Grammys 2014: Paul McCartney And Ringo Starr Reunite Onstage For 50 Years Of Beatlemania
Paul McCartney Ringo Starr
Paul McCartney Ringo Starr
Ringo Starr
Paul McCartney
Ringo Starr
Ringo Starr
February 7th marks 50 years since the historic day when the a Pan Am jet touched down at New York's JFK airport, bringing the Beatles to America for the very first time. The 2014 Grammy Awards celebrated half a century of Beatlemania by reuniting Sir Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr onstage for the first time in nearly five years...along with a little help from artists they helped to inspire!
Rings kicked things off solo earlier in the night with a montage-filled rendition of "Photograph," a song he wrote with fellow-Beatle George Harrison back in 1973. It was an appropriate choice for a night of reflection and memories; true to the lyrics, images of the 73-year-old (!) in younger years flashed on the screens above. He got a hand with backup from guitar-legend Peter Frampton and even David Letterman bandleader Paul Shaffer on drums.
After an intro from Julia Roberts—random!—Sir Paul took to the stage and surprised us all (well OK, not really) by bringing Ringo out to take his rightful spot behind him on the drum kit! Along with Rusty Anderson and Brian Ray from Macca's touring band, the gang of old friends tore into "Queenie Eye," a rollicking rock number off of Paul's latest album, New. As the final notes died away, the two surviving Beatles took shared an emotional embrace and took a long (and well deserved) bow to a an enraptured crowd.
Despite the obvious nods to the past, Sir Paul proved that he's far from just a relic. Earlier in the night he celebrated a brand new Best Rock Song Grammy win alongside Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic for "Cut Me Some Slack"! A legend yesterday and a legend today. A Beatles reunion, even in 2014, is always reason to celebrate. Hallelujah!
[Photo: Getty Images]