• 8/5 - Manchester Center, VT @ Riley Rink
• 8/7 - Gilford, NH @ Meadowbrook Farm Musical Arts Center
• 8/9 - Holmdel, NJ @ PNC Bank Arts Center
• 8/10 - Atlantic City, NJ @ Taj Mahal
• 8/11 - Portsmouth, VA @ Harbor Center
• 8/13 - Atlanta, GA @ Chastain Park Amphitheatre
• 8/14 - Fort Lauderdale, FL @ Broward Center
• 8/15 - Tampa, FL @ USF Sun Dome
• 8/16 - Robinsonville, MS @ Horseshoe Casino
• 8/18 - Fort Worth, TX @ Billy Bob's
• 8/19 - Oklahoma City, OK @ Six Flags Frontier City Theme Park
• 8/22 - Rosemont, IL @ Rosemont Theatre
• 8/23 - St. Paul, MN @ Minnesota State Fair
• 8/25 - Englewood, CO @ Fiddler's Green Amphitheatre
• 8/27 - Portland, OR @ Arlene Schnitzer Hall
• 8/28 - Woodinville, WA @ Chateau Ste. Michelle
• 8/30 - Universal City, CA @ Universal Amphitheatre
• 8/31 - Concord, CA @ The Chronicle Pavilion
• 9/1 - Las Vegas, NV @ Rio Hotel/Casino
• 9/2 - San Diego, CA @ San Diego State Open Air Theatre

• Ringo Starr

Surviving Beatles Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr will perform together today at a memorial service for Linda McCartney.

McCartney died of breast cancer in April (see "Linda McCartney Dies Of Cancer").

UPI reports that the three will perform "Let It Be" with 700 invited guests at St. Martin-in-the-Fields church in London. It will be the first time the three have performed together since 1969.

• The Beatles
• Paul McCartney
• George Harrison
• Ringo Starr