Elvis Costello in the audience at George Harrison tribute concert
FoxNews, 2002-11-30
- Roger Friedman

 

Ringo Holds Back Tears at Harrison Tribute

"I didn't cry. I wanted to but I didn't because it was a joyous occasion."

That's what Ringo Starr told me last night after maybe the most beautiful
and saddest rock concert ever to have taken place at the Royal Albert Hall
in London. There, under the domed theatrical palace that has hosted so many
historic events, former Beatle George Harrison was memorialised by his
friends and colleagues. The three hour concert took place on the eve of the
first anniversary of Harrison's untimely death at age 58. By the time Eric
Clapton, Paul McCartney, Starr, Jeff Lynne and others were finished there
wasn't a dry eye in the house.

Starr, overcome with emotion, kissed and hugged McCartney as they left the
stage.

The remarkable evening featured performances by the aforementioned, as well
as Ravi Shankar, Tom Petty, Procul Harum's Gary Brooker, "fifth Beatle"
Billy Preston, and 60s U.K. star Joe Brown. Making the evening more poignant
was the participation of Harrison's incredibly poised and gracious
21-year-old son, Dhani, who helped organize the charity event and put the
finishing touches on his father's final album, called Brainwashed, which was
released this week.

In the audience meanwhile were a panoply of guests including actors Tom
Hanks and Rita Wilson, director Richard Donner and his producer wife Lauren
Shuler Donner, Beatles producer George Martin, as well as legendary R&B star
Sam Moore, rockers Elvis Costello, Dave Grohl and Annie Lennox, actress
Helena Bonham Carter and director Tim Burton, former Rolling Stone Bill
Wyman, and the two Heather McCartneys-Paul's eldest daughter and his new
wife.

<snip>