The 1980s wasn’t the greatest of decades for Ringo Starr. His music was generally being ignored. By 1983, he didn’t even have a recording contract in the U.S. or the U.K. Ringo’s personal life had fallen into disarray. Years of living the celebrity lifestyle had taken a toll and forced Ringo to seek treatment for alcohol abuse. But by 1989, RIngo was ready to get out his drumsticks and get back on his musical feet. He did so in a way that caught many by surprise – he announced his first ever tour! Ringo had never toured before – in fact, he had never fronted his own concert. The last full blown tour he had participated in was with the Beatles in 1966. Nevertheless, Ringo came up with a great concept. Rather than fronting a backing band for an entire show, Ringo would invite some of his musician friends to join him for a tour. These friends would be high profile musicians who have enjoyed their own commercial success. It would be an all star band…or All Starr Band! Ringo knew he couldn’t be the front man for an entire concert tour, but he didn’t want to. He loved playing drums in a band, and with this new All Starr Band concept, he could enjoy both worlds – coming out front for some numbers and then going behind the drum kit to play in the band supporting his friends. Each band member was “a star in his own right” and could perform two or three signature songs. Each musician would get a turn in the spotlight and then pass the baton off to the next musician. It’s a concept that continues to thrive today, with Ringo currently fronting his tenth All Starr Band, nineteen years after starting the first one. Here is a list of the ten All Starr Bands:

1989 – Ringo Starr, Joe Walsh, Nils Lofgren, Dr. John, Billy Preston, Rick Danko, Levon Helm, Clarence Clemons, Jim Keltner

– The first All Starr Band is documented by Ringo’s first live album, Ringo Starr And His All-Starr Band… (1990).

1992 – Ringo Starr, Joe Walsh, Nils Lofgren, Todd Rundgren, Dave Edmunds, Burton Cummings, Timothy B. Schmit, Zak Starkey, Timmy Cappello

– The second All Starr Band was touring to support Ringo’s new album Time Takes Time – Ringo’s first album in nine years and his first available in the U.S. in eleven years. This tour is documented by the album Live From Montreux (Ringo Starr And His All Starr Band Volume 2, 1993).

1995 – Ringo Starr, Randy Bachman, Mark Farner, Billy Preston, Felix Cavaliere, John Entwistle, Zak Starkey, Mark Rivera

– The live album from this tour was released by the Blockbuster video chain in 1997, called Ringo Starr And His Third All-Starr Band Volume 1 (there never was a volume two).

1997-98 – Ringo Starr, Peter Frampton, Gary Brooker, Jack Bruce, Simon Kirke, Mark Rivera

– Ringo tours in support of his 1998 album, Vertical Man.

1999 – Ringo Starr, Todd Rundgren, Gary Brooker, Jack Bruce, Simon Kirke, Timmy Cappello

2000 – Ringo Starr, Dave Edmunds, Eric Carmen, Jack Bruce, Simon Kirke, Mark Rivera

2001 – Ringo Starr, Roger Hodgson, Ian Hunter, Howard Jones, Greg Lake, Sheila E., Mark Rivera

– This All Starr Band is perserved on three albums: the 2002 “King Biscuit Flower Hour Presents” album Ringo & His New All-Starr Band, the 2003 budget album Extended Versions and the 2006 album Ringo Starr And Friends.

2003 – Ringo Starr, Colin Hay, Paul Carrack, John Waite, Sheila E., Mark Rivera

– This tour supports Ringo’s album Ringo Rama. A document of this tour is the 2004 live album Tour 2003.

2006 – Ringo Starr, Billy Squier, Richard Marx, Edgar Winter, Rod Argent, Hamish Stuart, Sheila E.

– This tour supports Ringo’s 2005 album Choose Love. This tour is the subject of the brand new 2008 album Ringo Starr & His All Starr Band Live 2006.

2008 – Ringo Starr, Billy Squier, Colin Hay, Edgar Winter, Gary Wright, Hamish Stuart, Gregg Bissonette

– This tour supports Ringo’s album Liverpool 8.

In addition to the individual live albums, a compilation album celebrating the All Starr Band was released in 2001. The album The Anthology…So Far, featured material from all previous lineups/tours.

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