RINGO STARR / LIVE IN JAPAN 2019 【DVD】
The history of Ringo Starr and the All-Star Band began in 1989, and they have been active for over 30 years. During that time, members other than Ringo have changed, and a wide variety of musicians' songs have been enjoyed, earning acclaim worldwide. For Ringo, who turned 78 in 2019, this can hardly be called anything other than a lifelong work.
In the world of rock, I do not know if there is a hierarchy like in sports clubs, but with Ringo, a former Beatle, as the bandleader, the band comes together, and truly enjoyable stages are performed every night. Since their first visit to Japan in 1989, they have frequently held Japanese concerts. This DVD features a complete recording of the concert held on April 5, 2019, at Tokyo Dome City Hall, from the latest Japan tour of 2019.
The 2019 Japan tour began on March 27 in Fukuoka, including performances in Hiroshima, Sendai, Koriyama, and other locations, totaling 11 shows. Among these, this DVD fully captures the first night of the three consecutive performances at Tokyo Dome City Hall on April 5.
The concert begins with a loud announcement, and Ringo makes a lively entrance from the right side, immediately energizing the venue. The opening song is "Matchbox." At 78 years old, Ringo surprises with his slim, agile figure, bouncing around energetically. Even while singing with a microphone in one hand or during instrumental sections, he displays lively actions. The venue is not very large, making it impressive how close the audience feels—Ringo points at the crowd and interacts with the audience, creating a very intimate atmosphere.
The All-Star Band for this tour includes Steve Lukather (TOTO), who continues as guitarist from the previous tour; Greg Rollie (Santana, Journey); Hamish Stewart (Average White Band); Colin Hay (Men at Work); Warren Ham (Bloodrock, Kansas, AD); and Greg Bissonette (David Lee Roth). Lukather recently visited Japan in February as part of TOTO's 40th-anniversary tour, joking that he "comes to Japan every month."
A notable member in this lineup is Colin Hay from Men at Work. Hamish Stewart also previously performed in Paul McCartney's band in 1990 and 1993.
This DVD features a complete recording of the concert at Tokyo Dome City Hall on April 5, 2019, from Ringo Starr & His All-Star Band's Japan tour. The audio is not from camera sound but has been replaced with high-quality separate recordings, resulting in a highly polished live video. The disc is a pressed edition.