The History of Ringo Starr's All Starr Band (1989 to 2026)

When did Ringo Starr start the All Starr Band?

In 1989. The idea came from producer David Fishof: put Ringo on stage with a rotating group of well-known musicians, each of whom brings hits of their own. It worked from the start, and more than three decades later it is still how Ringo tours.

Who was in the first All Starr Band?

The 1989 band was a remarkable group:

• Joe Walsh
• Dr. John
• Billy Preston
• Levon Helm (drums)
• Rick Danko
• Nils Lofgren
• Clarence Clemons
• Jim Keltner (drums)

Note the two extra drummers. Having a second drummer next to Ringo has been part of the band since that first tour, and it still is today. Our second drummer page explains why.

Official tickets are sold by Ticketmaster for most dates, by AXS for Forest Hills Stadium, and by the venue box offices in Easton and Lancaster. TicketNetwork, where our buttons go, is a resale marketplace, so prices there can be above face value.

How many All Starr Band lineups have there been?

The best count is 16. Wikipedia's table of lineups runs up to the "Sixteenth All-Starr Band" (2024 to 2025), and setlist.fm files the 2026 dates under the "16th All Starr Band" tour. One small wrinkle: Wikipedia's own introduction still mentions fourteen variations, which looks like it simply hasn't been updated. Either way, the current lineup is the sixteenth, and it has not changed since 2024.

How does an All Starr Band show work?

The format has stayed remarkably consistent. A typical show has about 10 to 12 Ringo songs, covering the Beatles songs he sang and his solo hits, plus two or three hits from each All Starr. So in 2026 you hear "Yellow Submarine" and "Photograph" next to Toto's "Africa", Men at Work's "Down Under" and Average White Band's "Pick Up the Pieces". See the full running order on our setlist page.

The band is a live act rather than a recording group. The one exception is "Island in the Sun", an original that appeared on Ringo's 2015 album Postcards from Paradise.

Which famous musicians have been All Starrs?

Beyond the 1989 band, the drum chair alone tells a story. For years it went to drummers with hits of their own, including Sheila E. and Simon Kirke, until Gregg Bissonette took over in 2008. Edgar Winter played sax and keys in the 2022-era lineup. Several current members have come and gone and come back: Colin Hay first played with Ringo in 2003, returned in 2008 and has been a regular since 2018, while Hamish Stuart was in from 2006 to 2008 and rejoined in 2019.

That turnover is part of the appeal. Because the lineup keeps evolving, fans who have seen Ringo several times over the decades have often heard a different set of guest hits each time, while his own Beatles and solo songs stay at the heart of the night.

Who is in the current lineup?

The 16th All Starr Band is Ringo with Steve Lukather (since 2012), Colin Hay, Hamish Stuart, Warren Ham (since 2014), Gregg Bissonette (since 2008) and Buck Johnson (since 2024). Full details, instruments and songs are on our band members page.

Did Ringo play a Las Vegas residency?

Yes. Ringo and the band have played runs at The Venetian Theatre at The Venetian Resort in Las Vegas. The most recent was six shows in September 2025, on September 17, 19, 20, 24, 26 and 27, with tickets from $69.95 plus tax and fees. A "Starr Art" exhibition of his artwork also opened in Las Vegas in September 2025. There are no Las Vegas dates in 2026.

What else happened in 2025 and 2026?

2025 leaned toward country. Ringo released Look Up, a country album produced by T Bone Burnett, was honored with a two-night tribute at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium that aired on CBS, and made his Grand Ole Opry debut. In 2026 he followed it with Long Long Road (see our album page) and toured with the All Starrs in two legs: 12 spring shows in the West and Southwest, ending with a sold-out Greek Theatre in Los Angeles on June 14, then ten fall shows in the Northeast.

What comes next for the All Starr Band?

The fall 2026 run ends in Albany, NY on October 7. After that, nothing has been announced, including any 2027 dates. We track that on our 2027 tour page. For now, the remaining 2026 dates are the only confirmed chance to see this lineup.

All Starr Band history: frequently asked questions