Iconic musician and former member of legendary band The Beatles, Ringo Starr, turned 80 on Tuesday. And in true Starr style, he has marked the occasion by encouraging the world to share peace and love at midday. The drummer has been spreading the peace and love message via social media, with the phrase almost having become a trademark of late. 

Taking to Twitter, he posted the following in lieu of reminding anyone it was his birthday on 7 July:

“Just a reminder on the seventh of the seventh of July Tuesday 2020 at noon it’s still gonna be Ringo peace and love moment wherever you are in the world at noon peace and love peace and love.”

Fans everywhere have heard the call, and inundated social media with pictures, videos, artwork, and audio recordings, all embracing the peace and love message. In honour of the great man’s birthday, they have also sent him gifts and cards:

“I wanna thank everybody who joins in at noon today and like me said peace and love also I want to thank everybody Who sent me little movies of themselves and cards and gifts and everything peace and love.”

The Beatles have always been long standing champions of the peace and love message, with Starr being particularly vocal on the notion. It is beautiful to see him continuing to spread this wonderful message and using his own birthday as a powerful platform for inspiring others to be kind, respectful, to care and to love one another.

Starr was born Richard Starkey on 7 July 1940 and overcame severe childhood illnesses and poverty to eventually become “the most influential Beatle” (as directly quoted from Yoko Ono in 2015). His destiny was written when his beloved step-father bought him a used drum kit in 1956, after Starr had tried and failed desperately to work and save enough money to purchase his own. 

He was the last to join the band but soon became the overwhelming favourite. Receiving the most fan mail and earning the loudest screams from devoted and adoring fans, Starr had cemented his place in musical history. Now, as he turns 80 and reflects on his successful career and struggles he overcame to achieve his dreams, he is choosing to inspire the world towards peace and love. Ringo Starr is a genuinely great man, and we wish him a very happy birthday.

Author: Harley Houghton

Harley Houghton is a writer and blogger, based in Melbourne, Australia. Her passions include music, especially metal, gaming and comics. Check out her blog www.harleysmadhouse.com and follow her on Twitter.