Happy Birthday, Ringo!

Collection Alain Weill

Ringo Starr in a 1967 portrait by Richard Avedon.

Ringo -- thanks for all the fun and music over the years. You made my teenage years much more interesting.

Ringo turns 70 today. Yep, 70. Some younguns, smirking just a little, have commented on me wearing my Bob Marley T shirt and I just look them straight in the eyes and tell them that Marley was four years older than me so what's so weird about me being a fan?

For more details about Ringo's birthday and how he's gonna celebrate, see this article in the NYTimes. You just need to register, but it's free. Here's an excerpt from that article:

Q. You’re using the occasion of your birthday to give a message back to your fans.

A. Yes, I want to spread the word that at noon, wherever you are — in New York, in L.A., in Paris, in London — I just pray that you’ll put your fingers up and say, “Peace and love.” I did it two years ago, it was the first time, and I did it out of Chicago because I was on tour. This year, we’re playing Radio City, so we’re doing it in New York. In Japan there were little get-togethers and it went worldwide, so that was great.

Peace and Love, y'all!